Fossils B/C

[redreading249]

Ah, I see I see.
I got first in Fossils as well (:
Are you guys moving onto states?
Sorry, I'm not used to regionals.. we just have states here.
I'm from MA, div b, going to illinois [=

[lllazar]

The fossils test at regionals today was a joke. Honestly, 90% of the questions could be answered by just using the fossil list. Each station had a piece of paper on it with a picture and 1-2 questions (there weren't any real specimens, even though there were literally hundreds of fossils on shelves around the room). There was a bonus question on Homo neanderthalensis, but there was just a picture of the skeleton of asked us to identify it. There was also a picture of a reptile (it was just a reproduction, not even a skeleton) that looked like a cross between a plesiosaur, mosasaur, and ichthyosaur. Eventually we said plesiosaur, but we weren't really sure. Other than that, it was very easy.

Sounds like my fossil regional test...in terms of difficulty at least.

I really wish they would make tests that were standard for the whole state (like regional level tests created by state proctors), then they could just get supervisors who just needed to score the answers, no creating crappy tests.

[courage7856]

The fossils test at regionals today was a joke. Honestly, 90% of the questions could be answered by just using the fossil list. Each station had a piece of paper on it with a picture and 1-2 questions (there weren't any real specimens, even though there were literally hundreds of fossils on shelves around the room). There was a bonus question on Homo neanderthalensis, but there was just a picture of the skeleton that we had to identify. There was also a picture of a reptile (it was just a reproduction, not even a skeleton) that looked like a cross between a plesiosaur, mosasaur, and ichthyosaur. Eventually we said plesiosaur, but we weren't really sure. Other than that, it was very easy.

Yup. My Reg. had mostly Phylum identification. I hate when you get tests like that. The only resource I needed to use as well was the fossil list. We only got one question per station though. Our bonus was about the Principle of Superposition. Real tough. I would recommend putting pictures in your binder as well, just in case you get something like that. I hate when they give Homo neanderthalensis because it is so easy, and everyone knows what it is.

[paleonaps]

I know this seems out of the blue, but me and my coach thought about this. The fossils event rotates with the rocks and minerals event. Instead of having invertebrates and vertebrates together, why not have rocks, inerts, and then verts? What do you think?

[gneissisnice]

I know this seems out of the blue, but me and my coach thought about this. The fossils event rotates with the rocks and minerals event. Instead of having invertebrates and vertebrates together, why not have rocks, inerts, and then verts? What do you think?

There simply aren't enough diverse vertebrates to warrant an entire event on them. They didn't really appear till the mesozoic (fish and amphibians were earlier), and you couldn't use many real samples, because a lot of them were large and/or not preserved well. Most of the ID would have to be pictures and models. Furthermore, we have what, 10 dinosaurs on this event? Imagine doing it with 50. That'd be a lot of very similar looking creatures. There aren't a whole lot of important mammals or birds, either.

[lllazar]

I know this seems out of the blue, but me and my coach thought about this. The fossils event rotates with the rocks and minerals event. Instead of having invertebrates and vertebrates together, why not have rocks, inerts, and then verts? What do you think?

There simply aren't enough diverse vertebrates to warrant an entire event on them. They didn't really appear till the mesozoic (fish and amphibians were earlier), and you couldn't use many real samples, because a lot of them were large and/or not preserved well. Most of the ID would have to be pictures and models. Furthermore, we have what, 10 dinosaurs on this event? Imagine doing it with 50. That'd be a lot of very similar looking creatures. There aren't a whole lot of important mammals or birds, either.

What he said.

From my personal fossil experience, the majority of the tests are invertebrates....the way it is now is best....If we have R & M next year, id like to see wat the event is like...hopefully another binder event, i love them

One question on topic though: If we get questions asking us to ID to a "group" wat do they mean? A group to wat extent? Class? Order? Phylum?

Also, if the name of an order isnt on the list, like for brachiopods, its just classes inarticulata and articulata, will they ask us to ID a specimen to the level of an order?

Finally, will they make us ID the genus of a specimen which isnt on the list?

I realize that on the rules sheet it says ID restricted to w/e is on the list, but if the proctor does otherwise, wat can we do? Ive studied a lot for this event and i dont want a badly made test to ruin my chances of medaling.....especially not at the state level.

Thanks

[soobsession]

What he said.

From my personal fossil experience, the majority of the tests are invertebrates....the way it is now is best....If we have R & M next year, id like to see wat the event is like...hopefully another binder event, i love them

One question on topic though: If we get questions asking us to ID to a "group" wat do they mean? A group to wat extent? Class? Order? Phylum?

Also, if the name of an order isnt on the list, like for brachiopods, its just classes inarticulata and articulata, will they ask us to ID a specimen to the level of an order?

Finally, will they make us ID the genus of a specimen which isnt on the list?

I realize that on the rules sheet it says ID restricted to w/e is on the list, but if the proctor does otherwise, wat can we do? Ive studied a lot for this event and i dont want a badly made test to ruin my chances of medaling.....especially not at the state level.

Thanks

We won't be rotating back to R&M until the year after next year. It's a three year rotation for both events.

"Group" is a very broad category. A group could be a kingdom, phylum, class, or just about anything else. Oh my state test, when they asked about groups, it was always multiple choice so there wasn't any confusion about that for us. Otherwise, they should give you a specific classification.

It is possible that they can ask you about the Order of a fossil, though many times the classification of a fossil is unclear (which is probably why they say "group" in the first place). I just get all my Orders from wikipedia and/or the Audubon field guide and put them in my binder.

As for species that are on the list, I think gneiss said that proctors are allowed up to 5 specimen that are not on the list? I got a random dinosaur that started with an "M" on my regional test, but most of the specimen should be from the list.

[jazzy009]

As for species that are on the list, I think gneiss said that proctors are allowed up to 5 specimen that are not on the list? I got a random dinosaur that started with an "M" on my regional test, but most of the specimen should be from the list.

Maiasaura?

[courage7856]

I know this seems out of the blue, but me and my coach thought about this. The fossils event rotates with the rocks and minerals event. Instead of having invertebrates and vertebrates together, why not have rocks, inerts, and then verts? What do you think?

There simply aren't enough diverse vertebrates to warrant an entire event on them. They didn't really appear till the mesozoic (fish and amphibians were earlier), and you couldn't use many real samples, because a lot of them were large and/or not preserved well. Most of the ID would have to be pictures and models. Furthermore, we have what, 10 dinosaurs on this event? Imagine doing it with 50. That'd be a lot of very similar looking creatures. There aren't a whole lot of important mammals or birds, either.

What he said.

From my personal fossil experience, the majority of the tests are invertebrates....the way it is now is best....If we have R & M next year, id like to see wat the event is like...hopefully another binder event, i love them

One question on topic though: If we get questions asking us to ID to a "group" wat do they mean? A group to wat extent? Class? Order? Phylum?

Also, if the name of an order isnt on the list, like for brachiopods, its just classes inarticulata and articulata, will they ask us to ID a specimen to the level of an order?

Finally, will they make us ID the genus of a specimen which isnt on the list?

I realize that on the rules sheet it says ID restricted to w/e is on the list, but if the proctor does otherwise, wat can we do? Ive studied a lot for this event and i dont want a badly made test to ruin my chances of medaling.....especially not at the state level.

Thanks

I know Fossils is on the rotation for next year. It is on the coaches clinic. R and M was a binder event too, though, if I remember correctly.

By group, I would go as specific as you can. Not to species (except for Homo neanderthalensis), but to genus if possible. Or the most common group, like trilobite, insect, brachipod, etc. For that example, I would keep it at Brachipod. Add the class if you know it, but don't put it on if you're not sure.

They're not supposed to ask the genus of a specimen that's not on the list, and I think they'll be more careful at State, but that doesn't mean they won't. They can, however, ask for the group, such as above. You could always appeal, I guess. Talk to your coach. Like I've told you, the IL state Fossil test wasn't great last year, and it probably won't be great this year either. Just a heads up, if anyone remembers all the bad Illinois state stuff from last year. I checked soinc, and it didn't say anything about fossils not on the list.

[lllazar]

So by "they didnt say anything about fossils not on the list"...im guessing u mean that its illegal?