Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Subject Area Practice Test

What does the presence of seashell fossils along a mountain range most likely indicate?

1. The area was submerged underwater in the past

2. This portion of the earth's crust folded near a coastline thus exposing the crust to sea life

3. Rapid erosion occurred in the region

4. Volcanic activity formed the range

The correct answer is: This portion of the earth's crust folded near a coastline thus exposing the crust to sea life

The presence of seashell fossils along a mountain range most likely indicates that the area was once submerged underwater in the past. This is because fossils are formed from the remains of organisms that lived in specific environments. Seashells, in particular, are found in marine settings, and their presence in an elevated location suggests that those regions were previously covered by ocean water. Fossils found in mountains often result from geological processes that uplift oceanic sediments or marine life that were deposited at the ocean floor. Over time, tectonic activity can cause these underwater layers to be pushed upward, forming mountain ranges. Therefore, the discovery of seashell fossils supports the idea that the region was once part of a marine ecosystem before geological processes altered its position. Other options relate to geological phenomena that do not adequately explain the finding of marine fossils in a mountain context. Thus, the correct interpretation is that the area was submerged underwater in the past, allowing seashells to accumulate and eventually become fossilized in what is now a mountainous region.