Question

2. Scientists recently discovered the fossils

of ancient whales at altitudes of more
than 1524 meters in a remote plateau of
the Andes Mountains in southern Chile.
Which of the following is the most likely
explanation for the presence of these
fossils 1.5 kilometers (almost a mile)
above sea level?
(1) Wild animals dragged the dead
whales up to the remote plateau.
After the whales died, their bones
floated up to the plateau.
(2)
(3)
After the whales died, their bones
settled in the ocean sediments that
were then uplifted as the mountains
rose.
(4) At the altitude of 1524 meters,
conditions were just right to preserve
the bones of the whales that died
there.
5) Whale bones are so huge that they
can only be preserved high up in the
mountains.

Answer 1

The presence of ancient whale fossils at high altitudes in the Andes Mountains is likely due to the uplift of ocean sediments that contain the fossils.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely explanation for the presence of the ancient whale fossils at high altitudes in the Andes Mountains is that after the whales died, their bones settled in the ocean sediments that were then uplifted as the mountains rose. This is option (3) in the question. Over time, geological forces can uplift sedimentary rocks and fossils from the ocean floor to form mountains. Since the fossils were discovered at altitudes of more than 1524 meters, it suggests that the Andes Mountains experienced significant uplift in the past.

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