Question

scientists want to support the claim that major plate motions divided two landmasses around 200 million years ago. to do this, they compare the fossils of snails found at different depths in two locations thought to have been joined prior to the plate movement. how do the properties of the fossils support the scientists claim? move each property to the group of fossils that would best support the scientists claim. all properties must be moved. fossil snails closest to the surface: blank fossil snails buried most deeply: blank these fossils are less than 200 million years old. these fossils are more than 200 million years old. these fossils show more similarities between the types of snails. these fossils show more differences between the types of snails.

Explanation:

Fossils closer to the surface are younger, so they should be less than 200 million years old and show more differences due to evolution after the land - masses separated. Deeper fossils are older, so they should be more than 200 million years old and show more similarities as they were from when the land - masses were joined.

Answer:

Fossil snails closest to the surface: These fossils are less than 200 million years old. These fossils show more differences between the types of snails.
Fossil snails buried most deeply: These fossils are more than 200 million years old. These fossils show more similarities between the types of snails.