Fossils 101

A fossil is...

• a radioactive element used to determine the age of a rock layer
• the remains or evidence of a once-living organism
• only the hard parts of a organism
• only found in ice

Which of the following statements about fossils is NOT true?

• They can be used to correlate rock layers. 
• They can always be found as living specimens today.
• They can be used to determine relative age. 
• They can indicate what climates were like in the past. 

Why don't all living things become fossils?

• because some living things are too small
• because some living things are too big
• because some are subject to catastrophism and others are not
• because environmental conditions have to be just right to prevent decay

How do fossils form?

• Living things die and their remains are covered by sediment
• insects are covered in tree sap
• all of these are correct
• Freezing preserves the remains of an organism

What type of fossil is this?

• Mold
• Carbonized
• Cast
• Preserved

When an organism dies, is buried, and decays leaving behind a cavity in the shape of the organism is considered which type of fossil?

• cast
• mold
• trace
• petrified 

Which type of fossil is formed when the remains of a former living thing is turned into stone?

• cast
• preserved
• carbonized
• petrified 

People who study fossils are called ____.

• meterologists
• fossilologists
• paleontologists

What type of fossil is this?

• preserved
• petrified
• carbonized
• cast

What is hardened tree sap called?

• coprolites
• index fossils
• gastroliths
• amber