Fossil Quiz

Fossilized seashells that were found in the desert MOST LIKELY tell us that 

• Sea animals live in the desert
• The desert was once underwater
• All deserts were once underwater
• All of the above are true

What is a Fossil?

• Any dead organism
• The preserved remains or traces of an organism
• A perfect copy of a rock
• None of the above

Which of the following can scientists NOT interpret from examining fossils? 

• How Earth’s environment has changed over time
• How plants and animals have changed over time
• The age of certain layers of rocks
• How the pull of gravity has changed 

How do MOST fossils form? 

• living things die and their remains are quickly buried by sediments 
• the hard parts of an organism dry out in the air 
• the soft parts of an organism change to stone 
• freezing preserves the remains of an organism 

The above picture shows a fossil of a palm leaf, a tropical plant. This fossil was found in the state of Alaska. How could this be explained?

• Alaska’s climate was once colder than it is now
• Alaska’s climate has always been the same
• Alaska’s climate was once warmer than it is now
• Alaska’s climate is warming up

Footprints and trails are examples of

• Casts
• Trace Fossils
• Index Fossils
• Molds

Most fossils form when the hard parts of an organism are buried quickly and over time become part of 

• Igneous Rock
• Metamorphic Rock
• Sedimentary Rock
• None of the above

Which of the following is an example of mineral replacement? 

• La Brea Tar Pits
• A Frozen Mammoth
• Hardened Tree Sap
• Petrified Wood

David wants to preserve the remains of a dead caterpillar. Under what conditions would he get the best results? 

• wet and warm temperatures 
• wet and cool temperatures 
• dry and freezing temperatures 
• dry and hot temperatures 

What is hardened tree sap called?

• coprolites
• index fossils
• gastroliths
• amber