Fossils

Which of the following describes a group of living things that is no longer living.

• fossil
• extinct
• mold
• cast

The hardened remains of a living thing that died long ago.

• extinct
• cast
• fossil
• bone

In which type of rock are most fossils found?

• igneous
• sedimentary
• volcanic
• metamorphic

A fossil animal has a mouth full of sharp, pointed teeth.  What can you infer about the animal?

• The animal ate fruits and vegetables.
• The animal is closely related to a shark.
• The animal did not live on land.
• The animal ate meat.

If scientists found this fossil, what could they infer?

• what fish are like today
• that this fish lacked oxygen
• what kind of animal ate this fish
• that water once covered the area

Which of these must happen first for a fossil to form?

• A plant or animal is covered by sediment.
• Sediments fill a mold and form a cast.
• A plant or animal is eaten.
• Sediments are pressed together and harden.

What happens when a group of animals become extinct?

• All of its members have died.
• Only a few of its members are still living.
• The animals can no longer lay eggs.
• All of its members move to another place.

In order for a fossil to form, which of the following events must happen FIRST?

• Slowly, minerals in the water replace the bone.
• Sediment covers the bone.
• An animal dies.
• The bone is no longer a bone, but a rock copy.

In which kind of rock do we usually find a fossil?

• sedimentary  rock
• metamorphic rock
• igneous rock

Which of the following is NOT something you could learn from a fossil?

• The size of the animal
• What the animal ate
• The color of the animal
• Where the animal lived