Fossils

Which of the following is an example of a body fossil?

• A perfect mold of a dinosaur bone

• A carbon print left by a leaf

• The skull of a mammoth that fell into a tar pit

• A dinosaur footprint

Which of the following is an example of a trace fossil?

• A skeleton preserved in a tar pit

• A footprint of an extinct animal

• A mummy buried in ice

• An insect preserved in amber

Which of the following terms best describes body fossils?

• rare

• widespread

• made of stone

• mummified

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Why are deserts, tar pits, and ice good places to find body fossils?

• Most ancient organisms lived in these environments

• Bacteria and other decomposers cannot thrive in these environments

• Many ancient organisms traveled to these places to die

• The largest ancient organisms lived in these places

In order to form a fossil, an organism must usually ______ quickly after it dies.

• decompose

• go extinct

• rot

• be buried

What can you conclude from the fact that so many fossils involve shells, skeletons, and teeth?

• Most organisms on earth have shells, skeletons, or teeth

• Bacteria and decomposers consume these parts first after an animal dies

• These parts decay slower that other body parts

• These parts are more likely to be buried in ice than other body parts

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Although a cast fossil looks like an original bone or shell, how is it different?

• It's made of rock

• It contains skin, hair, and other remnants

• It has been liquefied

• It is completely colorless

A mold fossil is most similar to:

• An eggshell with no egg inside

• A replica of your teeth made at the dentist's office

• A bone your dog buries in the backyard

• An insect trapped in tree sap