Fossils Quiz

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 ice

Which of the following terms best describes body fossils?

• Rare

• Widespread

• Made of stone

• Mummified

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

• Most ancient organisms lived in these enironments

• 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 environments

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

• Decompose

• Go extint

• Rot

• Be buried

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

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 than other body parts

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

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 liqufied

• It is completely colorless

A mold fossil is most similar to:

• An eggshell with no egg insides

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

• A bone your dog buries in your backyard

• An insect trapped in tree sap

What can you infer from the fact that fossil fuels are carbon-based?

• Over time, flesh turns into carbon

• Most life on earth is made form carbon

• Trees are made from carbon, but animals are not

• Swampy environments are carbon-poor environments

What two forces can turn fossils into fossil fuels?

• Life and thrust

• Wind and rain

• Temperature and pressure

• Motion and time