Fossils

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

• an insect preserved in amber

• a mummy buried in ice

• a footprint of an extinct animal

• a skeleton preserved in a tar pit

Which of the following terms best describes body fossils?

• mummified

• rare

• widespread

• made of stone

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

• Bacteria and other organisms cannot thrive in this environment.

• Most ancient organisms lived in these environments.

• Many ancient organisms travelled 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.

• rot

• go extinct

• decompose

• be buried

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

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

• These parts decay slower than other body parts.

• Most organisms have shells, skeletons, and teeth.

• Bacteria and decomposers consume these parts first after an organism dies.

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 bone your dog buries in your backyard.

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

• 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 from carbon.

• Trees are made of carbon, but animals are not.

• Swampy environments are carbon-poor environments.

What two forces can turn fossils into fossil fuels?

• lift and thrust

• wind and rain

• temperature and pressure

• motion and time

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

• A perfect model 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