Soil and Fossils 2021 -2022

A ________ is the hardened remains of a plant or animal that lived long ago.

• Soil

• Fossil

• Mineral

• Rock

Why are plant fossils not as common as animal fossils?

• Plants are alive and do not die

• The soft parts of plants are easily destroyed as rocks form

• Animals are alive and do not die

• None of the above

Samantha was in her backyard and she found the fossil of the palm leaf. Samantha researched and discovered that a palm leaf comes from a palm tree that must be grown near water.

What do you think Samantha can infer about her discovery?

• Her backyard was once covered with or near water

• The palm leaf was carried by wind to her backyard

• An animal moved the palm leaf to her backyard

• This is not a real fossil

What is the correct order of steps for a fossil to form?

• organism dies -- fossil is formed -- fossil is buried

• organism is buried -- fossil is formed -- fossil is buried

• organism is buried -- fossil is formed -- fossil dies

• organism dies -- organism is buried -- fossil is formed

We can tell what diet many animals have because of their fossilized ___.

• teeth

• plants

• tails

• fur

______ is the loose material in which plants can grow.

• Fossils

• Rocks

• Soil

• Sand

The picture shows a type of soil that plants can grow in. It is made up of large grains of rock that you can see with your eyes alone.

What type of soil is shown?

• Sand

• Humus

• Clay

• Rock

_______ is soil made up of very small grains of rock. If you rub it between your fingers, you cannot feel the grains of rock. It is often used to make pottery.

• Clay

• Sand

• Soil

• Rock

Sam wants to plant vegetables in his backyard. What type of soil should he get to grow the vegetables?

• Loam

• Humus

• Sand

• Rock

Water is being poured into the two cups of soil shown in the picture. Each cup has small holes in the bottom so that water can flow out, but the soil stays in.

Which best describes how the water will drain through the two cups?

• Cup 1 and cup 2 will drain at the same speed.

  .

• Cup 1 will drain first.

• The soil will not let the water drain from either cup.

• Cup 2 will drain first.