Fossils Quiz

What is a fossil?

• A remnant, impression, or trace of an animal or plant of a past geologic age preserved in the earth's crust.

• A type of rock formed from volcanic activity.

• A living organism found in ancient caves.

• A type of mineral found in sedimentary layers.

What is a trace fossil?

• A fossil that provides indirect evidence of ancient plants or animals, such as footprints, nests, burrows, or feces.

• A fossil that is a direct remnant of an animal's body.

• A type of fossil found only in oceanic sediments.

• A fossil that is formed from volcanic ash.

What does permineralization refer to?

• A type of fossilization where minerals fill in the open spaces of an organism or organic tissue.

• The process of forming fossils from volcanic lava.

• The erosion of rocks to reveal fossils.

• The decay of organic material over time.

Who is a paleontologist?

• A person who studies or is an expert in the branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants.

• A scientist who studies living plants.

• A geologist who specializes in volcanic rocks.

• A biologist who studies marine life.

What is a transitional fossil?

• A fossilized organism that has traits of both an ancestral species and its descendant species.

• A fossil that is found only in desert regions.

• A fossil that is formed from the remains of plants.

• A fossil that is only found in ice.

What is the fossil record?

• The collection of all fossils, both discovered and undiscovered, and their placement in sedimentary rock layers.

• A record of volcanic activity in ancient times.

• A list of all known living species.

• A database of mineral deposits.

This type of fossil is tree sap hardened and replaced by minerals.

• Petrified wood

• Imprint

• Amber

• Mold

What can fossils tell us about the Earth's history?

• The age of the Earth

• The color of ancient animals

• The types of organisms that existed in the past

• The temperature of the Earth millions of years ago

What do we call a scientist who studies fossils?

• Geologist

• Biologists

• Paleontologist

Remains, imprints or traces of once-living organisms

• water

• superposition

• fossils 

Answer explanation

Fossils are the remains, imprints, or traces of once-living organisms, providing evidence of past life. Water and superposition do not refer to such biological remnants, making fossils the correct choice.