Fossils and Past Environments Questions

Which of the following is the best definition of decay?

• To fossilize over time

• For a plant or animal to die

• A living thing passing traits on to the next generation

• The slow breakdown of dead plants and animals over time

The preserved remains of once-living organisms are known as __.

• volcanoes.

• fossils.

• paleontologists.

• sedimentary rocks.

What is a sedimentary rock?

• A type of rock formed by the cooling of lava outside a volcano

• A rock formed from intense heat and pressure

• A type of rock formed from layers of sediment that is compacted and cemented over time

• A type of rock formed by the cooling of magma inside a volcano

Why was it interesting for scientists to find coal in Antarctica?

• There are no trains in Antarctica.

• Coal is made from plants in swamps and Antarctica does not have swamps.

• Animals do not decay in Antarctica.

• There is no coal in Antarctica.

Which of the following is not a piece of evidence to explain environmental changes?

• Coal in Antarctica

• Dinosaur bones in California

• Fossils of leaves

• Fish fossils in the desert

In which section can a reader find information about how fossils are formed?

• The subtitle

• “What are Fossils?”

• “Coal in Antarctica”

• “Fish in the Desert”

What can the reader infer about the photo at the top of page 2?

• That the fish had a lot of predators

• That the fossil was found in Antarctica

• That the fish was a catfish or tilapia

• That the fossil was found in a temperate environment

Which of the following best describes the text structure of this article?

• A. Cause and effect

• B. Compare and contrast

• C. Problem and solution

• D. Proposition and support

What is the main idea of the selection?

• Various types of fossils found all over the world can provide scientists with evidence that the environment has changed over time.

• Coal is formed in swampy areas and is made of dead, decaying plant matter.

• Fossils of fish found in the desert are evidence that the water cycle has changed over time.

• Leaf shape is the only piece of evidence scientists need to determine if the climate is changing.