Fossils Quiz

A paleontologist finds a fossil of a prehistoric fish species on top of a mountain. What can you infer about the area based on this information?

• The area was much colder

• The area used to be underwater

• This species of ancient fish used to walk on its fins

• The area was once a desert

What can the presence of marine fossils in a desert region suggest about its geological history?

• The desert was once a forest

• The desert was always dry and arid

• The region was previously submerged under water

• The area was once covered by ice

How might the discovery of coral fossils in a high-altitude area be interpreted?

• The area was once a coral reef

• The corals grew on land

• The corals were transported by wind

• The area was always mountainous

Long ago, this ancient insect was trapped in this orange, sticky tree sap. After the sap hardened and preserved the insect, it is called (a)   .

Which of these are fossils? Choose all of the correct choices

• Dinosaur footprints

• A leaf imprint from an ancient species of tree

• Chicken bones from two weeks ago

• A sharktooth from 5,000 years ago

• Skin imprints from an ankylosaurus

True or False: Feathers, fur, or scales that are preserved in the remains of an organism are NOT considered fossils.

• True

• False

According to this picture, which layer fossilized more recently?

• B

• E

• C

• A

Which of the following is NOT an example of a fossil? Select ALL correct answers.

• A seashell found on the beach

• The horn caps of a triceratops

• Imprint of fish scales in rock

• Remains of an American lion dated less than 10,000 years ago

The formation of any fossil is a common event

• True
• False

Tags

NGSS.3-LS4-1

NGSS.4-ESS1-1

The mineralized remains of organisms, showing how long-dead organisms lived and how their bodies were structured

• law of superposition

• sedimentary layers

• fossils

• petrification