Exploring Fossils

What is a fossil?

• A type of rock

• Evidence of past living organisms

• A type of plant

• A type of animal

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of the following is a common Texas fossil?

• Dinosaur bone

• Shark tooth

• Trilobite

• Fern leaf

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

How can fossils help us understand past environments?

• By showing us what animals ate

• By indicating the climate of the past

• By telling us the age of the Earth

• By showing us how to make tools

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which process is most likely to form a fossil?

• Melting

• Freezing

• Burial in sediment

• Burning

Why are fossils important to scientists?

• They are valuable for making jewelry

• They provide evidence of past life and environments

• They are used to predict future weather

• They are used to grow new plants

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of the following statements is true about fossils?

• All fossils are found in water

• Fossils can only be found in deserts

• Fossils can be found in many different environments

• Fossils are only found in Texas

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What can the presence of marine fossils in a desert tell us?

• The desert was once underwater

• The desert is moving towards the ocean

• The desert has always been dry

• The desert is shrinking

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Which of the following is NOT a type of fossil?

• Mold

• Cast

• Amber

• Metal

How might a paleontologist use fossils to learn about the diet of an ancient animal?

• By examining the size of the fossil

• By analyzing the shape of the teeth

• By measuring the fossil's weight

• By counting the number of fossils found

What is the main reason fossils are found in sedimentary rock?

• Sedimentary rock is the oldest type of rock

• Sedimentary rock forms in layers that can trap organisms

• Sedimentary rock is the hardest type of rock

• Sedimentary rock is found only in Texas

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3