Fossil Record – Lesson Check

The fossil record is the collection of all discovered fossils. Scientists study patterns in this record to learn about the history of life on Earth. These patterns can show how species have evolved over millions of years. Why is the fossil record important to scientists?

• It shows where fossils are buried

• It includes living organisms for comparison

• It helps researchers study evolutionary patterns

• It only includes dinosaur bones

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Fossils can form as molds or casts. A mold is a hollow shape left in rock after an organism decays. A cast is a solid copy of the organism, sometimes made when minerals fill the mold. Which statement correctly compares molds and casts?

• A mold is a solid shape; a cast is hollow

• A mold holds water; a cast forms after a mold

• A mold is the empty space; a cast is the filled-in copy

• Molds and casts are the same thing

Most fossils form when an organism dies and is quickly buried by sediment. Over time, the soft parts decay, but the hard parts like bones or shells may stay and become fossils. How do most fossils form?

• When an organism freezes in ice

• When an organism dies and is buried in sediment

• When a body of water dries up

• When organisms sink in lava

Body fossils are actual parts of the organism, such as bones or teeth. Trace fossils are signs the organism was there, such as footprints, nests, or droppings. Which of the following is an example of a trace fossil?

• A bone

• A tooth

• A footprint

• A claw

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The oldest known fossils are stromatolites, which are fossilized bacteria. They are around 3.4 billion years old and formed about one billion years after Earth was created. What are stromatolites?

• Fossilized tree trunks

• Ancient fish fossils

• Fossilized bacteria from early Earth

• Footprints from dinosaurs

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The oldest rocks usually contain fossils of simple organisms like bacteria, not complex animals such as elephants. Would fossils of early elephants be found in Earth’s oldest rocks?

• Yes, because all fossils are mixed together

• No, because older rocks only show simple life forms

• Yes, if they were fossilized quickly

• No, because elephants lived in water

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Scientists compare anatomy, or body structures, of different species to find similarities. These similarities can suggest that species share a common ancestor. What does comparing anatomy help scientists discover?

• What animals ate

• Whether animals can fly

• If species share a common ancestor

• How animals move

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Homologous structures are body parts that are similar in structure and position, but may serve different functions. For example, the arm bones in humans, whales, and bats show a common design, even though they are used for different things. What do homologous structures show? Select two

• a) Species share a common ancestor

• b) All species are the same

• c) Similar structures are found in different animals

• d) The structures always serve the same purpose

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Sometimes species evolve quickly due to major environmental changes. These sudden shifts can result in rapid development of new traits to survive in a new environment. What is a common cause of rapid evolution?

• Slow fossil development

• Dinosaur extinction

• A major change in the environment

• The discovery of new fossils

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As new fossils are discovered, scientists often revise their hypotheses. This is a normal part of science: new evidence leads to new or updated explanations. What does finding a new fossil often cause scientists to do?

• Throw out all old fossils

• Create a new species

• Revise their earlier ideas

• Stop studying that fossil

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