Exploring Fossils and Paleontology

What is a fossil?

• A type of rock found in mountains

• The remains or traces of living things from long ago

• A living animal

• A type of plant

Who studies fossils?

• Botanists

• Astronomers

• Paleontologists

• Geologists

Which of the following is an example of a trace fossil?

• A dinosaur bone

• A shell

• A footprint

• A leaf

What does the word "extinct" mean?

• Living in the ocean

• No longer living on Earth

• Found in a forest

• Still alive today

Where do most fossils form?

• On mountain tops

• In deserts

• At the bottom of rivers, swamps, lakes, or oceans

• In the sky

Which part of a living thing is most likely to become a fossil?

• Skin

• Hair

• Hard parts like bones, shells, and teeth

• Eyes

What is amber?

• Hardened tree resin that sometimes contains fossils

• A type of rock

• A kind of plant

• A dinosaur bone

Which of these is NOT a way fossils can form?

• In tar pits

• In ice

• In clouds

• In tree resin

What is the first step in forming a fossil in the ocean?

• The organism is eaten by another animal

• The organism dies

• The organism is covered by plants

• The organism swims away

Why do paleontologists study fossils?

• To find gold

• To gather evidence about different organisms and their environments

• To grow new plants

• To make jewelry