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Be a Paleontologist!

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

When there are no longer any living members of a plant or animal species, it is considered__________.

a)

extinct

b)

preserved

c)

endangered

d)

rotting

2.

The hardened remains of a living thing that died long ago.

a)

fossil

b)

extinct

c)

endangered

d)

minerals

3.

A ______________________ is a scientist who studies fossils.

a)

biologist

b)

chemist

c)

paleontologist

d)

astronomer

4.

Most fossils are found in ________.

a)

sedimentary rock

b)

metamorphic rock

c)

igneous rock

d)

All of these

5.

Which of the following substances is not able to preserve entire organisms?

a)

sticky tar

b)

water

c)

amber

d)

ice

6.
Which animal part would most likely form a fossil?
a)
Muscle 
b)
Fur
c)
Lung
d)
Bone 
7.

An animal has sharp, pointy teeth. What can we infer about this animal?

a)

The animal lived in the water.

b)

The animal lived near the beach.

c)

The animal was a carnivore.

d)

The animal only ate plants.

8.

If you found a fish fossil in the desert, what can you infer?

a)

An animal ate the fish.

b)

The water covered the area long ago.

c)

Today's fish looks the same.

d)

The fish is endangered.

9.

What can we infer about animals with dull teeth?

a)

They ate other animals.

b)

They ate only plants.

c)

They ate nothing.

d)

They only ate fish.

10.

Turtles look much like they did millions of years ago. What can we infer about turtle fossils?

a)

They did not change over time.

b)

Turtles survived the Ice Age.

c)

Turtles went extinct.

d)

Turtles were never endangered.

11.

Why are there more animal fossils than plant fossils?

a)

Animals are smaller than plants.

b)

Plants have harder bodies than animals.

c)

Plans have softer bodies than animals.

d)

Animals eat plants.

12.

Scientists study the fossil record to learn about

a)

The history of life

b)

Past environments on Earth

c)

How different groups of organisms have changed over time

d)

All of these

13.

This type of fossil is a mark or cavity made in sediment in the shape of a shell or other body.

a)
cast
b)
trace
c)
petrified
d)
mold
14.

This type of fossil is a mold filled with sediment that creates a solid copy of an organism

a)
mold
b)
petrified
c)
cast
d)
trace
15.

This type of fossil provides evidence of the activities of ancient organisms. E.g., marks left by footprints or tails.

a)

Mold fossil

b)

Carbon film

c)

Trace fossil

d)

Cast fossil