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Fossils (Cause of Fossil)

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Scientists can study fossils to learn about

the ___________.

a)

past

b)

present

c)

future

d)

none of the above

2.

What most likely made this fossil?

a)

Plant

b)

Animal

c)

Footprint

d)

Bone

3.

What most likely made this fossil?

a)

Plant

b)

Animal

c)

Footprint

d)

Bone

4.

A fossil of a fish is found on top of a

mountain. You can argue that the area

was once

a)

underwater

b)

a desert

c)

much colder

d)

much warmer

5.

Over millions of years, trees may become fossilized when they turn into_____

a)

paper

b)

soil

c)

rock

d)

water

6.

Which is a fossil?

a)

bone from a chicken dinner

b)

a live plant

c)

the preserved remains of a plant or animal that lived long ago

d)

a piece of pottery

7.

The body parts of this fossil tell you that this animal _________.

a)

Flew

b)

Hopped

c)

Swam

d)

Crawled

8.

Where are most fossils formed?

a)

near volcanoes, because the high heat of the lava helps to form fossils

b)

in glaciers, because fossils are created when an organism is frozen quickly

c)

in sedimentary rock, because being buried in sediment helps to form fossils

d)

near earthquakes, because the shaking ground traps organisms to create fossils

9.

Which type of scientist studies life that existed

long ago, mostly by studying fossils?

a)

biologist

b)

zoologist

c)

botanist

d)

paleontologist

10.

Which feature helps the most to identify the organism as a plant?

a)

size

b)

color

c)

smell

d)

shape

11.

Which is a fossil?

a)

bone from a chicken dinner

b)

a live plant

c)

the preserved remains of a plant or animal that lived long ago

d)

a piece of pottery

12.

What is the correct listing of steps for a fossil?

a)

1) Pressure created a rock.

2) Plant or animal is buried.

3) Plant or animal is left alone for years.

4) Plant or animal dies.

b)

1) Plant or animal dies.

2) Plant or animal is left alone for years.

3) Pressure created a rock.

4) Plant or animal is buried.

c)

1) Plant or animal dies.

2) Plant or animal is left alone for years.

3) Plant or animal is buried.

4) Pressure created a rock.

d)

1) Plant or animal dies.

2) Plant or animal is buried.

3) Plant or animal is left alone for years.

4) Pressure created a rock.

13.

Scientists discovered the fossilized remains of an unidentified animal. They can tell from its remains that it had gills and fins, but no legs. What conclusion about the animal can they draw from the evidence?

a)

It was a land mammal.

b)

It lived in the water all the time.

c)

It had legs that did not fossilize.

d)

It lived in the water and on land.

14.

How did scientists first learn about dinosaurs?

a)

by studying their fossils

b)

by reading about them

c)

by watching movies

d)

by looking at pictures

15.

What must happen to an organism's body for it to become a fossil?

a)

It must remain above ground.

b)

It must dry out in the sunlight.

c)

It must be buried right after death.

d)

It must be eaten by other animals.

16.

The picture shows a tooth fossil of the extinct

Megalodon shark next to teeth from a great white

shark, which is still found today.


Which of the following best explains the

difference in the size of the teeth?

a)

Sharks were once larger than the sharks that are living today.

b)

The fossilized tooth was filled with water, which made it grow in size.

c)

Sharks alive today do not live long enough to grow very large teeth..

d)

The fossilized tooth had extra sediment around it, which became a part of it

17.

The organism represented in this fossil

a)

fed mostly on fish and algae.

b)

moved by using many tiny legs.

c)

lived in an environment that required a hard shell for protection.

d)

had an internal skeleton that was used to maintain the organism's shape.

18.
If an organism completely dissolves in sedimentary rock, it can leave an impression of its exterior in the rock
a)
mold fossil
b)
cast fossil
19.
A fossil formed when an animal, plant, or other organism dies, its flesh decays and bones deteriorate due to chemical reactions; minerals gradually enter into the cavity.
a)
mold fossil
b)
cast fossil
20.
What can you tell about this organism by studying this fossil?
a)
The organism swam
b)
The organism ate meat
c)
The organism breathed fire
d)
The organism flew
21.
This animal probably ate......
a)
producers
b)
manufactured its own food
c)
meat
d)
dead or decaying matter
22.
This fossil shows that this animal was an/a......
a)
air animal
b)
aquatic animal
c)
land animal
23.
Aquatic fossils were found in Kansas.  This proved that Kansas was once.... 
a)
covered with various trees
b)
a desert
c)
covered with water
d)
a frozen tundra
24.
Which is NOT a type of fossil?
a)
carbon film
b)
mold or cast
c)
sediment
d)
petrified wood
25.
The youngest fossils would be found in which layer of rock?
a)
Top layer of rock
b)
Middle layer of rock
c)
Bottom layer of rock 
26.
What type of fossil is made of water and minerals hardening into rock in the mold of the decomposed animal, plant, or shell?
a)
trace
b)
cast
c)
mold
d)
whole/part
27.
What is a name for hardened tree sap that helps preserve whole organisms?
a)
silt 
b)
mineral
c)
amber
d)
honey
28.
Which fossil type show an animal's movement or behavior?
a)
cast fossils
b)
trace fossils
c)
whole/part fossils
d)
mold fossils
29.
What are some materials that would preserve an animals whole body?
a)
tar 
b)
ice 
c)
amber
d)
all of the above
30.
The remains of all plants and animals turn into fossils.
a)
True
b)
False