Finding Dinosaur Fossils Quiz

What type of rock layers are most likely to contain dinosaur fossils?

• Igneous rock layers

• Sedimentary rock layers

• Metamorphic rock layers

• Volcanic rock layers

During which time period were the sedimentary rock layers, that contain dinosaur fossils, formed?

• 500-300 million years ago

• 230-66 million years ago

• 100-50 million years ago

• 300-200 million years ago

What is the first step a paleontologist takes to find dinosaur fossils?

• Start digging immediately

• Figure out where to dig for fossils

• Collect samples from the site

• Analyze the fossils in a lab

What is the term used for the initial phase of fieldwork when searching for fossils?

• Excavation

• Prospecting

• Surveying

• Mapping

Why do paleontologists look for sedimentary rock layers that are exposed on the surface?

• To avoid digging too deep

• So that fossil bones are easily visible

• Because they are the hardest rocks

• To find water sources

Which of the following is NOT a type of sedimentary rock mentioned in the prompt?

• Limestone

• Sandstone

• Granite

• Shale

What is the main goal of a paleontologist when they start prospecting?

• To find water

• To locate dinosaur fossils

• To plant trees

• To build structures

Which of the following is a characteristic of sedimentary rock layers that might contain dinosaur fossils?

• They are formed by volcanic activity

• They are formed underwater

• They are formed during the time dinosaurs were alive

• They are formed in the last 10,000 years

What is the primary reason paleontologists choose regions with sedimentary rock layers for fossil hunting?

• They are easier to dig

• They are more colorful

• They contain fossils

• They are less expensive to explore

What is the significance of the time period 230-66 million years ago in paleontology?

• It marks the extinction of dinosaurs

• It is when dinosaurs first appeared

• It is when sedimentary rocks containing dinosaur fossils were formed

• It is when humans first appeared