What Do Fossils Show About Environments of Long Ago

Which of the following is the best definition of decay?

• To fossilize over time

• For a plant or animal to die

• A living thing passing traits on to the next generation

• The slow break down of dead plants and animals over time

The preserved remains of a once-living organism is known as a

• volcano

• fossil

• paleontologist

• sedimentary rock

What is a sedimentary rock?

• A type of rock formed by the cooling of lava outside a volcano

• A rock formed from intense heat and pressure

• A type of rock formed from layers of sediment that is compacted and cemented over time

• A type of rock formed by the cooling of magma inside a volcano

Why was it interesting for scientists to find coal in Antarctica?

• There are no trains in Antarctica

• Coal is made from plants and plants don't grow in Antarctica

• Animals do not decay in Antarctica

• There is no coal in Antarctica

Which of the following is not a piece of evidence to explain environmental changes?

• Coal in Antarctica

• Dinosaur bones in California

• Fossils of leaves

• Fish fossils in the desert

Which of the following is true about fossils? (select all that apply)

• Fossils can only be left by plants.

• Fossils can tell scientists about weather and climate.

• Fossils form in igneous rock.

• Fish fossils can be found in the desert.

• Fossils show that the environment has not changed very much

  over time.

In which section can a reader find information about how fossils are formed?

• The Subtitle

• "What are Fossils?"

• "Coal in Antarctica"

• "Fish in the Desert"

What can the reader infer about the photo at the top of page 2?

• That the fish had a lot of predators

• That the fossil was found in Antarctica

• That the fish was a catfish or tilapia

• That the fossil was found in a temperate environment

Which of the following best describes the text structure of this article?

• Cause/Effect

• Problem/Solution

• Descriptive

• Compare/Contrast

What is the main idea of the selection?

• Compare/Contrast

• Various types of fossils found all over the world can provide scientists with evidence that the environment has changed over time.

• Coal is formed in swampy areas and is made of dead, decaying plant matter.

• Fossils of fish found in the desert are evidence that the water cycle has changed over time.

• Leaf shape is the only piece of evidence scientists need to determine if the climate is changing.