Fossil Evidence

What does extinct mean?

• no longer existing

• growing rapidly

• changing color

• moving to a new place

What is a fossil? A fossil (FOS-sil) is any ________ or ________ of a living thing from the past.

• remains, imprint

• bone, feather

• shell, leaf

• rock, mineral

Have you used any of these words before? (extinct, fossil)

• Yes

• No

This photo shows the fossil of a dinosaur head. It was an allosaur. The shape and size of its teeth shows that it ate ________.

• meat

• plants

• fruits

• insects

Fossils are evidence of:

• past life and evolution

• weather patterns

• volcanic eruptions

• modern technology

Fossils tell us that dinosaurs:

• existed millions of years ago

• could fly like birds today

• lived only in water

• were all small animals

Fill in the blank: Evidence is proof or a reason to _______ a claim.

• support

• ignore

• reject

• question

The ammonite became a fossil because:

• It was buried by sediment and minerals replaced its body parts over time.

• It was eaten by predators.

• It floated on the water surface.

• It turned into a plant.

Fossils are found in Texas because:

• Texas was once covered by ancient seas and environments that preserved remains of plants and animals.

• Texas has always been a desert with no life forms.

• Fossils are only found in cold regions, and Texas is cold.

• Fossils are created by volcanic eruptions, which are common in Texas.