Focus Questions
Directions: Answer the following questions as you navigate through Getting Into the Fossil Record.
1. What kinds of questions can the fossil record help us to
answer?
2. Describe the difference between a body fossil and a trace
fossil.
3. Why are organisms that are buried rapidly more likely to
fossilize than those that are buried slowly or not at all?
4. Describe two ways an organism can become a fossil without
being buried in sediment.
5. How does the environment affect the formation of fossils?
6. Describe three factors that could prevent an organism from
long ago from ever turning up in a fossil collection today.
7. How are geologic maps useful to paleontologists?
8. In your own words, explain why the fossil record is not
complete.
BONUS: You have been hired by National Geographic Magazine to journey to Inner Mongolia in search of fossils. You have the good fortune to find a site filled with many fossilized leaves, teeth, bones, eggs and even footprints from a variety of creatures. Amidst this treasure trove of ancient life you find no trace of insects. Your research partner concludes that no insects lived here at that time. What other hypothesis might you suggest to your partner?
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