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Fossils Essay Questions

Use complete sentences to answer the following questions.

1. Why are most fossils found in sedimentary rocks?

Most fossils are found in sedimenary rocks because

animal or plant remains become covered by layers of

sediment (Sand, mud, or gravel). As the sediment

hardens the fossil is formed.

2. Why do scientists study fossils?

Scientist study fossils to find out more about

plants and animals that have died out or have lived

long ago.

3. Much of the energy we use today came originally from the sun.

Explain.

Fossil fuels are formed from the bodies of plants

and microorganisms that had energy stored in their

bodies. This stored energy is now available as fuel.

Fossil Review

Match the following definitions

A	1. Imprint left by the outside of a plant or animal
J	2. Valuable form of coal that produces a lot of heat and very little smoke
K	3. Fuel that is mainly used in transportation
D	4. Type of coal most often used in factories.
H	5. Gas fuel used for cooking and heating
B	6. Fossils that show how long -dead animals changed their environment
G	7. Any fuel formed from the remains of once-living organisms.
E	8. Mineral that fills a mold and have the same shape as the original living thing
C	9. Type of coal that produces very little heat
F	10. Remains of once-living things that have been preserved
I	11. Early form of coal made up of dead swamp plants

a. mold	b. trace fossils	c. lignite
d. bituminous coal	e. cast	f. fossils
g. fossil fuel	h. natural gas	i. peat
j. anthracite	k. petroleum