Where to Look
Name one place paleontologists may go to find fossils.
dry riverbed
What is one thing that can happen to a plant or animal after it is covered by dirt or sand that helps form a body fossil?
A The soft parts stay the same forever.
B The hard parts, like bones or a trunk, are left and the dirt turns to rock.
C The animal comes back to life.
D The dirt blows away quickly.
B. The hard parts, like bones or a trunk, are left and the dirt turns to rock.
Which is discussed in BOTH passages?
C. Scientists are not the only people who discover fossils.
In Passage 1, the author says paleontologists use small paintbrushes or toothbrushes to clean fossils. Which meaning of the word clean is used here?
A. make neat or tidy
B. remove dirt or mud
C. fix something that's broken
D. wash with soap and water
B. remove dirt or mud
How old was Ruby when she found pieces of bone in 2020?
11
From passage 1: "Most fossils lie deep under dirt, sand, or rock." Why might fossils be hidden underground?
they have been buried for many years under layers
According to paragraph 2 of Passage 1, what does water do in the process of fossils being formed?
it breaks down the hard parts of the animal
How are the two passages different?
A. Passage 1 talks more about how fossils are formed and collected, and Passage 2 talks more about some people who found fossils.
Read the sentence from paragraph 3 of Passage 2. They become extinct over 100 million years ago. What does the word extinct mean in this sentence?
D. not alive anymore
The word ichthyosaur comes from the Greek words for these two animals.
fish and lizard
Which people sometimes find fossils when digging besides paleontologists?
builders and farmers
Based on paragraph 3 of Passage 1, what are trace fossils?
Trace fossils are prints left in soft mud that harden into stone.
Which idea is explained more in Passage 1 than in Passage 2?
A How fossils are formed and how paleontologists remove them from rock.
B Specific sizes and species details of ichthyosaurs.
C Stories about two children who found fossils.
D Where ichthyosaur fossils have been found around the world.
A. How fossils are formed and how paleontologists remove them from rock.
Read the sentence from paragraph 5 of Passage 2. More layers build up over the remains of the animal or plant. The word remains has multiple meanings. Which meaning is used in the sentence?
A. the part left over
Scientists think Ruby's ichthyosaur could have grown to about how many feet long?
over 80 feet long
In what country were both Mary Anning's and Ruby Reynolds's fossils found?
England
According to paragraph 7 of Passage 1, why are toothbrushes used when fossils are found?
to clean away dirt
Passage 2 describes three different ichthyosaur discoveries. Give the events in the correct order. First, Then, Last.
First - Mary Anning discovered an ichthyosaur fossil with her brother.
Then - Many ichthyosaur fossils were found together in Nevada.
Last - Ruby Reynolds had her father found ichthyosaur bones.
Read the sentence from paragraph 1 from Passage 1. As you look closely at the rocks at your feet, you notice that they have tiny prints in them. Which meaning of the word prints is used?
marks that are left behind
after a year
In the 1950s many ichthyosaur fossils were found together in which U.S. state?
Nevada
Explain in one sentence how minerals help form body fossils?
Minerals replace the hard parts like bones or shells and slowly turn them into rock.
Read the following statements about fossils and their discovery. Then organize them to the correct category: Can You Dig It?, A Gigantic Find, both passages.
1. The author describes what paleontologists do.
2. The author describes a creature found all over the world.
3. The author describes what scientists do at the lab.
4. The author describes how fossils are formed.
1. both passages
2. A Gigantic Find
3. Can You Dig It?
4. both passages
Part A - Read the sentence from paragraph 8 of Passage 2. Ruby found a new species of ichthyosaur. What does the word species mean?
Part B - Which word from paragraph 8 helps the reader know the meaning of species?
B. type
B. kinds
What is one similarity between Mary and Ruby's discoveries?
both found ichthyosaur fossils