Which of the following circumstances is likely to preserve a fossil?
A)Leaves from an ancient oak tree fall to the ground in a forest.
B)A mammoth dies from starvation in the middle of a vast dry plain.
C)A ground sloth walks along the edge of a river in the wet mud.
D)Bacteria living in the ocean die near the shoreline and sink to the bottom.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Fossils are most likely to be preserved in environments where there is rapid burial and little exposure to the elements. The wet mud along the edge of a river can quickly cover the animal and protect it from decay and scavengers. Leaves from an oak tree in a forest, a mammoth in a vast dry plain, or bacteria in the ocean are all more likely to be exposed to the elements and decompose before they can be preserved as fossils.

Which of the Following Circumstances Is Likely to Preserve a Fossil