How Palaeontologists Work

Question 1

A team of palaeontologists wrote down the steps they took with a new dinosaur fossil in this order: excavation → prospecting → jacketing → preparation → transport → study → display Which statement best explains why this sequence would cause a problem?

Accepted Answer

They tried to excavate before first looking for fossils in the field (prospecting).

Answer

They moved the fossil to the lab before wrapping it in plaster (jacketing).

Answer

They examined the fossil in detail before cleaning and stabilizing it (preparation).

Answer

They put the fossil on exhibit before writing a scientific description (study).

Question 2

Maya is uncovering a tiny dinosaur tooth that is still stuck in a piece of rock. Which reason best explains why she should keep using a fine brush and a small pick instead of a big chisel?

Accepted Answer

Small tools let her scrape away the rock very gently, so the fragile tooth won’t crack or break.

Answer

Adding water will dissolve the rock and free the tooth without any tools.

Answer

Using a hammer will break the surrounding rock and reveal the tooth quickly.

Answer

A big chisel will work faster and finish the job sooner.

Question 3

Which list shows the correct order of the main stages a palaeontologist follows from finding a fossil to showing it in a museum?

Accepted Answer

Prospecting → Excavation → Jacketing → Transport → Preparation → Study → Display

Answer

Excavation → Prospecting → Jacketing → Transport → Preparation → Study → Display

Answer

Prospecting → Jacketing → Excavation → Transport → Preparation → Study → Display

Answer

Prospecting → Excavation → Transport → Jacketing → Preparation → Study → Display

Try three questions

A team of palaeontologists wrote down the steps they took with a new dinosaur fossil in this order: excavation → prospecting → jacketing → preparation → transport → study → display Which statement best explains why this sequence would cause a problem?

Maya is uncovering a tiny dinosaur tooth that is still stuck in a piece of rock. Which reason best explains why she should keep using a fine brush and a small pick instead of a big chisel?

Which list shows the correct order of the main stages a palaeontologist follows from finding a fossil to showing it in a museum?

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