Education Journalist | Study Abroad Lead
Fossils are remains of ancient life that are left behind and preserved by natural processes. From skeletons to sea shells all come under the category of fossils. Trace fossils are also a category of fossils. They are also called Ichnofossils. They are considered as the geological records of the behaviours and activities of past life. Burrows, rock evidence of nests, footprints are some of the examples of trace fossils. Trace fossils are very different from body fossils.
Fossilization depends upon various factors. The remains that are left behind should be buried deep inside the ground. This is the most important thing to happen for the process of fossilization. Because if the body of an animal is buried deep in the ground the chances of it being eaten by animals or destroying it by bacteria, erosion or fungi becomes very less. The deeper the remains of the animals are buried, the more likely they will become fossils.
Ques 1: Which one of the following can be called a fossil?
- An extinct animal buried deep in the land
- A man who lived 12,000 years ago found frozen in the glacier
- A hornet found inside a block of an amber which is around 120 million years old
- All of the above
Click here for the answer
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Any ancient remains buried deep inside the land of any organism are known as fossils. Most fossils are mineralized bones which we see in the museums. There are many types of fossils including the above examples which can be found. The other examples can be rodent burrows, animal tracks etc.
Ques 2. What is called the study of Paleoanthropology?
- The study of early forms of human beings and their ancestors
- Fossils of fish and their primate descendants
- Fossils of early forms of reptiles and their descendants
- Fossils of early forms of birds and their primate ancestors
Click here for the answer
Answer: a) The study of early forms of human beings and their ancestors
Explanation: Paleoanthropology is also called Paleontology. It is the study of the archaeological record and fossils of the early human beings and their and their primate ancestors. It understands the development of modern humans through the reconstruction of relationship lines within the family which is called the Hominidae.
Ques 3: According to paleontologist Stephen J. Gould, how many species of animals and plants that have lived on the earth, how many percentages are still alive?
- 15%
- 70%
- 1%
- 98%
Click here for the answer
Answer: c) 1%
Explanation: According to Stephen J. Gould, around 99% of all the species of animals and plants i.e., all living things have already become extinct. Many of them did not even have any fossil evidence left behind. This clearly indicated that only 1% or even less of them are still alive on the earth today.
Ques 4: _________ million species of all the living things on earth are described and given scientific names.
- 53 million
- 1.8 million
- 3 million
- 50 million
Click here for the answer
Answer: b) 1.8 million
Explanation: Around 1.8 million species of animals, plants and all the other living things are briefly described and have been given a name. There could be many other living species that are named. The Estimated number could be 3 to 100 million.
Ques 5: What does a holotype mean?
- A currently formed and described fossil species
- A term which is used to explain the special type of bones which are only found in birds
- A term which describes a single physical example of any organism which known to be use while the species was described
- None of the above
Click here for the answer
Answer: c) A term which describes a single physical example of any organism which known to be use while the species was described
Explanation: Holotype is a term which explains a single physical example of any organism which is known to be used when the species was formally described. The holotype is either a single physical example or illustration or one of several such. But it is explicitly described as the holotype.
Ques 6: Choose the true statement about fossilization from the given options.
- Fossilization is more common for the animals in forests and mountains compared to the animals from oceans and deserts.
- Fossilization is a very common occurrence.
- Small animals with very less weight are more likely to become fossils.
- None of the above
Click here for the answer
Answer: d) None of the above
Explanation: The process of fossilization doesn’t happen very often. It is a rare occurrence. The animals from the ocean and deserts are more likely to become fossils as compared to the organisms from dense forests and mountains. Very small animals with thin bones are much less likely to survive on the earth.
Ques 7: In which of the following conditions, the body of an animal is more likely to turn into a fossil?
- If the body is left on the ground surface
- If the body has very light bones or not any hard body parts
- If it is buried deep in the ground
- All of the above
Click here for the answer
Answer: c) If it is buried deep in the ground
Explanation: If the body of an animal is buried deep in the ground the chances of it being eaten by animals or destroying it by bacteria, erosion or fungi becomes very less. The deeper the remains of the animals are buried, the more likely they will become fossils. The same condition applies to organisms who die in the sea.
Ques 8: Radiocarbon dating can help find how many years old range of biological specimens?
- 50,000 years
- 75,000 years
- 150,000 years
- 500,000 years
Click here for the answer
Answer: a) 50,000 years
Explanation: American physicist Willard F. Libby developed a method called carbon-14 method. It explains the versatile technique of dating fossils and archaeological specimens from over 50,000 years old. Carbon-14 steadily decays into other substances.
Ques 9: The early 20th century description of La Chapelle-aux-Saints Neandertal skeleton by Marcellin Boule says________
- It explains and demonstrate the problem with describing a species of fossils based on a single specimen
- It was an intended fraud
- It was a very specific and accurate explanation of a typical Neanderthal man
- It claims that the Neandertals were extremely modern people with a high level of intelligence
Click here for the answer
Answer: a) It explains and demonstrate the problem with describing a species of fossils based on a single specimen
Explanation: Generalizing about the characteristics of certain species from a single specimen or a few specimens is a huge mistake. Living species regularly show considerable variations. Keeping this in mind, we should expect that earlier species did these kinds of variations as well.
Ques 10: The paleospecies that are defined from the fossil record are based on what criteria?
- DNA comparisons
- Morphology
- The reproduction of fertile offspring
- All of the above
Click here for the answer
Answer: b) Morphology
Explanation: The major criteria that is used for differentiating the species of ancient animals is the similarities as well as the differences in the appearance of the skeletons. It will also be possible that in the coming years we can extract DNA from fossils to aid in describing such species.
Ques 11: Choose the correct statement in terms of the fossil record.
- Amber is a form of mineralized bone.
- The skeleton which is at La Chapelle-aux-Saints was of a young and healthy Neanderthal man.
- Our interpretation about the fossil record is biased.
- None of them
Click here for the answer
Answer: c) Our interpretation about the fossil record is biased.
Explanation: There are many differentiations when it comes to preservation of fossils. Because of this some species are underrepresented or they are not at all found yet. In the records we have some blurred, not so clear pictures which have been taken in the past, mainly from the early stage.
Ques 12: What can we understand about the species from studying their fossilized skeletons?
- Life span
- Medical pathologies
- Growth patterns
- All of the above
Click here for the answer
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: By examining the fossilized skeletons we can understand the growth of their bodies, their life expectancy and what diseases they suffered from in the past. It is also possible to examine their physical appearance and physical capabilities.
Ques 13: Choose the correct statement.
- The bones of living animals are composed of both organic and non-organic molecules.
- Ground water percolating in the low level of the soil generally happens due to the mineralization of buried bone.
- The fossil records of all species are equally well studied and understood
- None of the above
Click here for the answer
Answer: a) The bones of living animals are composed of both organic and non-organic molecules.
Explanation: Living bones contain organic as well as inorganic components. The organic ones are mainly made up of proteins which makes the bones less brittle. The inorganic predominantly are of hydroxyapatite and calcium carbonate which results in bone rigidity.
Ques 14: What does the scientific study of the structure of skeletal elements, bones and micro bone morphology known as?
- Herpetology
- Entomology
- Osteology
- Morphology
Click here for the answer
Answer: c) Osteology
Explanation: Osteology simply means the scientific study of bones. It deals with the bony structure of an organism. It also deals with the anatomy of the bones. Osteology is used in various ways from sports, medicines to forensics etc.
Ques 15: When researchers study two fossilized skeletons and come to a conclusion that they came from two varied species because they look different from each other. In this case, which approach are they taking into consideration?
- Populational
- Paleontological
- Morphological
- Typological
Click here for the answer
Answer: d) Typological
Explanation: Typological approach is generally taken into consideration to define the species that are splitters. On the other hand, those who take a populationist approach, are generally lumpers. Because they somewhat ignore minor differences and emphasize more on similarities.
Ques 16: Choose the correct example of a trace fossil from the following options.
- Footprint
- Petrified wood
- Tooth
- Hardened bone
Click here for the answer
Answer: a) Footprint
Explanation: Trace fossils are also called Ichnofossils. They are considered as the geological records of the behaviours and activities of past life. Burrows, rock evidence of nests, footprints are some of the examples of trace fossils. Trace fossils are very different from body fossils.
For Latest Updates on Upcoming Board Exams, Click Here: https://t.me/class_10_12_board_updates
Check-Out:
Comments