Page 16 - Reading Success B4

Fossils are remains of an animal or plant that lived on Earth. Examples of

these are bones that were not destroyed through time. Other fossils can be teeth
or hair. These are parts of the body that do not rot. Not all fossils are body parts.

Something that was made by an animal can also be a fossil. Examples of these
are footprints and places where animals lived. Scientists study fossils. Fossils are

very interesting. They help us get information about those that lived a long time
ago. It is always exciting to find things that old animals and plants left behind.

Fossils can be formed in different ways. A fossil can be formed by keeping a
body part in a very cold place. This is called freezing or refrigeration. Another way

a fossil can be formed is through drying. Skin, for example, does not rot when it is
completely dry. A lot of wonderful fossils have been discovered. Some great finds

are those of animals that we no longer see now. Examples of these are fossils
from dinosaurs. The things we know about dinosaurs are based on their fossils.

This is also true for other animals that are now extinct.
Scientists usually put bones together to see what the animal looked like. They

also have a way of knowing the age of the fossils. They can study the fossils to
know when the animal lived or died. Scientists still continue to study fossils and

look for new ones. There are so many things we have discovered about the
Earth’s past through fossils. However, there are much more we still have to know.

Main Idea

What is the main idea of this story?

a. where fossils can be found

b. what fossils are and how they are formed
c. some things we have learned from fossils

d. some examples of fossils

18_Reading Success B 4