What does the discovery of a marine fossil in a present-day desert most likely indicate to scientists?

• A. Marine organisms can survive in arid environments.
• B. Fossils can form only in dry, sandy conditions.
• C. The area was once covered by an ocean or sea.
• D. Deserts have always existed in their current locations.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding what fossils are. Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived in the past. They provide evidence of the environment and conditions in which the organisms lived.
2. Step 2: Consider the significance of finding a marine fossil. Marine fossils are remains of organisms that lived in aquatic environments, such as oceans or seas. Their presence in a specific location indicates that the area was once underwater.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the current environment where the fossil was found. If the fossil is discovered in a desert, it suggests that the environment has undergone significant changes over geological time.
4. Step 4: Rule out incorrect interpretations. For example, marine organisms cannot survive in arid environments, and fossils can form in various conditions, not just dry, sandy ones. Deserts have not always existed in their current locations; they are dynamic and can change over time.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the discovery of a marine fossil in a desert most likely indicates that the area was once covered by an ocean or sea, as this aligns with the evidence provided by the fossil.