Question

suppose you are a paleontologist and you have just discovered a layer of rock with many fossils in it, both bones and tracks. decide whether the following statements are observations or inferences.

1. there are tracks from three different animals in the rock. a.observation
2. one animal was chasing another animal. b. inference
3. two different animals died in this spot.
4. when the animals walked here the ground was wet.
5. one of the animals that died here had bony plates.
6. one of the animals that died here had sharp teeth.
7. the animal that had sharp teeth ate meat.

Explanation:

An observation is something directly seen or detected, while an inference is a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning.

• For 19, seeing three - different animal tracks is a direct observation.
• For 20, concluding one animal was chasing another from the tracks requires reasoning, so it's an inference.
• For 21, determining two animals died in a spot from the fossils is an inference.
• For 22, saying the ground was wet when animals walked there is an inference based on the nature of the tracks.
• For 23, if a bony - plate fossil is directly seen, it's an observation.
• For 24, if a sharp - tooth fossil is directly seen, it's an observation.
• For 25, concluding an animal with sharp teeth ate meat is an inference as it's a conclusion based on the characteristic of sharp teeth.

Answer:

1. A. Observation
2. B. Inference
3. B. Inference
4. B. Inference
5. A. Observation
6. A. Observation
7. B. Inference