Question

________ like bones or shells, and they can be ______ or ______. some fossils are ______ ______, which show an organisms shape, or ______ ______, which show signs of activity. the fossil record also gives clues about ______ ______ and supports the idea of ______. similar ______, ______, and ______ ______ suggest species had a ______ ______. changes in the______ or ________ can lead to new species.

Explanation:

To solve this fill - in - the - blank problem related to fossils (a topic in Biology, a subfield of Natural Science), we can use our knowledge of fossil concepts:

Step 1: First blank (type of fossil remains)

Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of organisms. The first blank is about the hard parts of organisms like bones or shells, so it should be "Fossils" (the preserved remains, here referring to the hard parts).

Step 2: Second and third blanks (types of fossils)

Fossils can be "mineralized" (when minerals replace the original material) or "preserved" (like in amber or ice). So the second blank: "mineralized", third blank: "preserved".

Step 3: Fourth and fifth blanks (type of fossil showing shape)

Some fossils are "body fossils", which show an organism's shape. So fourth blank: "body", fifth blank: "fossils".

Step 4: Sixth and seventh blanks (type of fossil showing activity)

Fossils that show signs of activity are "trace fossils". So sixth blank: "trace", seventh blank: "fossils".

Step 5: Eighth and ninth blanks (what fossil record clues about)

The fossil record gives clues about "how organisms have changed over time" (evolutionary history). So eighth blank: "how", ninth blank: "organisms have changed over time".

Step 6: Tenth blank (idea supported by fossil record)

The fossil record supports the idea of "evolution" (change in species over time). So tenth blank: "evolution".

Step 7: Eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth blanks (evidence for common ancestry)

Similar "body structures", "developmental patterns", and "DNA sequences" (though for fossils, body structures and developmental patterns in related fossils) suggest species had a "common ancestor". So eleventh blank: "body", twelfth blank: "structures", thirteenth blank: "developmental", fourteenth blank: "patterns", fifteenth blank: "common", sixteenth blank: "ancestor".

Step 8: Fifteenth and sixteenth blanks (what changes lead to new species)

Changes in the "environment" or "genetic makeup" can lead to new species. So fifteenth blank: "environment", sixteenth blank: "genetic makeup".

Answer:

1. Fossils
2. mineralized
3. preserved
4. body
5. fossils
6. trace
7. fossils
8. how
9. organisms have changed over time
10. evolution
11. body
12. structures
13. developmental
14. patterns
15. common
16. ancestor
17. environment
18. genetic makeup

(Note: The answers are based on the standard concepts of fossils in Biology. Some blanks may have alternative correct answers based on different textbook wordings, but the above are common and accurate responses.)