Question

1 why do so many fossils feature shells, skeletons, and teeth? choose two.

• most organisms on earth have shells, skeletons, or teeth

• bacteria and decomposers consume these parts first after an animal dies

• these decay slower than other body parts

• shells, skeletons, and teeth are very hard

• these are more likely to be buried in ice than other body parts

Explanation:

1. Analyze "Most organisms on Earth have shells, skeletons, or teeth": Many organisms (like soft - bodied ones) don't have these, so this is incorrect.
2. Analyze "Bacteria and decomposers consume these parts first after an animal dies": Bacteria and decomposers tend to consume softer tissues first, not these hard parts, so this is incorrect.
3. Analyze "These decay slower than other body parts": Shells, skeletons, and teeth are made of hard materials (like calcium carbonate, bone tissue) which decompose at a slower rate than soft tissues, so this is a correct reason.
4. Analyze "Shells, skeletons, and teeth are very hard": Their hardness means they are more resistant to decay and more likely to be preserved as fossils, so this is a correct reason.
5. Analyze "These are more likely to be buried in ice than other body parts": There's no basis for this claim as burial in ice is not related to these parts being more likely, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

C. These decay slower than other body parts, D. Shells, skeletons, and teeth are very hard