Question

A scientist at a large natural history museum has

a collection of fossils that were found throughout
the world. Only a few of the fossils represent
species that are still alive on Earth today. One
reason for this is that
(1) most of the species that have ever lived on
Earth are alive today
(2) most of the species that have ever lived on
Earth are extinct
(3) fossils of only extinct species have been
found
(4) species alive today will not form any fossils
for future discovery by scientists

Answer 1

Scientists estimate that as much as 99.9 % of all species that have ever lived is not extinct: the correct answer is 2)

also, species alive today can still form fossils is the right conditions, those can be found today and in the future.

Answer 2

The correct answer is 2. Most of the species that have ever lived on earth are extinct.

Fossil is termed as any preserved remains, trace or impression of once living thing from past geological age. A good example of fossils include, stone imprints of animals, objects preserved in amber, hair, petrified wood, exoskeleton, and shells.

The study of fossil is termed as paleontology together with evolutionary significance, method of formation, and age.

The process which leads to fossilization includes cats and molds, replacement, permineralization and carbonization.