Final answer:
The most likely rock to contain fossils is sandstone due to its sedimentary nature and the lower likelihood of fossil disruption during formation compared to igneous rock like granite or high-pressure metamorphic rocks like slate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most likely type of rock in which you can expect to find fossils is sandstone. Fossils are preserved remains or impressions of ancient organisms that are often found in sedimentary rock layers. Granite is an igneous rock, so it is not formed through the deposition and compaction of organic matter, making it unlikely to contain fossils. Slate is a metamorphic rock that was once sediment, but the high pressures and temperatures involved in its formation tend to destroy any fossils that may have been present. Therefore, sandstone and similar sedimentary rocks like shale, highlighted in part D among the examples, which contain fine laminations and plankton fossils, are prime candidates for fossil preservation.
Fossil diversity reflects different environments and periods in Earth's history. In sandstone, you might find fossils such as tracks, burrows, or remnants of ancient creatures that lived in or near sandy environments. Shales, particularly those rich in organic material as alluded to above, often contain fossils of smaller, delicate organisms that lived in calmer waters, like plankton.