{{B}}How to Get Preserved as a Fossil{{/B}}
56. {{U}}Unfortunately the changes of any animal become a fossil are not very great, and{{/U}} 57. {{U}}the chances of a fossil then being discovered many thousand of years later are even less.{{/U}} 58. {{U}}It is not surprising that all the millions of animals that have lived in the past.{{/U}} 59. {{U}}we actually have fossils of only very few.{{/U}}
60. {{U}}There are several ways into which animals and plants may' become fossilized.{{/U}} 61. {{U}}First, it is essential that the remains are buried, as though dead animals and plants are quickly destroyed{{/U}} 62. {{U}}if they remain exposed the air.{{/U}} Plants rot, while insects and hyenas cat the flesh and bones of animals. 63. {{U}}Finally, the few remaining bones soon disintegrate the hot sun and pouring rain.{{/U}} If buried in suitable conditions, however, animal and plant remains will be preserved. 64. {{U}}The same chemicals change sand and silt into hard rock will also enter the animal and plant remains and make them hard too.{{/U}} 65. {{U}}When this happens, we say that they become fossilized.{{/U}}