Which statement describes the relative age of a fossil that has formed inside a layer of rock?

Question

Responses:
The fossil is younger than the layer of rock it was formed in.
The fossil is older than the layer of rock it was formed in.
The fossil is older than the layer of rock right below it.
The fossil is younger than the layer of rock right above it.

Answer 1

The correct statement is: The fossil is younger than the layer of rock it was formed in.

In geology, the principle of superposition states that in undisturbed layers of rock, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top. Therefore, a fossil found within a rock layer is considered to be younger than the rock layer itself.