Episode 632 Word Power Fossils Trapped in Tar

What's the meaning of congestion in "Not far from the congestion of the Los Angeles freeways..."?

If you encompass something, you ______.

To congeal as in "During colder weather, these pools congealed, trapping the leaves in the hardened tar." is to ______.

Which word or words could best replace immersed in "Once these beasts became immersed in the tar, it was nearly impossible for them to escape."?

Another word for demise in "These oily tar pits caused the demise of thousands of animals." is ______.

Pervaded in "The same tar that caused their deaths also pervaded their bones and preserved them as fossils." means ______.

Which words could best replace excavated in "Until 1906, the tar from Rancho La Brea was excavated for use as a glue. "?

Another word for fervid in "After that, scientists began the fervid excavation of these revealing fossils." is ______.

If you confute a theory, you ______.

Another word for probe in "As scientists continue to probe for answers, their discoveries about the past may help us glimpse the future." is ______.