Question 1

The diversification of multicellular lineages associated with what has been called "the Cambrian explosion" started _______ the Cambrian period.

Accepted Answer

A)   before
B)   at the start of
C)   during the middle of
D)   toward the end of
E)   after

Question 2

If the half-life of a radioactive substance is 600 years, what fraction of the original material would be left after 1,800 years?

Accepted Answer

A)   1/32
B)   1/16
C)   1/8
D)   1/4
E)   1/2

Question 3

A fossil lies buried in Laurasia during the Jurassic period.During its lifetime as a member of the Permian biota, it would most likely have lived in the _______ part of _______.

Accepted Answer

A)   northern; Pangaea
B)   southern; Pangaea
C)   northern; Gondwana
D)   southern; Gondwana
E)   northern; Australia

Question 4

The Himalayas were formed

Accepted Answer

A)   by subduction.
B)   by the gradual accumulation of material.
C)   when two continental plates pushed up against each other.
D)   when a continental plate pushed up against an oceanic plate.
E)   when two oceanic plates pushed up against each other.

Question 5

At the end of the Permian, populations of organisms likely be the most vulnerable to changing climatic conditions

Accepted Answer

A)   near the equator.
B)   at low latitudes.
C)   at low elevations.
D)   at high elevations.
E)   in the deep oceans.

Question 6

Refer to the figure.  The figure depicts a layer of iridium at the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K/T)  boundary between strata from two different periods in Earth's history.The only _______ fossils found above the K/T boundary are those of birds.

Accepted Answer

A)   flying animal
B)   amniote
C)   dinosaur
D)   warm-blooded animal
E)   Cretaceous

Question 7

Fruit flies grow larger after several generations of being raised in _______ conditions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Fruit flies grow larger after several generations...

Question 8

Which of the following gases have opposing effects on Earth's climate?

Accepted Answer

A)   Nitrogen and oxygen
B)   Nitrogen and carbon dioxide
C)   Carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide
D)   Carbon dioxide and oxygen
E)   Nitrogen and sulfur dioxide

Question 9

Which group of organisms has been most affected by periods of increased glaciations?

Accepted Answer

A)   Autotrophs
B)   Land mammals
C)   Humans
D)   Marine life
E)   Land plants

Question 10

Which of the following is not considered a plausible hypothesis for the causes of mass extinctions?

Accepted Answer

A)   Extraterrestrial events, such as meteorite or asteroid collisions
B)   Glaciations
C)   Massive volcanic activity
D)   Competition among organisms
E)   Climate shifts

Question 11

Fossils found in lower strata of undisturbed sedimentary rocks are _______ and _______ similar to modern-day organisms than those found in higher strata.

Accepted Answer

A)   younger; more
B)   younger; less
C)   the same age as; more
D)   older; more
E)   older; less

Question 12

The most dramatic mass extinction in Earth's history, which destroyed about 96 percent of the species,

Accepted Answer

A)   killed off the dinosaurs.
B)   occurred at the end of the Cretaceous.
C)   occurred at the end of the Permian.
D)   resulted from a meteorite impact.
E)   only affected terrestrial animals.

Question 13

Great evolutionary radiations of corals and shelled squid (like cephalopods) occurred during the _______ period.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Great evolutionary radiations of corals and shelled...

Question 14

Relative to the number of described species that are currently alive on Earth, there are about _______ as many described fossil species.As a result, scientists conclude that many species have evolved and gone extinct without being documented.

Accepted Answer

A)   1/100
B)   1/6
C)   twice
D)   six times
E)   one hundred times

Question 15

A group of oxygen-generating bacteria, the _______, form rocklike structures known as stromatolites.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A group of oxygen-generating bacteria, the _______,...

Question 16

In what way was the evolution of eukaryotic cells linked to the increase in the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere that occurred during the Precambrian?

Accepted Answer

Small prokaryotic cells can obtain enoug...

Question 17

The formation of the single giant continent _______ about 275 million years ago caused massive volcanic eruptions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The formation of the single giant continent...

Question 18

Which atmospheric gas is most closely associated with an increase in average global temperatures?

Accepted Answer

A)   Carbon dioxide
B)   Oxygen
C)   Nitrogen
D)   Argon
E)   Hydrogen

Question 19

The movement of plates arises from heat generated by _______ coming from the _______.

Accepted Answer

A)   chemical reactions; lithosphere
B)   chemical reactions; mantle
C)   radioactive decay; lithosphere
D)   radioactive decay; mantle
E)   solar energy; lithosphere

Question 20

Which statement about the Cambrian period is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   Multicellular life was probably limited to aquatic environment.
B)   The first multicellular life appeared.
C)   It marks the end of the Paleozoic era.
D)   Oxygen concentrations were extremely low.
E)   Large land mammals evolved.

Exam 24: The History of Life on Earth

In what way was the evolution of eukaryotic cells linked to the increase in the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere that occurred during the Precambrian?

Correct AnswerverifiedSmall prokaryotic cells can obtain enoug...View AnswerShow Answer

The Himalayas were formed

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement about the Cambrian period is true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The formation of the single giant continent _______ about 275 million years ago caused massive volcanic eruptions.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Great evolutionary radiations of corals and shelled squid (like cephalopods) occurred during the _______ period.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Relative to the number of described species that are currently alive on Earth, there are about _______ as many described fossil species.As a result, scientists conclude that many species have evolved and gone extinct without being documented.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The movement of plates arises from heat generated by _______ coming from the _______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which atmospheric gas is most closely associated with an increase in average global temperatures?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

At the end of the Permian, populations of organisms likely be the most vulnerable to changing climatic conditions

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A fossil lies buried in Laurasia during the Jurassic period.During its lifetime as a member of the Permian biota, it would most likely have lived in the _______ part of _______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which group of organisms has been most affected by periods of increased glaciations?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The most dramatic mass extinction in Earth's history, which destroyed about 96 percent of the species,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The diversification of multicellular lineages associated with what has been called "the Cambrian explosion" started _______ the Cambrian period.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If the half-life of a radioactive substance is 600 years, what fraction of the original material would be left after 1,800 years?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A group of oxygen-generating bacteria, the _______, form rocklike structures known as stromatolites.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Refer to the figure. The figure depicts a layer of iridium at the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K/T) boundary between strata from two different periods in Earth's history.The only _______ fossils found above the K/T boundary are those of birds.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Fossils found in lower strata of undisturbed sedimentary rocks are _______ and _______ similar to modern-day organisms than those found in higher strata.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not considered a plausible hypothesis for the causes of mass extinctions?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following gases have opposing effects on Earth's climate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Fruit flies grow larger after several generations of being raised in _______ conditions.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Small prokaryotic cells can obtain enoug...
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The movement of plates arises from heat generated by _ coming from the _.

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A fossil lies buried in Laurasia during the Jurassic period.During its lifetime as a member of the Permian biota, it would most likely have lived in the _ part of _.

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Fossils found in lower strata of undisturbed sedimentary rocks are _ and _ similar to modern-day organisms than those found in higher strata.

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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