Question 1

Which of the following could be dated by means of radioactive carbon?

Accepted Answer

A)  A mastodon that is about 15,000 years old 
B)  Remains thought to be associated with King Tut (who lived 2,500 years ago) 
C)  A Homo erectus skeleton thought be around 800,000 years old 
D)  A dinosaur from the Jurassic 
E)  Both a and b 
A)  A mastodon that is about 15,000 years old 
B)  Remains thought to be associated with King Tut (who lived 2,500 years ago) 
C)  A Homo erectus skeleton thought be around 800,000 years old 
D)  A dinosaur from the Jurassic 
E)  Both a and b

Question 2

The half-life of a particular radioactive isotope of element X is 100 years.If you know that 400 years ago a fossil contained 10 mg of this isotope,you would expect to find about _______ mg in that fossil today.

Accepted Answer

A)  0.15 
B)  0.3 
C)  0.6 
D)  2.5 
E)  5 
A)  0.15 
B)  0.3 
C)  0.6 
D)  2.5 
E)  5

Question 3

You are investigating a Triassic fossil bed.What would you not expect to find?

Accepted Answer

A)  Pterosaurs 
B)  Frogs 
C)  Turtles 
D)  Seed ferns 
E)  Conifers 
A)  Pterosaurs 
B)  Frogs 
C)  Turtles 
D)  Seed ferns 
E)  Conifers

Question 4

The Cambrian explosion started _______ the Cambrian and lasted for _______ of years.

Accepted Answer

A)  before;tens of thousands 
B)  before;millions 
C)  during;hundreds 
D)  during;tens of thousands 
E)  during;millions 
A)  before;tens of thousands 
B)  before;millions 
C)  during;hundreds 
D)  during;tens of thousands 
E)  during;millions

Question 5

Which of the following represents the correct chronological order of events,from earliest to latest?

Accepted Answer

A)  100 million years ago,first mammals appear,dinosaurs go extinct 
B)  100 million years ago,dinosaurs go extinct,first mammals appear 
C)  Dinosaurs go extinct,first mammals appear,100 million years ago 
D)  First mammals appear,100 million years ago,dinosaurs go extinct 
E)  First mammals appear,dinosaurs go extinct,100 million years ago 
A)  100 million years ago,first mammals appear,dinosaurs go extinct 
B)  100 million years ago,dinosaurs go extinct,first mammals appear 
C)  Dinosaurs go extinct,first mammals appear,100 million years ago 
D)  First mammals appear,100 million years ago,dinosaurs go extinct 
E)  First mammals appear,dinosaurs go extinct,100 million years ago

Question 6

Which atmospheric gas has substantially increased in concentration in the last 200 years?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

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)  happened less than 100 million years ago. 
E)  happened more than 400 million years ago. 
A)  killed off the dinosaurs. 
B)  occurred at the end of the Cretaceous. 
C)  occurred at the end of the Permian. 
D)  happened less than 100 million years ago. 
E)  happened more than 400 million years ago.

Question 8

In undisturbed sedimentary rock,strata from the _______ are immediately above rocks from the Permian.

Accepted Answer

A)  Devonian 
B)  Cambrian 
C)  Jurassic 
D)  Triassic 
E)  Cretaceous 
A)  Devonian 
B)  Cambrian 
C)  Jurassic 
D)  Triassic 
E)  Cretaceous

Question 9

The only major decline in atmospheric oxygen levels occurred

Accepted Answer

A)  when eukaryotes first appeared. 
B)  when chordates first appeared. 
C)  at the start of the Cambrian period. 
D)  at the end of the Permian period. 
E)  at the end of the Cretaceous period. 
A)  when eukaryotes first appeared. 
B)  when chordates first appeared. 
C)  at the start of the Cambrian period. 
D)  at the end of the Permian period. 
E)  at the end of the Cretaceous period.

Question 10

When geologists determine the relative ages of rocks according to the principles of stratigraphy,a key assumption is that

Accepted Answer

A)  radioactive isotopes decay at a constant rate. 
B)  the rocks are more than 20 million years old. 
C)  the rocks are less than 100 million years old. 
D)  the rocks have been disturbed only infrequently. 
E)  the rocks have not been disturbed. 
A)  radioactive isotopes decay at a constant rate. 
B)  the rocks are more than 20 million years old. 
C)  the rocks are less than 100 million years old. 
D)  the rocks have been disturbed only infrequently. 
E)  the rocks have not been disturbed.

Question 11

The Cenozoic era began about _______ years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  2 million 
B)  15 million 
C)  65 million 
D)  225 million 
E)  1 billion 
A)  2 million 
B)  15 million 
C)  65 million 
D)  225 million 
E)  1 billion

Question 12

Approximately _______ fossil species have been described.

Accepted Answer

A)  3,000 
B)  30,000 
C)  300,000 
D)  1.7 million 
E)  10 million 
A)  3,000 
B)  30,000 
C)  300,000 
D)  1.7 million 
E)  10 million

Question 13

With respect to changes in climate over the course of life on Earth,we are currently living in a _______ period,and the average temperature has _______ over the last 100 years.

Accepted Answer

A)  warm;increased 
B)  cool;increased 
C)  warm;decreased 
D)  cool;decreased 
E)  warm;been relatively constant 
A)  warm;increased 
B)  cool;increased 
C)  warm;decreased 
D)  cool;decreased 
E)  warm;been relatively constant

Question 14

The primary reason that dragonflies grew so much larger 300 million years ago than they do today is that

Accepted Answer

A)  they lacked predators then. 
B)  they were able to exploit an aquatic niche that no longer exists. 
C)  there was more oxygen in the air then. 
D)  there was more nitrogen in the air then. 
E)  Earth was much colder then. 
A)  they lacked predators then. 
B)  they were able to exploit an aquatic niche that no longer exists. 
C)  there was more oxygen in the air then. 
D)  there was more nitrogen in the air then. 
E)  Earth was much colder then.

Question 15

Which statement about the Mesozoic era is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Atmospheric levels of oxygen fell dramatically. 
B)  The same groups of animals that were dominant during the Permian were also dominant throughout this period. 
C)  Pangaea came together. 
D)  Giant amphibians and flying insects were abundant. 
E)  Mammals and flowering plants appeared. 
A)  Atmospheric levels of oxygen fell dramatically. 
B)  The same groups of animals that were dominant during the Permian were also dominant throughout this period. 
C)  Pangaea came together. 
D)  Giant amphibians and flying insects were abundant. 
E)  Mammals and flowering plants appeared.

Question 16

The first person to propose that the relative ages of rocks can be determined by examining strata was

Accepted Answer

A)  Charles Darwin. 
B)  Alfred Russel Wallace. 
C)  Stephen Jay Gould. 
D)  Nicolaus Steno. 
E)  Alfred Wegener. 
A)  Charles Darwin. 
B)  Alfred Russel Wallace. 
C)  Stephen Jay Gould. 
D)  Nicolaus Steno. 
E)  Alfred Wegener.

Question 17

All of the animals living at a particular time or place are called its

Accepted Answer

A)  biota. 
B)  flora. 
C)  Gondwana. 
D)  igneous species. 
E)  fauna. 
A)  biota. 
B)  flora. 
C)  Gondwana. 
D)  igneous species. 
E)  fauna.

Question 18

Which process led to the formation of coastal mountain ranges?

Accepted Answer

A)  The mantle pushing against a tectonic plate 
B)  Tectonic plates moving sideways past one another 
C)  Magma pushing plates apart 
D)  One tectonic plate sliding under another 
E)  A single tectonic plate folding upon itself 
A)  The mantle pushing against a tectonic plate 
B)  Tectonic plates moving sideways past one another 
C)  Magma pushing plates apart 
D)  One tectonic plate sliding under another 
E)  A single tectonic plate folding upon itself

Question 19

Vertebrates whose well-protected eggs can withstand a dry environment are known as

Accepted Answer

A)  trilobites. 
B)  ediacaran. 
C)  crinoides. 
D)  amniotes. 
E)  dinosaurs. 
A)  trilobites. 
B)  ediacaran. 
C)  crinoides. 
D)  amniotes. 
E)  dinosaurs.

Question 20

Which sequence represents a correct chronological ordering of Earth's geological history,from the most ancient to the most recent period?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cambrian,Devonian,Permian,Cretaceous 
B)  Cretaceous,Devonian,Permian,Cambrian 
C)  Cambrian,Cretaceous,Devonian,Permian 
D)  Permian,Cambrian,Cretaceous,Devonian 
E)  Cretaceous,Permian,Devonian,Cambrian 
A)  Cambrian,Devonian,Permian,Cretaceous 
B)  Cretaceous,Devonian,Permian,Cambrian 
C)  Cambrian,Cretaceous,Devonian,Permian 
D)  Permian,Cambrian,Cretaceous,Devonian 
E)  Cretaceous,Permian,Devonian,Cambrian

Exam 18: The History of Life on Earth

Which of the following could be dated by means of radioactive carbon?

The half-life of a particular radioactive isotope of element X is 100 years.If you know that 400 years ago a fossil contained 10 mg of this isotope,you would expect to find about _______ mg in that fossil today.

You are investigating a Triassic fossil bed.What would you not expect to find?

The Cambrian explosion started _______ the Cambrian and lasted for _______ of years.

Which of the following represents the correct chronological order of events,from earliest to latest?

Which atmospheric gas has substantially increased in concentration in the last 200 years?

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

In undisturbed sedimentary rock,strata from the _______ are immediately above rocks from the Permian.

The only major decline in atmospheric oxygen levels occurred

When geologists determine the relative ages of rocks according to the principles of stratigraphy,a key assumption is that

The Cenozoic era began about _______ years ago.

Approximately _______ fossil species have been described.

With respect to changes in climate over the course of life on Earth,we are currently living in a _______ period,and the average temperature has _______ over the last 100 years.

The primary reason that dragonflies grew so much larger 300 million years ago than they do today is that

Which statement about the Mesozoic era is true?

The first person to propose that the relative ages of rocks can be determined by examining strata was

All of the animals living at a particular time or place are called its

Which process led to the formation of coastal mountain ranges?

Vertebrates whose well-protected eggs can withstand a dry environment are known as

Which sequence represents a correct chronological ordering of Earth's geological history,from the most ancient to the most recent period?

Introduction

The Chemistry and Energy of Life

Nucleic Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes

Cells: the Working Units of Life

Cell Membranes and Signaling

Pathways That Harvest and Store Chemical Energy

The Cell Cycle and Cell Division

Inheritance, Genes, and Chromosomes

DNA and Its Role in Heredity

From Dna to Protein: Gene Expression

Regulation of Gene Expression

Genomes

Biotechnology

Genes, Development, and Evolution

Processes of Evolution

Reconstructing and Using Phylogenies

Speciation

Bacteria, Archaea, and Viruses

The Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes

The Evolution of Plants

The Evolution and Diversity of Fungi

Animal Origins and Diversity

The Plant Body

Plant Nutrition and Transport

Plant Growth and Development

Reproduction of Flowering Plants

Plants in the Environment

Fundamentals of Animal Function

Nutrition and Digestion

Breathing

Circulation

Muscle and Movement

Neurons, Sense Organs, and Nervous Systems

Nervous and Endocrine Control

Water and Salts: Excretion

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Immunology: Animal Defense Systems

Animal Behavior

The Distribution of Earths Ecological Systems

Populations

Ecological and Evolutionary Consequences of Interactions Within and Among Species

Ecological Communities

The Global Ecosystem

Filters

The Cambrian explosion started _ the Cambrian and lasted for _ of years.

With respect to changes in climate over the course of life on Earth,we are currently living in a _ period,and the average temperature has _ over the last 100 years.