Question 1

The largest mass extinction in the earth's history occurred at the end of the Permian. What percentage of species died out?

Accepted Answer

A)  25 
B)  40 
C)  50 
D)  70 
E)  90 
A)  25 
B)  40 
C)  50 
D)  70 
E)  90

Question 2

Botanists and zoologists recognise similar biogeographical regions because

Accepted Answer

A)  both plants and animals have been subjected to the same evolutionary processes. 
B)  plants and animals exhibit similar patterns of endemism. 
C)  they have agreed on arbitrary regions for simplicity. 
D)  the main continental regions of the world are divided by climatic conditions. 
E)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  both plants and animals have been subjected to the same evolutionary processes. 
B)  plants and animals exhibit similar patterns of endemism. 
C)  they have agreed on arbitrary regions for simplicity. 
D)  the main continental regions of the world are divided by climatic conditions. 
E)  All of the answers are correct.

Question 3

The fossil record provides evidence for major events in the evolution of life including
1) The first land plants.
2) The extinction of the trilobites.
3) The rapid radiation of flowering plants.
4) The first mammals.
5) The 'Age of fishes'.
The first vertebrates colonised the land in the same period as

Accepted Answer

A)  1. 
B)  2. 
C)  3. 
D)  4. 
E)  5. 
A)  1. 
B)  2. 
C)  3. 
D)  4. 
E)  5.

Question 4

The geological time scale is based on

Accepted Answer

A)  the relative ages of sequences of rock strata. 
B)  carbon-14 dating. 
C)  occasional dated bands of volcanic rock. 
D)  magnetic polarities of rock sequences. 
E)  characteristics of fossils in rocks. 
A)  the relative ages of sequences of rock strata. 
B)  carbon-14 dating. 
C)  occasional dated bands of volcanic rock. 
D)  magnetic polarities of rock sequences. 
E)  characteristics of fossils in rocks.

Question 5

Wallace's line indicates

Accepted Answer

A)  an abrupt change in climate between the tropical oriental region and the more arid Australian region. 
B)  the boundary between the Non-tropical and Palaeotropical regions. 
C)  a striking division of fauna and flora between the Indo-Malaysian and Austro-Malaysian regions. 
D)  the line of collision between the Eurasian and Australian continental plates. 
E)  the division between the Indo-West Pacific region and the temperate regions of the ocean. 
A)  an abrupt change in climate between the tropical oriental region and the more arid Australian region. 
B)  the boundary between the Non-tropical and Palaeotropical regions. 
C)  a striking division of fauna and flora between the Indo-Malaysian and Austro-Malaysian regions. 
D)  the line of collision between the Eurasian and Australian continental plates. 
E)  the division between the Indo-West Pacific region and the temperate regions of the ocean.

Question 6

The extensive coal beds mined today were laid down as marine sediments covered the extensive forests that flourished in the coastal swamps of the

Accepted Answer

A)  Cretaceous period. 
B)  Cambrian period. 
C)  Carboniferous period. 
D)  Cenozoic era. 
E)  Devonian period. 
A)  Cretaceous period. 
B)  Cambrian period. 
C)  Carboniferous period. 
D)  Cenozoic era. 
E)  Devonian period.

Question 7

The cretaceous period encompasses which of the following epochs?

Accepted Answer

A)  Palaeocene, Eocene 
B)  There are no epochs within the cretaceous 
C)  Holocene, Pleistocene 
D)  Pliocene, Miocene 
E)  Oligocene 
A)  Palaeocene, Eocene 
B)  There are no epochs within the cretaceous 
C)  Holocene, Pleistocene 
D)  Pliocene, Miocene 
E)  Oligocene

Question 8

During the Palaeozoic, as the northern continents and Gondwana approached one another, there was a great evolutionary radiation of

Accepted Answer

A)  Reptiles. 
B)  Fishes. 
C)  Gymnosperms. 
D)  Scorpions. 
E)  Amphibians. 
A)  Reptiles. 
B)  Fishes. 
C)  Gymnosperms. 
D)  Scorpions. 
E)  Amphibians.

Question 9

The mass extinction of dinosaurs may be, in part, an illusion because some dinosaurs evolved into

Accepted Answer

A)  mammals. 
B)  crocodiles. 
C)  turtles. 
D)  birds. 
E)  gastropods. 
A)  mammals. 
B)  crocodiles. 
C)  turtles. 
D)  birds. 
E)  gastropods.

Question 10

The oldest eukaryotes from fossil records

Accepted Answer

A)  were from Archean cherts in the Pilbara district of Western Australia. 
B)  are about 3.5 billion years old and resemble cyanobacteria. 
C)  are stromatolites. 
D)  contain chloroplasts and resemble blue-green algae. 
E)  demonstrate that the earth became oxygen rich through photosynthesis about 3.5 billion years ago. 
A)  were from Archean cherts in the Pilbara district of Western Australia. 
B)  are about 3.5 billion years old and resemble cyanobacteria. 
C)  are stromatolites. 
D)  contain chloroplasts and resemble blue-green algae. 
E)  demonstrate that the earth became oxygen rich through photosynthesis about 3.5 billion years ago.

Question 11

The modern geologic time scale is based on

Accepted Answer

A)  age measurements by radioactive carbon dating. 
B)  sequences of relative ages. 
C)  type of sediment. 
D)  age measurements by radioactive carbon dating and sequences of relative ages. 
E)  age measurements by radioactive carbon dating and type of sediment. 
A)  age measurements by radioactive carbon dating. 
B)  sequences of relative ages. 
C)  type of sediment. 
D)  age measurements by radioactive carbon dating and sequences of relative ages. 
E)  age measurements by radioactive carbon dating and type of sediment.

Question 12

When volcanic and sedimentary rocks are forming, they become magnetised. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

Accepted Answer

A)  Rock magnetism cannot be directly measured. 
B)  Magnetic reversals are recorded in the rocks. 
C)  A chron represents the time between two successive magnetic reversals. 
D)  Magnetic reversals occur at fixed intervals of time. 
E)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  Rock magnetism cannot be directly measured. 
B)  Magnetic reversals are recorded in the rocks. 
C)  A chron represents the time between two successive magnetic reversals. 
D)  Magnetic reversals occur at fixed intervals of time. 
E)  All of the answers are correct.

Question 13

Before the development of radiometric dating techniques scientists were unable to

Accepted Answer

A)  determine the relative order of significant biological events in the fossil record. 
B)  estimate the absolute age of the abrupt changes in the fossil record. 
C)  make comparisons between fossil sequences in different parts of the earth. 
D)  only compare fossil sequences at different levels of sediment. 
E)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  determine the relative order of significant biological events in the fossil record. 
B)  estimate the absolute age of the abrupt changes in the fossil record. 
C)  make comparisons between fossil sequences in different parts of the earth. 
D)  only compare fossil sequences at different levels of sediment. 
E)  All of the answers are correct.

Question 14

The most common fossils of marine multicellular animals from the Lower Cambrian are

Accepted Answer

A)  an extinct group of arthropods, the trilobites. 
B)  soft-bodied animals, similar to marine worms, jellyfishes and anemones. 
C)  stalked echinoderms called crinoids. 
D)  shelled molluscs called ammonoids. 
E)  radiolarians, with a skeleton of silica. 
A)  an extinct group of arthropods, the trilobites. 
B)  soft-bodied animals, similar to marine worms, jellyfishes and anemones. 
C)  stalked echinoderms called crinoids. 
D)  shelled molluscs called ammonoids. 
E)  radiolarians, with a skeleton of silica.

Question 15

Boundaries between eras of geological time

Accepted Answer

A)  were based on abrupt changes in fossil records. 
B)  are divided into periods from oldest, the Mesozoic era, to the youngest, the Palaezoic era. 
C)  are dependent on the movement of tectonic plates. 
D)  are associated with magnetic reversal. 
E)  are identified by the animal species which appear. 
A)  were based on abrupt changes in fossil records. 
B)  are divided into periods from oldest, the Mesozoic era, to the youngest, the Palaezoic era. 
C)  are dependent on the movement of tectonic plates. 
D)  are associated with magnetic reversal. 
E)  are identified by the animal species which appear.

Question 16

The Palaeozoic era includes six periods. These are the

Accepted Answer

A)  Carboniferous, Cretaceous, Devonian, Jurassic, Permian and Triassic. 
B)  Cambrian, Carboniferous, Cretaceous, Devonian, Ordovician and Permian. 
C)  Cambrian, Carboniferous, Devonian, Ordovician, Permian and Silurian. 
D)  Devonian, Jurassic, Ordovician, Permian, Silurian and Triassic. 
E)  Permian, Devonian, Silurian, Triassic and Cambrian. 
A)  Carboniferous, Cretaceous, Devonian, Jurassic, Permian and Triassic. 
B)  Cambrian, Carboniferous, Cretaceous, Devonian, Ordovician and Permian. 
C)  Cambrian, Carboniferous, Devonian, Ordovician, Permian and Silurian. 
D)  Devonian, Jurassic, Ordovician, Permian, Silurian and Triassic. 
E)  Permian, Devonian, Silurian, Triassic and Cambrian.

Question 17

The oldest plant fossils

Accepted Answer

A)  are small non-vascular plants. 
B)  are small non-photosynthetic plants. 
C)  are small vascular plants without leaves. 
D)  resemble green algae. 
E)  are liverworts and mosses. 
A)  are small non-vascular plants. 
B)  are small non-photosynthetic plants. 
C)  are small vascular plants without leaves. 
D)  resemble green algae. 
E)  are liverworts and mosses.

Question 18

Biogeographical regions are

Accepted Answer

A)  characterised by geographical features. 
B)  characterised by endemic organisms. 
C)  characterised by climate. 
D)  convenient but arbitrary divisions. 
E)  characterised by plant types. 
A)  characterised by geographical features. 
B)  characterised by endemic organisms. 
C)  characterised by climate. 
D)  convenient but arbitrary divisions. 
E)  characterised by plant types.

Question 19

Which of the following modern groups appears the oldest, from the fossil record?

Accepted Answer

A)  Flowering plants 
B)  Sharks 
C)  Mammals 
D)  Birds 
E)  Prosimians 
A)  Flowering plants 
B)  Sharks 
C)  Mammals 
D)  Birds 
E)  Prosimians

Question 20

Which of the following can best be explained by plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most of the endemic eutherian mammals in Australia are either rodents or bats. 
B)  Fossil evidence suggests that flamingos were once widespread across both northern and southern continents, including Australia, whereas their descendants are restricted to parts of Africa, South and Central America, India and Southern Europe. 
C)  The Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus) lives in shallow freshwater streams and lakes. Its closest living relatives are found in Africa (Protopterus) and South America (Lepidosiren). 
D)  Several species of frogs from south-eastern Australia are also found in Tasmania. 
E)  Eucalypts dominated the New Zealand landscape in the early Mesozoic period. 
A)  Most of the endemic eutherian mammals in Australia are either rodents or bats. 
B)  Fossil evidence suggests that flamingos were once widespread across both northern and southern continents, including Australia, whereas their descendants are restricted to parts of Africa, South and Central America, India and Southern Europe. 
C)  The Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus) lives in shallow freshwater streams and lakes. Its closest living relatives are found in Africa (Protopterus) and South America (Lepidosiren). 
D)  Several species of frogs from south-eastern Australia are also found in Tasmania. 
E)  Eucalypts dominated the New Zealand landscape in the early Mesozoic period.

Exam 33: Evolving Earth

The largest mass extinction in the earth's history occurred at the end of the Permian. What percentage of species died out?

Botanists and zoologists recognise similar biogeographical regions because

The geological time scale is based on

Wallace's line indicates

The extensive coal beds mined today were laid down as marine sediments covered the extensive forests that flourished in the coastal swamps of the

The cretaceous period encompasses which of the following epochs?

During the Palaeozoic, as the northern continents and Gondwana approached one another, there was a great evolutionary radiation of

The mass extinction of dinosaurs may be, in part, an illusion because some dinosaurs evolved into

The oldest eukaryotes from fossil records

The modern geologic time scale is based on

When volcanic and sedimentary rocks are forming, they become magnetised. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

Before the development of radiometric dating techniques scientists were unable to

The most common fossils of marine multicellular animals from the Lower Cambrian are

Boundaries between eras of geological time

The Palaeozoic era includes six periods. These are the

The oldest plant fossils

Biogeographical regions are

Which of the following modern groups appears the oldest, from the fossil record?

Which of the following can best be explained by plate tectonics?

Nature of Molecules

Biomolecules

The Chemistry of Life

Functioning Cells

Movement Across Membranes

Harvesting Energy

Cells, Tissues and Signals

Cell Division

Inheritance

Genes, Chromosomes and Dna

The Genetic Code

Gene Expression

Genomes, Mutation and Cancer

Viruses

Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Reproduction, Growth and Development of Flowering Plants

Structure of Plants

Plant Nutrition, Transport and Adaptation to Stress

Plant Hormones and Growth Responses

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Homeostasis: Water, Solutes and Excretion

Gas Exchange in Animals

Circulation

Metabolism, Temperature Regulation and Environmental Stress

Animal and Human Nutrition

Innate Defences and the Immune System

Hormonal Control in Animals

Nervous Systems

Animal Movement

Animal Behaviour

Evolving Life

Mechanisms of Evolution

Bacteria

The Protists

Plants

Fungi

Simple Animals: Sponges to Flatworms

Annelids, Molluscs, Nematodes and Arthropods

Echinoderms and Chordates

Australian Biota

Population Ecology

Living in Communities

Ecosystems

Human Impacts

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