Question 1

What is one reason that early life formed cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  cell walls prevent heat from escaping 
B)  cells concentrate molecules together so they can react more easily 
C)  only cells can replicate 
D)  biological reactions can occur only within cells 
A)  cell walls prevent heat from escaping 
B)  cells concentrate molecules together so they can react more easily 
C)  only cells can replicate 
D)  biological reactions can occur only within cells

Question 2

Why can studies of carbon isotopes be used to detect the presence of past biological activity in rocks?

Accepted Answer

A)  living organisms absorb only the most common carbon isotope 
B)  living organisms remove all carbon from rocks 
C)  living organisms absorb certain carbon isotopes more easily than others 
D)  carbon isotopes are found only in living organisms 
A)  living organisms absorb only the most common carbon isotope 
B)  living organisms remove all carbon from rocks 
C)  living organisms absorb certain carbon isotopes more easily than others 
D)  carbon isotopes are found only in living organisms

Question 3

The colonization of life onto land was closely tied to the

Accepted Answer

A)  appearance of multicellular organisms 
B)  development of photosynthesis 
C)  oceans being overcrowded 
D)  development of the ozone layer 
A)  appearance of multicellular organisms 
B)  development of photosynthesis 
C)  oceans being overcrowded 
D)  development of the ozone layer

Question 4

What is the one piece of evidence that suggests that the dinosaurs were made extinct by the impact of an asteroid 65 million years ago?

Accepted Answer

A)  the crater from this impact can still be seen in the deserts of Arizona 
B)  a layer of sediment laid down at that time contains grains of shocked quartz, solidified rock droplets, and soot from global wildfires 
C)  a layer of sediment laid down at that time is littered with dinosaur fossils 
D)  dinosaur fossils are found in rock layers older than 65 million years but not younger than 65 million years 
A)  the crater from this impact can still be seen in the deserts of Arizona 
B)  a layer of sediment laid down at that time contains grains of shocked quartz, solidified rock droplets, and soot from global wildfires 
C)  a layer of sediment laid down at that time is littered with dinosaur fossils 
D)  dinosaur fossils are found in rock layers older than 65 million years but not younger than 65 million years

Question 5

Why have studies of the geological record not enabled us to determine how life on Earth originated?

Accepted Answer

A)  the first living organisms would have left absolutely no trace of their existence 
B)  life was planted on the Earth by an advanced civilization so there is no evidence in the geological record to find 
C)  the geological record does not extend back to the time that life originated 
D)  the oldest rocks are too deep inside the Earth for us to retrieve 
A)  the first living organisms would have left absolutely no trace of their existence 
B)  life was planted on the Earth by an advanced civilization so there is no evidence in the geological record to find 
C)  the geological record does not extend back to the time that life originated 
D)  the oldest rocks are too deep inside the Earth for us to retrieve

Question 6

The first living organisms interacted with the atmosphere

Accepted Answer

A)  sexually 
B)  symbiotically 
C)  aerobically 
D)  anaerobically 
A)  sexually 
B)  symbiotically 
C)  aerobically 
D)  anaerobically

Question 7

According to modern biological evidence, modern DNA-based life may have arisen from an earlier

Accepted Answer

A)  RNA world 
B)  bacterial world 
C)  protein world 
D)  extraterrestrial world 
A)  RNA world 
B)  bacterial world 
C)  protein world 
D)  extraterrestrial world

Question 8

The point in time at which oxygen started to build up in the Earth's atmosphere is referred to as the

Accepted Answer

A)  great oxidation event 
B)  great oxygen crisis 
C)  great oxygenation event 
D)  great photosynthetic event 
A)  great oxidation event 
B)  great oxygen crisis 
C)  great oxygenation event 
D)  great photosynthetic event

Question 9

What is one piece of evidence that some organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts within eukaryotes used to be independent prokaryotes that were incorporated into eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  the DNA inside organelles is not made of the same four bases as the DNA in the host cells 
B)  organelles float around independently inside eukaryotic cells 
C)  prokaryotes are seen incorporating into cells today 
D)  organelles are very similar to present-day bacteria, suggesting a common ancestor 
A)  the DNA inside organelles is not made of the same four bases as the DNA in the host cells 
B)  organelles float around independently inside eukaryotic cells 
C)  prokaryotes are seen incorporating into cells today 
D)  organelles are very similar to present-day bacteria, suggesting a common ancestor

Question 10

Based on current scientific evidence, what is the likelihood that life on Earth was created by some omnipotent being?

Accepted Answer

A)  very unlikely but not impossible 
B)  impossible 
C)  certain 
D)  very likely 
A)  very unlikely but not impossible 
B)  impossible 
C)  certain 
D)  very likely

Question 11

Organisms close to each other on the "Tree of Life"

Accepted Answer

A)  are genetically very different 
B)  look very similar to the eye 
C)  are genetically identical 
D)  are genetically very similar 
A)  are genetically very different 
B)  look very similar to the eye 
C)  are genetically identical 
D)  are genetically very similar

Question 12

The probability of Earth being hit by a large asteroid in the next few hundred years is

Accepted Answer

A)  impossible to predict 
B)  very high 
C)  zero 
D)  small but not zero 
A)  impossible to predict 
B)  very high 
C)  zero 
D)  small but not zero

Question 13

One type of early pre-cell (vesicle) probably consisted of small droplets of

Accepted Answer

A)  water 
B)  clay 
C)  concentrated amino acids 
D)  nucleic acids 
A)  water 
B)  clay 
C)  concentrated amino acids 
D)  nucleic acids

Question 14

Recent evidence that supports the controversial claim based on carbon isotope ratios of biological activity in 3.85 billion year old rocks from Greenland includes the discovery of

Accepted Answer

A)  DNA within the rocks 
B)  microfossils within the rocks 
C)  similar carbon isotope ratios in other rocks of comparable age 
D)  oxygen gas trapped within the rocks 
A)  DNA within the rocks 
B)  microfossils within the rocks 
C)  similar carbon isotope ratios in other rocks of comparable age 
D)  oxygen gas trapped within the rocks

Question 15

Why do we think that RNA was probably the first self-replicating molecule?

Accepted Answer

A)  it is able to replicate at high temperatures found near deep-sea ocean vents 
B)  it is much simpler than DNA 
C)  in laboratory studies researchers have shown that it is able to catalyze its own replication 
D)  it is able to replicate using carbohydrates rather than proteins 
A)  it is able to replicate at high temperatures found near deep-sea ocean vents 
B)  it is much simpler than DNA 
C)  in laboratory studies researchers have shown that it is able to catalyze its own replication 
D)  it is able to replicate using carbohydrates rather than proteins

Question 16

Bacteria replicate at

Accepted Answer

A)  a rate that slowly decreases with time 
B)  a constant rate 
C)  an exponential rate 
D)  a rate that slowly increases with time 
A)  a rate that slowly decreases with time 
B)  a constant rate 
C)  an exponential rate 
D)  a rate that slowly increases with time

Question 17

Based on current scientific evidence, the theory that has been most successful at explaining the origin of life on Earth is

Accepted Answer

A)  naturism 
B)  panspermia 
C)  intelligent design 
D)  chemical evolution 
A)  naturism 
B)  panspermia 
C)  intelligent design 
D)  chemical evolution

Question 18

Which of the following are possible causes for mass extinctions on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  gamma ray bursts and supernova explosions 
B)  episodes of widespread volcanism 
C)  magnetic field reversals 
D)  all of these can be responsible for mass extinctions 
A)  gamma ray bursts and supernova explosions 
B)  episodes of widespread volcanism 
C)  magnetic field reversals 
D)  all of these can be responsible for mass extinctions

Question 19

The most conclusive evidence for microfossils comes from rock samples with

Accepted Answer

A)  an age of 3.5 billion years old 
B)  ages between 2.7 and 3.0 billion years old 
C)  ages between 3.2 and 3.5 billion years old 
D)  an age of 3.85 billion years old 
A)  an age of 3.5 billion years old 
B)  ages between 2.7 and 3.0 billion years old 
C)  ages between 3.2 and 3.5 billion years old 
D)  an age of 3.85 billion years old

Question 20

Prior to the Cambrian Period, life consisted of

Accepted Answer

A)  protocells 
B)  prokaryotes only 
C)  multicellular organisms 
D)  single-celled organisms 
A)  protocells 
B)  prokaryotes only 
C)  multicellular organisms 
D)  single-celled organisms

What is one reason that early life formed cells?

Why can studies of carbon isotopes be used to detect the presence of past biological activity in rocks?

The colonization of life onto land was closely tied to the

What is the one piece of evidence that suggests that the dinosaurs were made extinct by the impact of an asteroid 65 million years ago?

Why have studies of the geological record not enabled us to determine how life on Earth originated?

The first living organisms interacted with the atmosphere

According to modern biological evidence, modern DNA-based life may have arisen from an earlier

The point in time at which oxygen started to build up in the Earth's atmosphere is referred to as the

What is one piece of evidence that some organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts within eukaryotes used to be independent prokaryotes that were incorporated into eukaryotic cells?

Based on current scientific evidence, what is the likelihood that life on Earth was created by some omnipotent being?

Organisms close to each other on the "Tree of Life"

The probability of Earth being hit by a large asteroid in the next few hundred years is

One type of early pre-cell (vesicle) probably consisted of small droplets of

Recent evidence that supports the controversial claim based on carbon isotope ratios of biological activity in 3.85 billion year old rocks from Greenland includes the discovery of

Why do we think that RNA was probably the first self-replicating molecule?

Bacteria replicate at

Based on current scientific evidence, the theory that has been most successful at explaining the origin of life on Earth is

Which of the following are possible causes for mass extinctions on Earth?

The most conclusive evidence for microfossils comes from rock samples with

Prior to the Cambrian Period, life consisted of

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Habitability Outside the Solar System

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters

Exam 6: The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

What is one reason that early life formed cells?

Why can studies of carbon isotopes be used to detect the presence of past biological activity in rocks?

The colonization of life onto land was closely tied to the

What is the one piece of evidence that suggests that the dinosaurs were made extinct by the impact of an asteroid 65 million years ago?

Why have studies of the geological record not enabled us to determine how life on Earth originated?

The first living organisms interacted with the atmosphere

According to modern biological evidence, modern DNA-based life may have arisen from an earlier

The point in time at which oxygen started to build up in the Earth's atmosphere is referred to as the

What is one piece of evidence that some organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts within eukaryotes used to be independent prokaryotes that were incorporated into eukaryotic cells?

Based on current scientific evidence, what is the likelihood that life on Earth was created by some omnipotent being?

Organisms close to each other on the "Tree of Life"

The probability of Earth being hit by a large asteroid in the next few hundred years is

One type of early pre-cell (vesicle) probably consisted of small droplets of

Recent evidence that supports the controversial claim based on carbon isotope ratios of biological activity in 3.85 billion year old rocks from Greenland includes the discovery of

Why do we think that RNA was probably the first self-replicating molecule?

Bacteria replicate at

Based on current scientific evidence, the theory that has been most successful at explaining the origin of life on Earth is

Which of the following are possible causes for mass extinctions on Earth?

The most conclusive evidence for microfossils comes from rock samples with

Prior to the Cambrian Period, life consisted of

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Habitability Outside the Solar System

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters