Question 1

The first snakes evolved during the _______ period.

Accepted Answer

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

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 _______ in that fossil today.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

The increase in the concentration of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere over the past 100 years

Accepted Answer

A)  results from a decrease in the rate of CO2 uptake by photosynthesis. 
B)  is primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels by humans. 
C)  will likely decrease the average temperature on Earth. 
D)  will result in lower sea levels. 
E)  is very slow. 
A)  results from a decrease in the rate of CO2 uptake by photosynthesis. 
B)  is primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels by humans. 
C)  will likely decrease the average temperature on Earth. 
D)  will result in lower sea levels. 
E)  is very slow.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about oxygen and ancient Earth is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The atmosphere of early Earth contained almost as much free oxygen as present-day Earth, but most of this oxygen was lost in the Cambrian. 
B)  Early bacteria generated free oxygen as a by-product of the chemical splitting of water. 
C)  The oxygen-generating cyanobacteria have gone extinct. 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above 
A)  The atmosphere of early Earth contained almost as much free oxygen as present-day Earth, but most of this oxygen was lost in the Cambrian. 
B)  Early bacteria generated free oxygen as a by-product of the chemical splitting of water. 
C)  The oxygen-generating cyanobacteria have gone extinct. 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above

Question 5

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)  Both a and b 
E)  Both a and c 
A)  killed off the dinosaurs. 
B)  occurred at the end of the Cretaceous. 
C)  occurred at the end of the Permian. 
D)  Both a and b 
E)  Both a and c

Question 6

The period of time between when life first evolved on Earth and the definite appearance of multicellular life was about _______ years.

Accepted Answer

A)  200 million 
B)  500 million 
C)  1 billion 
D)  3 billion 
E)  5 billion 
A)  200 million 
B)  500 million 
C)  1 billion 
D)  3 billion 
E)  5 billion

Question 7

Most of human evolution has occurred during the

Accepted Answer

A)  Paleozoic era. 
B)  Devonian period. 
C)  Quaternary period. 
D)  Carboniferous period. 
E)  Cretaceous period. 
A)  Paleozoic era. 
B)  Devonian period. 
C)  Quaternary period. 
D)  Carboniferous period. 
E)  Cretaceous period.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

Which of the following is not true of the giant flying dragonflies of the Carboniferous and Permian?

Accepted Answer

A)  Some species grew to have wing spans as wide or wider than many modern birds of prey. 
B)  They were the largest flying predators of the time. 
C)  Such large flying insects could exist because of the higher concentrations of atmospheric oxygen compared to the present. 
D)  Their predators were giant reptiles. 
E)  Fossils of one large species, Meganeurosis permiana, have been found in the Permian rocks of Kansas. 
A)  Some species grew to have wing spans as wide or wider than many modern birds of prey. 
B)  They were the largest flying predators of the time. 
C)  Such large flying insects could exist because of the higher concentrations of atmospheric oxygen compared to the present. 
D)  Their predators were giant reptiles. 
E)  Fossils of one large species, Meganeurosis permiana, have been found in the Permian rocks of Kansas.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about the Cambrian is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Arthropods were abundant and diverse during this period. 
B)  There was abundant multicellular terrestrial life. 
C)  Large continents had already formed. 
D)  Oxygen concentrations were approaching current levels. 
E)  All of the above are true; none is false. 
A)  Arthropods were abundant and diverse during this period. 
B)  There was abundant multicellular terrestrial life. 
C)  Large continents had already formed. 
D)  Oxygen concentrations were approaching current levels. 
E)  All of the above are true; none is false.

Question 11

For terrestrial animals and plants, the most recent mass extinction event that occurred prior to the evolution of humans took place approximately _______ million years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  10 
B)  65 
C)  200 
D)  250 
E)  400 
A)  10 
B)  65 
C)  200 
D)  250 
E)  400

Question 12

Rocks that are formed when grains accumulate at the bottom of bodies of water are called _______ rocks

Accepted Answer

A)  igneous 
B)  sedimentary 
C)  strata 
D)  tertiary 
E)  deep 
A)  igneous 
B)  sedimentary 
C)  strata 
D)  tertiary 
E)  deep

Question 13

The current geological period is the

Accepted Answer

A)  Tertiary. 
B)  Quaternary. 
C)  Triassic. 
D)  Devonian. 
E)  Pleistocene. 
A)  Tertiary. 
B)  Quaternary. 
C)  Triassic. 
D)  Devonian. 
E)  Pleistocene.

Question 14

The rates of evolution vary from organism to organism. This conclusion is validated by which of the following observations?

Accepted Answer

A)  Evolution of the natural populations of some organisms has been observed over the past 100 years. 
B)  There are organisms alive today that differ little from those of 200 million years ago. 
C)  The fossil record shows a similar pattern for all lineages. 
D)  Humans have no influence on the evolutionary change of organisms. 
E)  Both a and b 
A)  Evolution of the natural populations of some organisms has been observed over the past 100 years. 
B)  There are organisms alive today that differ little from those of 200 million years ago. 
C)  The fossil record shows a similar pattern for all lineages. 
D)  Humans have no influence on the evolutionary change of organisms. 
E)  Both a and b

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

A)  First frogs, earliest fossil flowering plants, Permian extinction 
B)  First frogs, Permian extinction, earliest fossil flowering plants 
C)  Earliest fossil flowering plants, first frogs, Permian extinction 
D)  Permian extinction, first frogs, earliest fossil flowering plants 
E)  Permian extinction, earliest fossil flowering plants, first frogs 
A)  First frogs, earliest fossil flowering plants, Permian extinction 
B)  First frogs, Permian extinction, earliest fossil flowering plants 
C)  Earliest fossil flowering plants, first frogs, Permian extinction 
D)  Permian extinction, first frogs, earliest fossil flowering plants 
E)  Permian extinction, earliest fossil flowering plants, first frogs

Question 16

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)  All of the above are considered plausible hypotheses. 
A)  Extraterrestrial events, such as meteorite or asteroid collisions 
B)  Glaciations 
C)  Massive volcanic activity 
D)  Competition among organisms 
E)  All of the above are considered plausible hypotheses.

Question 17

Vascular plants first appeared during the

Accepted Answer

A)  Cambrian. 
B)  Ordovician. 
C)  Silurian. 
D)  Carboniferous. 
E)  Permian. 
A)  Cambrian. 
B)  Ordovician. 
C)  Silurian. 
D)  Carboniferous. 
E)  Permian.

Question 18

Which of the following is not considered evidence that large meteors struck Earth in the past?

Accepted Answer

A)  The discovery of large craters 
B)  High CO2 levels in the atmosphere in certain eras 
C)  The presence of soot, probably from forest fires 
D)  Mass extinctions that cannot be explained by terrestrial events 
E)  All the above are considered evidence that large meteors struck Earth in the past. 
A)  The discovery of large craters 
B)  High CO2 levels in the atmosphere in certain eras 
C)  The presence of soot, probably from forest fires 
D)  Mass extinctions that cannot be explained by terrestrial events 
E)  All the above are considered evidence that large meteors struck Earth in the past.

Question 19

The appearance of multicellular organisms coincided with increased levels of _______ in Earth's atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  sulfur 
B)  hydrogen 
C)  nitrogen 
D)  carbon 
E)  oxygen 
A)  sulfur 
B)  hydrogen 
C)  nitrogen 
D)  carbon 
E)  oxygen

Question 20

Which of the following statements about carbon dating is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Radioactive decay of 14C is balanced by its production from neutrons reacting with 14N in the upper atmosphere. 
B)  Dead organisms continue to exchange carbon compounds with the environment. 
C)  Carbon dating can be used to date organisms more than a million years old. 
D)  The half-life of 14C is less than 1,000 years. 
E)  None of the above 
A)  Radioactive decay of 14C is balanced by its production from neutrons reacting with 14N in the upper atmosphere. 
B)  Dead organisms continue to exchange carbon compounds with the environment. 
C)  Carbon dating can be used to date organisms more than a million years old. 
D)  The half-life of 14C is less than 1,000 years. 
E)  None of the above

Exam 25: The History of Life on Earth

The first snakes evolved during the _______ period.

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 _______ in that fossil today.

The increase in the concentration of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere over the past 100 years

Which of the following statements about oxygen and ancient Earth is true?

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

The period of time between when life first evolved on Earth and the definite appearance of multicellular life was about _______ years.

Most of human evolution has occurred during the

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

Which of the following is not true of the giant flying dragonflies of the Carboniferous and Permian?

Which of the following statements about the Cambrian is false?

For terrestrial animals and plants, the most recent mass extinction event that occurred prior to the evolution of humans took place approximately _______ million years ago.

Rocks that are formed when grains accumulate at the bottom of bodies of water are called _______ rocks

The current geological period is the

The rates of evolution vary from organism to organism. This conclusion is validated by which of the following observations?

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

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

Vascular plants first appeared during the

Which of the following is not considered evidence that large meteors struck Earth in the past?

The appearance of multicellular organisms coincided with increased levels of _______ in Earth's atmosphere.

Which of the following statements about carbon dating is true?

Studying Life

Small Molecules and the Chemistry of Life

Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Lipids

Nucleic Acids and the Origin of Life

Cells: the Working Units of Life

Cell Membranes

Cell Signaling and Communication

Energy, Enzymes, and Metabolism

Pathways That Harvest Chemical Energy

Photosynthesis: Energy From Sunlight

The Cell Cycle and Cell Division

Inheritance, Genes, and Chromosomes

Dna and Its Role in Heredity

From Dna to Protein: Gene Expression

Gene Mutation and Molecular Medicine

Regulation of Gene Expression

Genomes

Recombinent Dna and Biotechnology

Differential Gene Expression in Development

Development and Evolutionary Change

Evidence and Mechanisms of Evolution

Reconstructing and Using Phylogenies

Species and Their Formation

Evolution of Genes and Genomes

Bacteria and Archaea: the Prokaryotic Domains

The Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes

Plants Without Seeds: From Water to Land

The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi: Recyclers, Pathogens, Parasites, and Plant Partners

Animal Origins and the Evolution of Body Plans

Protostome Animals

Deuterostome Animals

The Plant Body

Transport in Plants

Plant Nutrition

Regulation of Plant Growth

Reproduction in Flowering Plants

Plant Responses to Environmental Challenges

Physiology, Homeostasis, and Temperature Regulation

Animal Hormones

Immunology: Animal Defense Systems

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons and Nervous Systems

Sensory Systems

The Mammalian Nervous System: Structure and Higher Function

Musculoskeletal Systems

Gas Exchange in Animals

Circulatory Systems

Nutrition, Digestion, and Absorption

Salt and Water Balance and Nitrogen

Animal Behavior

Ecology and the Distribution of Life

Population Ecology

Species Interaction and Coevolution

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Global Ecology

Conservation Biology

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The increase in the concentration of CO₂ in Earth's atmosphere over the past 100 years