Question 1

What would result for global climate from a massive drop in atmospheric carbon dioxide?

Accepted Answer

A) An increase in ocean temperature 
B) Increased rock weathering 
C) A decrease in surface temperature 
D) Increased nitrogen availability 
A) An increase in ocean temperature 
B) Increased rock weathering 
C) A decrease in surface temperature 
D) Increased nitrogen availability C

Question 2

Homo sapiens have existed on earth for 2% of the earth's history.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

The oldest microfossils are of

Accepted Answer

A) prokaryotes. 
B) eukaryotes. 
C) insects. 
D) pollen grains. 
A) prokaryotes. 
B) eukaryotes. 
C) insects. 
D) pollen grains. A

Question 4

Which one of the following statements about endosymbiosis and the origin of the eukaryotic cell is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A) Mitochondria are the descendants of purple bacteria. 
B) The chloroplasts of red and green algae are the descendants of cyanobacteria. 
C) Algae incorporated prokaryotic cells that became chloroplasts, but never acquired mitochondria. 
D) Many compartments of the eukaryotic cell are derived from the endomembrane system. 
A) Mitochondria are the descendants of purple bacteria. 
B) The chloroplasts of red and green algae are the descendants of cyanobacteria. 
C) Algae incorporated prokaryotic cells that became chloroplasts, but never acquired mitochondria. 
D) Many compartments of the eukaryotic cell are derived from the endomembrane system.

Question 5

Why is a reducing atmosphere conducive to the origin of life?

Accepted Answer

A) It is more favorable for the development of organic molecules. 
B) It is rich in free oxygen. 
C) It is devoid of organic molecules. 
D) It is very similar to today's atmosphere. 
A) It is more favorable for the development of organic molecules. 
B) It is rich in free oxygen. 
C) It is devoid of organic molecules. 
D) It is very similar to today's atmosphere.

Question 6

The group that probably gave rise to chloroplasts is the

Accepted Answer

A) cyanobacteria. 
B) green photosynthetic bacteria. 
C) purple sulfur bacteria. 
D) non-sulfur purple bacteria. 
A) cyanobacteria. 
B) green photosynthetic bacteria. 
C) purple sulfur bacteria. 
D) non-sulfur purple bacteria.

Question 7

RNA was probably the first molecule used to encode genetic information; the use of DNA came later.This is due to RNA's inherent stability and its ability to store information more accurately than DNA.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

How would the hydrolysis of phosphodiester bonds impede the origin of life?

Accepted Answer

A) It would slow the rate of protein synthesis. 
B) It would prevent the assembly of nucleic acids. 
C) It would stop the formation of cell membranes. 
D) It would digest amino acids. 
A) It would slow the rate of protein synthesis. 
B) It would prevent the assembly of nucleic acids. 
C) It would stop the formation of cell membranes. 
D) It would digest amino acids.

Question 9

Eukaryotic cells acquired mitochondria and chloroplasts by

Accepted Answer

A) endosymbiosis. 
B) exocytosis. 
C) pinocytosis. 
D) mutation. 
A) endosymbiosis. 
B) exocytosis. 
C) pinocytosis. 
D) mutation.

Question 10

Two principal organelles in eukaryotes that were apparently derived from different types of bacteria are the

Accepted Answer

A) microfilaments and microtubules. 
B) mitochondria and chloroplasts. 
C) rough ER and smooth ER. 
D) plasma membrane and nuclear membrane. 
A) microfilaments and microtubules. 
B) mitochondria and chloroplasts. 
C) rough ER and smooth ER. 
D) plasma membrane and nuclear membrane.

Question 11

During the snowball earth temperatures at the equator rarely exceeded -20 degrees Celsius.Why didn't heat from the sun melt the ice?

Accepted Answer

A) The high levels of atmospheric moisture created extensive cloud cover. 
B) Ice reflected most of radiant energy. 
C) The ozone layer absorbed all the heat. 
D) The earth's core was cooled and kept the ice frozen. 
A) The high levels of atmospheric moisture created extensive cloud cover. 
B) Ice reflected most of radiant energy. 
C) The ozone layer absorbed all the heat. 
D) The earth's core was cooled and kept the ice frozen.

Question 12

A scientist is studying endosymbiosis in cells.This means she is investigating

Accepted Answer

A) how mitochondria and chloroplasts were derived from eukaryotic cells. 
B) how mitochondria and chloroplasts were derived from prokaryotic cells. 
C) how mitochondria and chloroplasts evolved into eukaryotic cells. 
D) how mitochondria and chloroplasts evolved into prokaryotic cells. 
A) how mitochondria and chloroplasts were derived from eukaryotic cells. 
B) how mitochondria and chloroplasts were derived from prokaryotic cells. 
C) how mitochondria and chloroplasts evolved into eukaryotic cells. 
D) how mitochondria and chloroplasts evolved into prokaryotic cells.

Question 13

Vascular plants appeared about 450 million year ago.Vascular plants have existed on earth for ______.

Accepted Answer

A) 10% of its history 
B) 20% of its history 
C) 50% of its history 
D) 75% of its history 
A) 10% of its history 
B) 20% of its history 
C) 50% of its history 
D) 75% of its history

Question 14

Which of the following was produced in experiments on primitive Earth conditions conducted by Miller-Urey and others?

Accepted Answer

A) ammonia and water 
B) amino acids 
C)  CO2 and H2O 
D)  ammonia and hydrogen sulfide 
A) ammonia and water 
B) amino acids 
C)  CO2 and H2O 
D)  ammonia and hydrogen sulfide

Question 15

If a scientist found very high concentrations of organic biomarkers deep inside a 3.9 billion year old meteorite, how would this effect the explanation of the origins of life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) This would prove the extra-terrestrial origin of life. 
B) This would provide evidence for the extra-terrestrial origin of life. 
C) This would disprove the terrestrial origin of life. 
D) This would provide evidence for the uniqueness of life on earth. 
A) This would prove the extra-terrestrial origin of life. 
B) This would provide evidence for the extra-terrestrial origin of life. 
C) This would disprove the terrestrial origin of life. 
D) This would provide evidence for the uniqueness of life on earth.

Question 16

The early Earth's reducing atmosphere probably contained all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A) carbon dioxide. 
B) water. 
C) oxygen. 
D) hydrogen sulfide. 
A) carbon dioxide. 
B) water. 
C) oxygen. 
D) hydrogen sulfide.

Question 17

How did humans colonize the New World?

Accepted Answer

A) Early humans walked across a land bridge during periods of lowered sea level. 
B) Christopher Columbus and a host of other explorers were the first to colonize the Americas. 
C) Humans drifted across the Atlantic on primitive canoes. 
D) Humans were present during the break-up of Gondwana. 
A) Early humans walked across a land bridge during periods of lowered sea level. 
B) Christopher Columbus and a host of other explorers were the first to colonize the Americas. 
C) Humans drifted across the Atlantic on primitive canoes. 
D) Humans were present during the break-up of Gondwana.

Question 18

A scientist is analyzing air bubbles trapped in ancient rocks that can be used to understand the ancient atmosphere.What do you expect the scientist will observe when comparing rocks younger than 3.8 billion years old to rocks older than 3.8 billion years?

Accepted Answer

A) The ratio of the carbon-12 isotope will be lower in the younger rocks, because living organisms preferentially use carbon-12 over other isotopes. 
B) The younger rocks will have higher levels of carbon dioxide, because there was no carbon dioxide in the atmosphere before animals evolved and expelled it as waste. 
C) The ratio of carbon-12 will be lower in the older rocks, because carbon-12 had to build up on earth before life could evolve. 
D) The amount of carbon will vary unpredictably in the younger rocks, because rock weathering added carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, and volcanic activity sequestered it. 
A) The ratio of the carbon-12 isotope will be lower in the younger rocks, because living organisms preferentially use carbon-12 over other isotopes. 
B) The younger rocks will have higher levels of carbon dioxide, because there was no carbon dioxide in the atmosphere before animals evolved and expelled it as waste. 
C) The ratio of carbon-12 will be lower in the older rocks, because carbon-12 had to build up on earth before life could evolve. 
D) The amount of carbon will vary unpredictably in the younger rocks, because rock weathering added carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, and volcanic activity sequestered it.

Question 19

Why is there free oxygen in the air?

Accepted Answer

A) Organisms need oxygen to manufacture ATP. 
B) Free oxygen has been present since the formation of the earth's atmosphere. 
C) Evaporation of the oceans liberated oxygen. 
D) It is a by-product of photosynthesis. 
A) Organisms need oxygen to manufacture ATP. 
B) Free oxygen has been present since the formation of the earth's atmosphere. 
C) Evaporation of the oceans liberated oxygen. 
D) It is a by-product of photosynthesis.

Question 20

True multicellularity is a major characteristic of

Accepted Answer

A) all eukaryotes and a few prokaryotes. 
B) animals and plants only. 
C) eukaryotes only. 
D) protists, plants, and animals. 
A) all eukaryotes and a few prokaryotes. 
B) animals and plants only. 
C) eukaryotes only. 
D) protists, plants, and animals.

Exam 26: The Origin and Diversity of Life

What would result for global climate from a massive drop in atmospheric carbon dioxide?

Homo sapiens have existed on earth for 2% of the earth's history.

The oldest microfossils are of

Which one of the following statements about endosymbiosis and the origin of the eukaryotic cell is FALSE?

Why is a reducing atmosphere conducive to the origin of life?

The group that probably gave rise to chloroplasts is the

RNA was probably the first molecule used to encode genetic information; the use of DNA came later.This is due to RNA's inherent stability and its ability to store information more accurately than DNA.

How would the hydrolysis of phosphodiester bonds impede the origin of life?

Eukaryotic cells acquired mitochondria and chloroplasts by

Two principal organelles in eukaryotes that were apparently derived from different types of bacteria are the

During the snowball earth temperatures at the equator rarely exceeded -20 degrees Celsius.Why didn't heat from the sun melt the ice?

A scientist is studying endosymbiosis in cells.This means she is investigating

Vascular plants appeared about 450 million year ago.Vascular plants have existed on earth for ______.

Which of the following was produced in experiments on primitive Earth conditions conducted by Miller-Urey and others?

If a scientist found very high concentrations of organic biomarkers deep inside a 3.9 billion year old meteorite, how would this effect the explanation of the origins of life on Earth?

The early Earth's reducing atmosphere probably contained all of the following except

How did humans colonize the New World?

A scientist is analyzing air bubbles trapped in ancient rocks that can be used to understand the ancient atmosphere.What do you expect the scientist will observe when comparing rocks younger than 3.8 billion years old to rocks older than 3.8 billion years?

Why is there free oxygen in the air?

True multicellularity is a major characteristic of

The Science of Biology

The Nature of Molecules and the Properties of Water

The Chemical Building Blocks of Life

Cell Structure

Membranes

Energy and Metabolism

How Cells Harvest Energy

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

How Cells Divide

Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes, Mapping, and the Meiosis-Inheritance Connection

Dna: the Genetic Material

Genes and How They Work

Control of Gene Expression

Biotechnology

Genomics

Cellular Mechanisms of Development

Genes Within Populations

The Evidence for Evolution

The Origin of Species

Systematics, Phylogenies, and Comparative Biology

Genome Evolution

Evolution of Development

Viruses

Prokaryotes

Protists

Seedless Plants

Seed Plants

Fungi

Animal Diversity and the Evolution of Body Plans

Protostomes

Deuterostomes

Plant Form

Transport in Plants

Plant Nutrition and Soils

Plant Defense Responses

Sensory Systems in Plants

Plant Reproduction

The Animal Body and Principles of Regulation

The Nervous System

Sensory Systems

The Endocrine System

The Musculoskeletal System

The Digestive System

The Respiratory System

The Circulatory System

Osmotic Regulation and the Urinary System

The Immune System

The Reproductive System

Animal Development

Behavioral Biology

Ecology of Individuals and Populations

Community Ecology

Dynamics of Ecosystems

The Biosphere

Conservation Biology

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