Question 1

What is the "chicken-and-egg" type problem we face when trying to decide which came first-proteins or nucleic acids?

Accepted Answer

A)  proteins and nucleic acids probably looked very different before the origin of life 
B)  nucleic acids cannot replicate without proteins, and proteins cannot be made without nucleic acids 
C)  early proteins and nucleic acids were very similar to each other 
D)  proteins and nucleic acids are always present together at the same time 
A)  proteins and nucleic acids probably looked very different before the origin of life 
B)  nucleic acids cannot replicate without proteins, and proteins cannot be made without nucleic acids 
C)  early proteins and nucleic acids were very similar to each other 
D)  proteins and nucleic acids are always present together at the same time

Question 2

What was special about the Tunguska impact in Siberia on 1908?

Accepted Answer

A)  the object exploded completely before it hit the ground 
B)  the object that hit was a comet and not an asteroid 
C)  the event had been predicted long before it happened 
D)  the impact created the biggest impact crater seen in recorded history 
A)  the object exploded completely before it hit the ground 
B)  the object that hit was a comet and not an asteroid 
C)  the event had been predicted long before it happened 
D)  the impact created the biggest impact crater seen in recorded history

Question 3

What is the main potential concern regarding the creation of artificial life?

Accepted Answer

A)  that they would rapidly evolve and replace existing life on Earth 
B)  that they would be used by hostile nations to build clone armies 
C)  that they might be the source of new diseases or toxins for which terrestrial life would have little resistance 
D)  that they would travel on our robotic space probes and contaminate other planets 
A)  that they would rapidly evolve and replace existing life on Earth 
B)  that they would be used by hostile nations to build clone armies 
C)  that they might be the source of new diseases or toxins for which terrestrial life would have little resistance 
D)  that they would travel on our robotic space probes and contaminate other planets

Question 4

Modern day living stromatolites which resemble ancient stromatolites very closely have been found in

Accepted Answer

A)  the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico 
B)  South West Greenland 
C)  Western Australia 
D)  Yellowstone National Park, U.S.A. 
A)  the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico 
B)  South West Greenland 
C)  Western Australia 
D)  Yellowstone National Park, U.S.A.

Question 5

How long did it take for oxygen to build up in the Earth's atmosphere to its present levels?

Accepted Answer

A)  at least 542 million years 
B)  at least 360 million years 
C)  at least 2 billion years 
D)  at least 3.5 billion years 
A)  at least 542 million years 
B)  at least 360 million years 
C)  at least 2 billion years 
D)  at least 3.5 billion years

Question 6

Carbon isotope evidence from rocks found on an island off the coast of Greenland, although controversial, suggests that life may have

Accepted Answer

A)  existed and was well established by3.4 to 3.5 billion years ago 
B)  originated about 3.4 billion years ago 
C)  existed 3.85 billion years ago 
D)  originated when the Earth formed 4.6 billion years ago 
A)  existed and was well established by3.4 to 3.5 billion years ago 
B)  originated about 3.4 billion years ago 
C)  existed 3.85 billion years ago 
D)  originated when the Earth formed 4.6 billion years ago

Question 7

One theory for the origin of life suggests that life was transported to Earth in meteorites. This is referred to as

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

To date, meteorites have been identified originating from which planets and moons?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars only 
B)  All terrestrial planets 
C)  The Moon and Mars 
D)  The Moon only 
A)  Mars only 
B)  All terrestrial planets 
C)  The Moon and Mars 
D)  The Moon only

Question 9

What is one reason that early life formed cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  only cells can replicate 
B)  cell walls prevent heat from escaping 
C)  cells help to protect fragile biological molecules from the outside environment 
D)  biological reactions can occur only within cells 
A)  only cells can replicate 
B)  cell walls prevent heat from escaping 
C)  cells help to protect fragile biological molecules from the outside environment 
D)  biological reactions can occur only within cells

Question 10

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 11

Most of the injuries caused by the Chelyabinsk event in 2013 were caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  smoke inhalation 
B)  UV radiation from the fireball 
C)  glass shattered by the shock wave 
D)  the sonic boom as the object passed through the Earth's atmosphere 
A)  smoke inhalation 
B)  UV radiation from the fireball 
C)  glass shattered by the shock wave 
D)  the sonic boom as the object passed through the Earth's atmosphere

Question 12

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 13

Stromatolites date back to approximately

Accepted Answer

A)  4.6 billion years ago 
B)  3.5 billion years ago 
C)  3.85 billion years ago 
D)  4.0 billion years ago 
A)  4.6 billion years ago 
B)  3.5 billion years ago 
C)  3.85 billion years ago 
D)  4.0 billion years ago

Question 14

The rocks found in Greenland with carbon isotope ratios suggestive of life are

Accepted Answer

A)  igneous 
B)  sedimentary 
C)  metamorphic 
D)  a mixture of sedimentary and metamorphic 
A)  igneous 
B)  sedimentary 
C)  metamorphic 
D)  a mixture of sedimentary and metamorphic

Question 15

The probability of Earth being hit by a 10 km asteroid in the next few hundred million years is

Accepted Answer

A)  almost certain 
B)  impossible to predict 
C)  zero 
D)  small but not zero 
A)  almost certain 
B)  impossible to predict 
C)  zero 
D)  small but not zero

Question 16

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 17

What do we mean by "The Oxygen Crisis" in relation to the evolution of life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  the extinction of older anaerobic life as oxygen builds up in the atmosphere 
B)  the time period before the development of the ozone layer 
C)  a period when evolution accelerated so rapidly that there was insufficient oxygen available 
D)  the destruction of oxygen in the early atmosphere 
A)  the extinction of older anaerobic life as oxygen builds up in the atmosphere 
B)  the time period before the development of the ozone layer 
C)  a period when evolution accelerated so rapidly that there was insufficient oxygen available 
D)  the destruction of oxygen in the early atmosphere

Question 18

Stromatolites are

Accepted Answer

A)  fossils of the first organisms to introduce oxygen into the atmosphere 
B)  fossils of the first multicellular organisms 
C)  layers of sediment that once contained colonies of ancient microbes 
D)  fossils of the first eukaryotes 
A)  fossils of the first organisms to introduce oxygen into the atmosphere 
B)  fossils of the first multicellular organisms 
C)  layers of sediment that once contained colonies of ancient microbes 
D)  fossils of the first eukaryotes

Question 19

Most likely, oxygen was first released into the atmosphere by

Accepted Answer

A)  the decomposition of dead organisms 
B)  plants 
C)  cyanobacteria 
D)  oxidation reactions 
A)  the decomposition of dead organisms 
B)  plants 
C)  cyanobacteria 
D)  oxidation reactions

Question 20

RNA catalysts in cells are referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  enzymes 
B)  ribozymes 
C)  ribosomes 
D)  chemzymes 
A)  enzymes 
B)  ribozymes 
C)  ribosomes 
D)  chemzymes

What is the "chicken-and-egg" type problem we face when trying to decide which came first-proteins or nucleic acids?

What was special about the Tunguska impact in Siberia on 1908?

What is the main potential concern regarding the creation of artificial life?

Modern day living stromatolites which resemble ancient stromatolites very closely have been found in

How long did it take for oxygen to build up in the Earth's atmosphere to its present levels?

Carbon isotope evidence from rocks found on an island off the coast of Greenland, although controversial, suggests that life may have

One theory for the origin of life suggests that life was transported to Earth in meteorites. This is referred to as

To date, meteorites have been identified originating from which planets and moons?

What is one reason that early life formed cells?

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?

Most of the injuries caused by the Chelyabinsk event in 2013 were caused by

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?

Stromatolites date back to approximately

The rocks found in Greenland with carbon isotope ratios suggestive of life are

The probability of Earth being hit by a 10 km asteroid in the next few hundred million years is

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

What do we mean by "The Oxygen Crisis" in relation to the evolution of life on Earth?

Stromatolites are

Most likely, oxygen was first released into the atmosphere by

RNA catalysts in cells are referred to as

A Universe of Life

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

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

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Exam 6: The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

What is the "chicken-and-egg" type problem we face when trying to decide which came first-proteins or nucleic acids?

What was special about the Tunguska impact in Siberia on 1908?

What is the main potential concern regarding the creation of artificial life?

Modern day living stromatolites which resemble ancient stromatolites very closely have been found in

How long did it take for oxygen to build up in the Earth's atmosphere to its present levels?

Carbon isotope evidence from rocks found on an island off the coast of Greenland, although controversial, suggests that life may have

One theory for the origin of life suggests that life was transported to Earth in meteorites. This is referred to as

To date, meteorites have been identified originating from which planets and moons?

What is one reason that early life formed cells?

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?

Most of the injuries caused by the Chelyabinsk event in 2013 were caused by

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?

Stromatolites date back to approximately

The rocks found in Greenland with carbon isotope ratios suggestive of life are

The probability of Earth being hit by a 10 km asteroid in the next few hundred million years is

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

What do we mean by "The Oxygen Crisis" in relation to the evolution of life on Earth?

Stromatolites are

Most likely, oxygen was first released into the atmosphere by

RNA catalysts in cells are referred to as

A Universe of Life

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

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters