Question 1

Humans

Accepted Answer

A)  and primates evolved from a common ancestor 
B)  and primates evolved directly from dinosaurs 
C)  and primates evolved directly from birds 
D)  evolved directly from modern primates 
A)  and primates evolved from a common ancestor 
B)  and primates evolved directly from dinosaurs 
C)  and primates evolved directly from birds 
D)  evolved directly from modern primates

Question 2

Asteroids which could possibly collide with the Earth at some time in the future are known as

Accepted Answer

A)  killer asteroids 
B)  Earth-crossing asteroids 
C)  Armageddon asteroids 
D)  potentially hazardous asteroids 
A)  killer asteroids 
B)  Earth-crossing asteroids 
C)  Armageddon asteroids 
D)  potentially hazardous asteroids

Question 3

Based on current scientific evidence, what is the likelihood that life on Earth formed spontaneously from increasingly complex chemical reactions?

Accepted Answer

A)  very likely 
B)  certain 
C)  impossible 
D)  very unlikely 
A)  very likely 
B)  certain 
C)  impossible 
D)  very unlikely

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A)  episodes of widespread volcanism 
B)  impacts of asteroids 
C)  snowball Earth episodes 
D)  all of these can be responsible for mass extinctions 
A)  episodes of widespread volcanism 
B)  impacts of asteroids 
C)  snowball Earth episodes 
D)  all of these can be responsible for mass extinctions

Question 5

Organisms far from each other on the "Tree of Life"

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

The earliest Homo sapiens appeared about

Accepted Answer

A)  25 million years ago 
B)  6 to 7 million years ago 
C)  200,000 years ago 
D)  545 million years ago 
A)  25 million years ago 
B)  6 to 7 million years ago 
C)  200,000 years ago 
D)  545 million years ago

Question 7

Meteor add approximately what mass to the Earth each year?

Accepted Answer

A)  a few tons 
B)  millions of tons 
C)  thousands of tons 
D)  tens of thousands of tons 
A)  a few tons 
B)  millions of tons 
C)  thousands of tons 
D)  tens of thousands of tons

Question 8

The most well-known impact crater in North America is

Accepted Answer

A)  Crater Lake in Oregon 
B)  Meteor Crater in Arizona 
C)  Great Crater in Iowa 
D)  Odessa Crater in Texas 
A)  Crater Lake in Oregon 
B)  Meteor Crater in Arizona 
C)  Great Crater in Iowa 
D)  Odessa Crater in Texas

Question 9

The Permian extinction event was mostly likely caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  widespread volcanic activity in Siberia 
B)  an asteroid impact 
C)  the onset of a snowball Earth phase 
D)  the reversal of the Earth's magnetic field 
A)  widespread volcanic activity in Siberia 
B)  an asteroid impact 
C)  the onset of a snowball Earth phase 
D)  the reversal of the Earth's magnetic field

Question 10

Under what conditions will prebiotic molecules NOT be manufactured in Miller-Urey experiments?

Accepted Answer

A)  if ammonia (NH₃) is present in the flask 
B)  if methane (CH₄) is present in the flask 
C)  if oxygen (O₂) is present in the flask 
D)  if carbon dioxide (CO₂) is present in the flask 
A)  if ammonia (NH₃) is present in the flask 
B)  if methane (CH₄) is present in the flask 
C)  if oxygen (O₂) is present in the flask 
D)  if carbon dioxide (CO₂) is present in the flask

Question 11

The concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere has been near or above its current value for the past

Accepted Answer

A)  200 million years 
B)  542 million years 
C)  65 million years 
D)  360 million years 
A)  200 million years 
B)  542 million years 
C)  65 million years 
D)  360 million years

Question 12

Currently, the strongest evidence for microfossils dates to approximately

Accepted Answer

A)  4.0 billion years ago 
B)  3.5 billion years ago 
C)  3.4 billion years ago 
D)  3.9 billion years ago 
A)  4.0 billion years ago 
B)  3.5 billion years ago 
C)  3.4 billion years ago 
D)  3.9 billion years ago

Question 13

What was the approximate diameter of the object which denoted in the sky above Chelyabinsk in 2013?

Accepted Answer

A)  10 km 
B)  20 meters 
C)  1 meter 
D)  100 meters 
A)  10 km 
B)  20 meters 
C)  1 meter 
D)  100 meters

Question 14

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 15

Modern mammals are descendants of

Accepted Answer

A)  birds that were able to survive the impact that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago 
B)  sea animals that colonized the land after the impact that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago 
C)  early mammals that lived under the ground that were able to survive the impact that helped to wipe out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago 
D)  early mammals that killed off the dinosaurs 
A)  birds that were able to survive the impact that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago 
B)  sea animals that colonized the land after the impact that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago 
C)  early mammals that lived under the ground that were able to survive the impact that helped to wipe out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago 
D)  early mammals that killed off the dinosaurs

Question 16

The LEAST significant evolutionary changes in human beings over the past 10,000 to 40,000 years have been

Accepted Answer

A)  biological 
B)  political 
C)  technological 
D)  cultural 
A)  biological 
B)  political 
C)  technological 
D)  cultural

Question 17

What is one advantage that primates have over other forms of life?

Accepted Answer

A)  the ability to run fast 
B)  extra-large brains 
C)  the opposable thumb 
D)  the ability to walk upright 
A)  the ability to run fast 
B)  extra-large brains 
C)  the opposable thumb 
D)  the ability to walk upright

Question 18

The first molecules of RNA were probably made

Accepted Answer

A)  on the surfaces of clays or other minerals 
B)  deep within the earth 
C)  in the atmosphere 
D)  in space and then transported to the Earth in meteorites 
A)  on the surfaces of clays or other minerals 
B)  deep within the earth 
C)  in the atmosphere 
D)  in space and then transported to the Earth in meteorites

Question 19

The Carboniferous Period began about

Accepted Answer

A)  475 million years ago 
B)  65 million years ago 
C)  360 million years ago 
D)  542 million years ago 
A)  475 million years ago 
B)  65 million years ago 
C)  360 million years ago 
D)  542 million years ago

Question 20

What was the last geological period in Earth's history during which the dinosaurs lived?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Cretaceous Period 
B)  The Tertiary Period 
C)  The Triassic Period 
D)  The Carboniferous Period 
A)  The Cretaceous Period 
B)  The Tertiary Period 
C)  The Triassic Period 
D)  The Carboniferous Period

Humans

Asteroids which could possibly collide with the Earth at some time in the future are known as

Based on current scientific evidence, what is the likelihood that life on Earth formed spontaneously from increasingly complex chemical reactions?

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

Organisms far from each other on the "Tree of Life"

The earliest Homo sapiens appeared about

Meteor add approximately what mass to the Earth each year?

The most well-known impact crater in North America is

The Permian extinction event was mostly likely caused by

Under what conditions will prebiotic molecules NOT be manufactured in Miller-Urey experiments?

The concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere has been near or above its current value for the past

Currently, the strongest evidence for microfossils dates to approximately

What was the approximate diameter of the object which denoted in the sky above Chelyabinsk in 2013?

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

Modern mammals are descendants of

The LEAST significant evolutionary changes in human beings over the past 10,000 to 40,000 years have been

What is one advantage that primates have over other forms of life?

The first molecules of RNA were probably made

The Carboniferous Period began about

What was the last geological period in Earth's history during which the dinosaurs lived?

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

Humans

Asteroids which could possibly collide with the Earth at some time in the future are known as

Based on current scientific evidence, what is the likelihood that life on Earth formed spontaneously from increasingly complex chemical reactions?

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

Organisms far from each other on the "Tree of Life"

The earliest Homo sapiens appeared about

Meteor add approximately what mass to the Earth each year?

The most well-known impact crater in North America is

The Permian extinction event was mostly likely caused by

Under what conditions will prebiotic molecules NOT be manufactured in Miller-Urey experiments?

The concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere has been near or above its current value for the past

Currently, the strongest evidence for microfossils dates to approximately

What was the approximate diameter of the object which denoted in the sky above Chelyabinsk in 2013?

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

Modern mammals are descendants of

The LEAST significant evolutionary changes in human beings over the past 10,000 to 40,000 years have been

What is one advantage that primates have over other forms of life?

The first molecules of RNA were probably made

The Carboniferous Period began about

What was the last geological period in Earth's history during which the dinosaurs lived?

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