Question 1

In modern Miller-Urey experiments it is assumed that carbon and nitrogen in the early atmosphere were present as

Accepted Answer

A)  methane (CH₄) and ammonia (NH₃) 
B)  carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen (N₂) 
C)  carbonates (CO₃⁻) and nitrates (NO₃⁻) 
D)  carbon and nitrogen atoms 
A)  methane (CH₄) and ammonia (NH₃) 
B)  carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen (N₂) 
C)  carbonates (CO₃⁻) and nitrates (NO₃⁻) 
D)  carbon and nitrogen atoms

Question 2

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 3

Compared to life today the rate of diversification in early organism was probably

Accepted Answer

A)  exactly the same as it is today 
B)  much slower than it is today 
C)  much faster than it is today 
D)  just slightly slower than it is today 
A)  exactly the same as it is today 
B)  much slower than it is today 
C)  much faster than it is today 
D)  just slightly slower than it is today

Question 4

What was the first geological period in Earth's history after the dinosaurs became extinct?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

The transition from chemistry to biology occurred

Accepted Answer

A)  gradually in a number of distinct steps 
B)  very quickly in in one single step 
C)  very quickly in a number of distinct steps 
D)  gradually in one single step 
A)  gradually in a number of distinct steps 
B)  very quickly in in one single step 
C)  very quickly in a number of distinct steps 
D)  gradually in one single step

Question 6

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 7

A sample of an ancient sedimentary rock contains slightly less of the isotope carbon-13 than found in inorganic material. One possible explanation for this is that

Accepted Answer

A)  it was a meteorite that fell from the sky 
B)  some kind of radioactive decay occurred in it in the past 
C)  it used to be at the bottom of an ancient ocean 
D)  some kind of biological activity occurred in it in the past 
A)  it was a meteorite that fell from the sky 
B)  some kind of radioactive decay occurred in it in the past 
C)  it used to be at the bottom of an ancient ocean 
D)  some kind of biological activity occurred in it in the past

Question 8

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)  prokaryotes are seen incorporating into cells today 
B)  organelles float around independently inside eukaryotic cells 
C)  the DNA inside organelles is not made of the same four bases as the DNA in the host cells 
D)  they have their own DNA and reproduce independently of the host cell 
A)  prokaryotes are seen incorporating into cells today 
B)  organelles float around independently inside eukaryotic cells 
C)  the DNA inside organelles is not made of the same four bases as the DNA in the host cells 
D)  they have their own DNA and reproduce independently of the host cell

Question 9

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 10

Reptiles evolved from amphibians about

Accepted Answer

A)  475 million years ago 
B)  542 million years ago 
C)  360 million years ago 
D)  245 million years ago 
A)  475 million years ago 
B)  542 million years ago 
C)  360 million years ago 
D)  245 million years ago

Question 11

Today, which organisms have the highest biomass?

Accepted Answer

A)  fungi 
B)  plants 
C)  animals 
D)  microbes 
A)  fungi 
B)  plants 
C)  animals 
D)  microbes

Question 12

The probability of Earth being hit by a 10 km 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

Where in the "Tree of Life" will current organisms be located that are most closely related to the common ancestor of all life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  at the branch between animals and plants 
B)  very close to the root 
C)  at the branch between Archaea and Eukarya 
D)  very far from the root 
A)  at the branch between animals and plants 
B)  very close to the root 
C)  at the branch between Archaea and Eukarya 
D)  very far from the root

Question 14

The first living organisms to develop photosynthesis were probably

Accepted Answer

A)  purple and green sulfur bacteria 
B)  trilobites 
C)  cyanobacteria 
D)  stromatolites 
A)  purple and green sulfur bacteria 
B)  trilobites 
C)  cyanobacteria 
D)  stromatolites

Question 15

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 16

What happened at the start of the Cambrian Period?

Accepted Answer

A)  the first oxygen-producing bacteria appeared 
B)  the first dinosaurs appeared 
C)  early humans first appeared 
D)  an explosion of genetic diversity appeared, leading to the appearance of the first animals 
A)  the first oxygen-producing bacteria appeared 
B)  the first dinosaurs appeared 
C)  early humans first appeared 
D)  an explosion of genetic diversity appeared, leading to the appearance of the first animals

Question 17

Based on current scientific evidence, what is the likelihood that life on Earth was transported to Earth in meteorites?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

The first life to originate on Earth must be

Accepted Answer

A)  at least as old as the oldest fossils 
B)  exactly the same age as the oldest fossils 
C)  younger than the oldest fossils 
D)  much older than the oldest fossils 
A)  at least as old as the oldest fossils 
B)  exactly the same age as the oldest fossils 
C)  younger than the oldest fossils 
D)  much older than the oldest fossils

Question 19

A small piece of debris that burns up in the atmosphere is called a

Accepted Answer

A)  meteor 
B)  meteorite 
C)  asteroid 
D)  meteoroid 
A)  meteor 
B)  meteorite 
C)  asteroid 
D)  meteoroid

Question 20

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 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 react more easily 
C)  only cells can replicate 
D)  biological reactions can occur only within cells

In modern Miller-Urey experiments it is assumed that carbon and nitrogen in the early atmosphere were present as

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

Compared to life today the rate of diversification in early organism was probably

What was the first geological period in Earth's history after the dinosaurs became extinct?

The transition from chemistry to biology occurred

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

A sample of an ancient sedimentary rock contains slightly less of the isotope carbon-13 than found in inorganic material. One possible explanation for this is that

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?

The first living organisms interacted with the atmosphere

Reptiles evolved from amphibians about

Today, which organisms have the highest biomass?

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

Where in the "Tree of Life" will current organisms be located that are most closely related to the common ancestor of all life on Earth?

The first living organisms to develop photosynthesis were probably

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

What happened at the start of the Cambrian Period?

Based on current scientific evidence, what is the likelihood that life on Earth was transported to Earth in meteorites?

The first life to originate on Earth must be

A small piece of debris that burns up in the atmosphere is called a

What is one reason that early life formed cells?

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

Exam 6: The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

In modern Miller-Urey experiments it is assumed that carbon and nitrogen in the early atmosphere were present as

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

Compared to life today the rate of diversification in early organism was probably

What was the first geological period in Earth's history after the dinosaurs became extinct?

The transition from chemistry to biology occurred

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

A sample of an ancient sedimentary rock contains slightly less of the isotope carbon-13 than found in inorganic material. One possible explanation for this is that

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?

The first living organisms interacted with the atmosphere

Reptiles evolved from amphibians about

Today, which organisms have the highest biomass?

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

Where in the "Tree of Life" will current organisms be located that are most closely related to the common ancestor of all life on Earth?

The first living organisms to develop photosynthesis were probably

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

What happened at the start of the Cambrian Period?

Based on current scientific evidence, what is the likelihood that life on Earth was transported to Earth in meteorites?

The first life to originate on Earth must be

A small piece of debris that burns up in the atmosphere is called a

What is one reason that early life formed cells?

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