Question 1

Africa,Asia,South America,and Antarctica share some patterns of primitive (fossil) plants and early reptiles,but do not have similar mammal populations.These findings

Accepted Answer

A)  cast serious doubts upon the theory of continental drift and fused land masses.
B)  are an unsolved puzzle probably due to the random nature of biological evolution.
C)  suggest that a pattern of land bridges existed at different times in geological history.
D)  suggest that the earlier plants and reptiles evolved while continents were joined,but mammals radiated into diverse groups after separation.
E)  suggest that the mammals evolved earlier while continents were joined,but plants and reptiles radiated into diverse groups after separation.

Question 2

Some viruses never use DNA to carry out protein synthesis and have only RNA as their genetic material.This would lend evidence to which theory?

Accepted Answer

A)  RNA-first hypothesis
B)  protein-first hypothesis
C)  simultaneous evolution of RNA and proteins
D)  endosymbiotic theory of eukaryote evolution

Question 3

All of the following statements concerning the theory of continental drift are true EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  the coastlines of several continents are mirror images.
B)  similar geological structures are found in areas where the continents touched.
C)  continental drift has ceased.
D)  the unique distribution patterns of several fossils is explained by continental drift.

Question 4

Mass extinctions

Accepted Answer

A)  have occurred at least 5 times in the Earth's history.
B)  may have been due to climatic changes after meteorite collisions.
C)  may have been due to changing environments caused by continental drift.
D)  All of the choices are correct.

Question 5

Which of the following molecules are believed to have been absent from the primitive reducing atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  water vapor (H2O) 
B)  carbon dioxide (CO2) 
C)  hydrogen (H2) 
D)  oxygen (O2) 
E)  nitrogen (N2)  D

Question 6

The Greek terms for "small" and "ball" are the root words for

Accepted Answer

A)  proteinoid.
B)  polymer.
C)  microsphere.
D)  coacervate.
E)  liposome.

Question 7

Fossils used to define and identify geologic periods are ________ fossils.

Accepted Answer

A)  body
B)  index
C)  trace
D)  stromatolite

Question 8

Which of the following mass extinctions is correctly matched with the date of the extinction?

Accepted Answer

A)  Silurian-445.2 mya
B)  Devonian-443.7 mya
C)  Cretaceous-65.5 mya
D)  Triassic-251 mya

Question 9

The distribution of mammalian fossils on Australia,South America,and Africa help support the idea of continental drift.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The formation of simple organic monomers,such as sugars,amino acids,and nucleotide bases,from inorganic molecules is

Accepted Answer

A)  biosynthesis.
B)  genetically modified photosynthesis.
C)  abiotic synthesis.
D)  chemoautotrophic activity.

Question 11

Which piece of evidence would best support the theory of continental drift?

Accepted Answer

A)  The reptilian diversity on Earth is very different due to the separation of the continents billions of years ago.
B)  Australia,South America,and Africa all share a similar mammalian fauna due to the lineage being present on Gondwana.
C)  Fossils of seed ferns can only be found on North America and Europe but nowhere else in the world.
D)  All of the choices are correct.

Question 12

The scientific study of fossils and what they reveal about prehistoric life in relation to ancient climates and environments is

Accepted Answer

A)  biogeography.
B)  comparative molecular biology.
C)  paleontology.
D)  geology.

Question 13

With the appearance of photosynthetic cyanobacteria and aerobic bacteria during the Precambrian era,

Accepted Answer

A)  an oxidizing atmosphere developed on Earth.
B)  the formation of the ozone shield occurred.
C)  the amount of UV light reaching the Earth was reduced and chemical evolution slowed.
D)  All of the choices are correct.

Question 14

Fossils from the Paleozoic are plentiful because

Accepted Answer

A)  mammals greatly diversified during this time.
B)  multicellular organisms first evolved during this time.
C)  this is the time period most studied.
D)  hard body parts evolved in plants and animals.

Question 15

It is likely that the protocell was

Accepted Answer

A)  heterotrophic.
B)  chemoautotrophic.
C)  photoautotrophic.
D)  a decomposer.
E)  either heterotrophic or chemoautotrophic. E

Question 16

Wegener first presented the idea of continental drift in 1920 and this theory was confirmed in 1960.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

________ discovered that a variety of amino acids and organic acids could be produced in the laboratory in a reducing atmosphere with electrical sparks.

Accepted Answer

A)  Stanley Miller
B)  Graham Cairns-Smith
C)  Thomas Cech
D)  Aleksander Oparin
E)  Sidney Fox

Question 18

The first eukaryotic cells probably arose about ________ billion years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  2.2
B)  2.5
C)  3.5
D)  4.5 A

Question 19

Plate tectonics explain that the amount of Earth being formed is much greater than the amount of the Earth's crust being destroyed in subduction zones.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which biological events took place during the Paleozoic Era and the Mesozoic Era?

Accepted Answer

A)  During the Paleozoic Era,three mass extinctions occurred which led to the colonization of land by plants,while during the Mesozoic Era,gymnosperms became the dominant plant life.
B)  During the Mesozoic Era,three mass extinctions occurred which led to the colonization of land by plants,while during the Paleozoic Era,gymnosperms became the dominant plant life.
C)  During the Paleozoic Era,five mass extinctions occurred which led to the colonization of land by plants,while during the Mesozoic Era,angiosperms became the dominant plant life.
D)  During the Mesozoic Era,five mass extinctions occurred which led to the colonization of land by plants,while during the Paleozoic Era,angiosperms became the dominant plant life.

Exam 18: Origin and History of Life

Africa,Asia,South America,and Antarctica share some patterns of primitive (fossil) plants and early reptiles,but do not have similar mammal populations.These findings

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Some viruses never use DNA to carry out protein synthesis and have only RNA as their genetic material.This would lend evidence to which theory?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

All of the following statements concerning the theory of continental drift are true EXCEPT

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Mass extinctions

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following molecules are believed to have been absent from the primitive reducing atmosphere?

Correct AnswerverifiedD

The Greek terms for "small" and "ball" are the root words for

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Fossils used to define and identify geologic periods are ________ fossils.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following mass extinctions is correctly matched with the date of the extinction?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The distribution of mammalian fossils on Australia,South America,and Africa help support the idea of continental drift.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The formation of simple organic monomers,such as sugars,amino acids,and nucleotide bases,from inorganic molecules is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which piece of evidence would best support the theory of continental drift?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The scientific study of fossils and what they reveal about prehistoric life in relation to ancient climates and environments is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

With the appearance of photosynthetic cyanobacteria and aerobic bacteria during the Precambrian era,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Fossils from the Paleozoic are plentiful because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

It is likely that the protocell was

Correct AnswerverifiedE

Wegener first presented the idea of continental drift in 1920 and this theory was confirmed in 1960.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

________ discovered that a variety of amino acids and organic acids could be produced in the laboratory in a reducing atmosphere with electrical sparks.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The first eukaryotic cells probably arose about ________ billion years ago.

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Plate tectonics explain that the amount of Earth being formed is much greater than the amount of the Earth's crust being destroyed in subduction zones.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which biological events took place during the Paleozoic Era and the Mesozoic Era?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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D

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