Question 1

Hominins include

Accepted Answer

A)   Homo sapiens only.
B)   species within the genus Homo only.
C)   Homo sapiens and other extinct species more closely related to humans than to chimpanzees.
D)   humans, both extinct and extant, and the great apes.E) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 2

Explain how isotopes and other biomarker molecules carry information about the history of life, giving two specific examples.

Accepted Answer

Isotopes and biomarker molecules carry i...

Question 3

The earliest fossils of our own species date to

Accepted Answer

A)   approximately 500,000 years ago.
B)   approximately, 2 million years ago.
C)   approximately 6 million years ago.
D)   approximately 300,000 years ago.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 4

Which of the following statements about countershading is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   Countershading is widespread among living mammals, but there are no known instances of it in dinosaurs.
B)   Countershading helps obscure the shadow cast by an animal, making it harder for predators to see it.
C)   Only large predators use countershading to blend into their surroundings so that their prey cannot see them.
D)   Countershading cannot be inferred from the fossil record because skin and scale tissue is never preserved.E) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 5

Lord Kelvin argued that based on the temperature of rocks, Earth could not be as old as some geologists thought. What turned out to be wrong with his reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)   He claimed that the temperature of surface rocks should be used in calculations, but these calculations were shown to be unreliable.
B)   He did not realize that the planet's interior was constantly changing.
C)   The upper layers of Earth are cooler than Kelvin realized.
D)   all of the aboveE) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 6

Match the following species or taxonomic groups with the approximate time period in which they appear in the fossil record.
$$\begin{array} { | l | l | } 
\hline \text { Bacteria } & 3.5 \text { bya } \
\hline \text { Mammals } & 150 - 200 \text { mya } \
\hline \text { Tetrapods } & 370 \text { mya } \
\hline \text { Flowering plants } & 132 \text { mya } \
\hline \text { Sponges } & 650 \text { mya } \
\hline
\end{array}$$

Accepted Answer

Bacteria first appear in the fossil record approximately 3.5 billion years ago (bya). Mammals make their first appearance in the fossil record between 150 to 200 million years ago (mya). Tetrapods, which are four-limbed animals including those that live on land, first appear in the fossil record approximately 370 mya. Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms, first appear in the fossil record approximately 132 mya. Lastly, sponges, which are simple multicellular organisms, first appear in the fossil record approximately 650 mya.

Question 7

Which of the following is true about isotopes with high decay rate probabilities?

Accepted Answer

A)   They decay rapidly.
B)   They are very radioactive.
C)   They cannot be used in radiometric dating.
D)   a and b
E)   a, b, and cF) D) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 8

Explain the statement "It's a microbial world … and we just happen to live in it" in the context of both early and modern Earth.

Accepted Answer

The statement "It's a microbial world … ...

Question 9

We are currently in the ____ epoch, which began _____ years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)   Quaternary; 2.58 million
B)   Cenozoic; 66 million
C)   Holocene; 11,700
D)   Phanerozoic; 541 millionE) C) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 10

The earliest land plants resemble

Accepted Answer

A)   large coniferous trees.
B)   forbs and grasses.
C)   tree ferns.
D)   mosses and liverworts.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 11

Which of the following is not a teleost?

Accepted Answer

A)   tuna
B)   salmon
C)   shark
D)   goldfishE) All of the above
F) A) and B) C

Question 12

The oldest fossils may be

Accepted Answer

A)   fossilized bacterial mats called stromatolites.
B)   microscopic bits of carbon know as zircons.
C)   marine animals from the Burgess Shale.
D)   petrified pollen grains from ancient plants.E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 13

Which of the following incorrectly matches the event with its age in the fossil record?

Accepted Answer

A)   emergence of land plants  475 million years ago
B)   oldest treelike plant, Wattieza - 385 million years ago
C)   oldest fungi fossils - 440 million years ago
D)   oldest land animal - 440 million years agoE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 14

The two lineages of prokaryotes, Archaea and Bacteria, probably diverged

Accepted Answer

A)   4.1 billion years ago.
B)   3.5 billion years ago.
C)   2.6 billion years ago
D)   1.6 billion years ago.E) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 15

The human body is composed of approximately

Accepted Answer

A)   40 trillion cells.
B)   30 trillion cells.
C)   1 trillion cells.
D)   300 billion cells.E) A) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 16

Describe three reasons why any given organism would be unlikely to be discovered in fossilized form.

Accepted Answer

1) Rapid decomposition: Many organisms d...

Question 17

What does the signature of carbon-13:carbon-12 in the fossil record indicate about the history of hominin behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)   Early hominins consumed only grasses.
B)   Early hominins consumed only shrub-like plants.
C)   There was a gradual shift in hominin diet from shrub-like plants to grasses.
D)   There was a gradual shift in hominin diet from grasses to shrub-like plants.E) A) and C)
F) A) and D) C

Question 18

The Burgess Shale is an example of a(n)  ________ with a wealth of data from the ______ period.

Accepted Answer

A)   Lagerstätte; Cambrian
B)   stromatolite; Cryogenian
C)   Lagerstätte; Ediacaran
D)   Ediacaran; LagerstätteE) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 19

Explain how carbon isotopic signatures can be used to determine the diets of extinct organisms.

Accepted Answer

Carbon isotopic signatures can be used t...

Question 20

Which of the following may have been a more limiting factor for early life to form?

Accepted Answer

A)   the toxic atmosphere
B)   the amount of water available
C)   the temperature
D)   a and b
E)   b and cF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Exam 3: What the Rocks Say: How Geology and Paleontology Reveal the History of Life

Hominins include

Correct Answer
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Explain how isotopes and other biomarker molecules carry information about the history of life, giving two specific examples.

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Isotopes and biomarker molecules carry i...
View Answer

The earliest fossils of our own species date to

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements about countershading is true?

Correct Answer
verified

Lord Kelvin argued that based on the temperature of rocks, Earth could not be as old as some geologists thought. What turned out to be wrong with his reasoning?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following is true about isotopes with high decay rate probabilities?

Correct Answer
verified

Explain the statement "It's a microbial world … and we just happen to live in it" in the context of both early and modern Earth.

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The statement "It's a microbial world … ...
View Answer

We are currently in the epoch, which began _ years ago.

Correct Answer
verified

The earliest land plants resemble

Correct Answer
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Which of the following is not a teleost?

Correct Answer
verified
C

The oldest fossils may be

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following incorrectly matches the event with its age in the fossil record?

Correct Answer
verified

The two lineages of prokaryotes, Archaea and Bacteria, probably diverged

Correct Answer
verified

The human body is composed of approximately

Correct Answer
verified

Describe three reasons why any given organism would be unlikely to be discovered in fossilized form.

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
1) Rapid decomposition: Many organisms d...
View Answer

What does the signature of carbon-13:carbon-12 in the fossil record indicate about the history of hominin behavior?

Correct Answer
verified
C

The Burgess Shale is an example of a(n) __ with a wealth of data from the period.

Correct Answer
verified

Explain how carbon isotopic signatures can be used to determine the diets of extinct organisms.

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Carbon isotopic signatures can be used t...
View Answer

Which of the following may have been a more limiting factor for early life to form?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 3: What the Rocks Say: How Geology and Paleontology Reveal the History of Life

Hominins include

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain how isotopes and other biomarker molecules carry information about the history of life, giving two specific examples.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIIsotopes and biomarker molecules carry i...View AnswerShow Answer

The earliest fossils of our own species date to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements about countershading is true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Lord Kelvin argued that based on the temperature of rocks, Earth could not be as old as some geologists thought. What turned out to be wrong with his reasoning?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is true about isotopes with high decay rate probabilities?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain the statement "It's a microbial world … and we just happen to live in it" in the context of both early and modern Earth.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe statement "It's a microbial world … ...View AnswerShow Answer

We are currently in the ____ epoch, which began _____ years ago.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The earliest land plants resemble

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not a teleost?

Correct AnswerverifiedC

The oldest fossils may be

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following incorrectly matches the event with its age in the fossil record?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The two lineages of prokaryotes, Archaea and Bacteria, probably diverged

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The human body is composed of approximately

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Describe three reasons why any given organism would be unlikely to be discovered in fossilized form.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AI1) Rapid decomposition: Many organisms d...View AnswerShow Answer

What does the signature of carbon-13:carbon-12 in the fossil record indicate about the history of hominin behavior?

Correct AnswerverifiedC

The Burgess Shale is an example of a(n) ________ with a wealth of data from the ______ period.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain how carbon isotopic signatures can be used to determine the diets of extinct organisms.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AICarbon isotopic signatures can be used t...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following may have been a more limiting factor for early life to form?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Isotopes and biomarker molecules carry i...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The statement "It's a microbial world … ...
View Answer

We are currently in the epoch, which began _ years ago.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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C

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
1) Rapid decomposition: Many organisms d...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
C

The Burgess Shale is an example of a(n) __ with a wealth of data from the period.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Carbon isotopic signatures can be used t...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified