Answers26-27 - C - RUSD Biology in the Living EarthEvidence of Evolution: Fossils

Evidence of Evolution: Fossils — Test Answers

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2
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Choose the correct answer from each drop-down menu to complete the statement.

Answer:

cross-cutting relationships|4

3
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Which pattern does the diagram show following a mass extinction?

A
no change in biodiversity
B
extended loss without recovery
C
immediate and total biodiversity recovery
D
rapid adaptive radiation of surviving species
4

Choose the correct answer from each drop-down menu to complete the statements.

Answer:

declined sharply|increased gradually

5

How does the iridium layer help geologists correlate rock layers across different locations?

A
It is the only layer that contains fossils of both dinosaurs and mammals in all of these locations.
B
Because of its unique properties, it is a key bed that can be easily identified in many locations worldwide.
C
The presence of this layer proves that all living organisms died during the impact, and new types of organisms appeared in their place.
D
It can be used as a key bed because it is very thick and is surrounded by the same rock type in all locations.
6

Why is carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere such a good proxy for global temperature?

A
Carbon dioxide is the only gas that holds heat in Earth’s atmosphere.
B
Changes in carbon dioxide concentration cause positive feedback loops that keep climate stable.
C
Carbon dioxide concentration is a main driver of the greenhouse effect.
D
Polar ice is composed mainly of carbon dioxide.
7

A paleontologist discovers tropical plant fossils in rock layers in northern Canada. These fossils are similar to plants that grow only in warm, humid environments today. What do these fossils tell us about the past climate in Canada?

A
Canada was once covered by desert and sand dunes.
B
Canada once had a warm, moist tropical climate.
C
Canada has always been cold and snowy.
D
Canada used to be covered by a shallow ocean.
15

How can varves be used to construct a timeline of environmental changes?

A
Varves record annual freezes and thaws and contain bubbles of air that can tell us about how the atmosphere changed.
B
Varves contain radioactive isotopes that decay at a steady rate and can be used to determine the relative ages of sediment layers.
C
Varves record seasonal deposition of sediments in glaciers and lakes and contain pollen that tells us about past environments.
D
Varves can be correlated between distant locations to provide a continuous record of climate change throughout Earth's history.
17

What is a plausible reason why evolutionary radiations tend to follow mass extinctions?

A
Organisms that become extinct are not complex or diverse, and organisms that survive extinction events are.
B
Extinction events cause improvements in climate that make the planet more suitable for a wider variety of life forms.
C
Mass extinctions wipe out all life except the simplest forms, so evolution must start over again to generate new life forms.
D
Surviving organisms have access to more resources than were available to them before the extinction event.
18

Match each feature of early Earth with the geologic process that caused it.

Answer:

differentiation|accretion|mantle convection|volcanic outgassing

20

What type of evidence supports the theory that the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction was caused by an asteroid strike?

A
stromatolite fossils older than 66 Ma
B
impact crater and tsunami deposits at 66 Ma
C
coal seams both older and younger than 66 Ma
D
banded-iron formations younger than 66 Ma
21

A paleontologist discovers a fossilized tree trunk in a sedimentary rock layer. They estimate the tree trunk is less than 50,000 years old. Which dating method would be the most appropriate for determining its age?

A
relative dating
B
uranium-lead dating
C
radiocarbon dating
D
dendrochronology
22

What does the presence of Glossopteris fossils in Antarctica suggest?

A
The fossils were transported to Antarctica by ocean currents.
B
Wind and water currents carried Glossopteris seeds all over the globe.
C
Antarctica was once warmer and located closer to the equator.
D
Glossopteris plants could grow in icy conditions.
25

Choose the correct answer from each drop-down menu to complete the statement.

Answer:

warmer|drier

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