AnswersWV-Earth and Space Science A-CRMiddle and Recent Earth History

Middle and Recent Earth History — Unit test Answers

1 verified answers2 views
1
Free Preview

Eons, eras, periods, and epochs, are all examples of ____________time.

A
relative
B
geologic
C
geographic
D
plate tectonics
2
Free Preview

Mammals evolved into larger organisms and began subdividing into various species in the _____________.

A
Mesozoic era
B
Paleozoic era
C
Cenozoic era
D
Devonian era
3

______________ can be used to date fossils in rocks to give an approximate age.

A
isotope
B
half - life
C
radiocarbon dating
D
direct dating
4

Complex organisms with gills and lungs were major life forms that existed in the_____________.

A
Mesozoic era
B
Cenozoic era
C
Precambrian era
D
Paleozoic era
5

Shifts in the rock layer locations cannot account for gaps in the rock record

A
T
B
F
6

Thylacosmilus is a marsupial, and Smilodon is a mammal. Thylacosmilus and Smilodon both have saber teeth, but they do not share an ancestor that had saber teeth. What are saber teeth for these organisms?

A
analogous structures
B
homologous structures
C
vestigial structures
D
mutated structures
7

Why are the Miller-Urey experiments essential to the theory of evolution?

A
They showed that life can only come from life.
B
They showed that electricity can create life.
C
They showed how organic molecules could be made from Earth's early atmosphere.
D
They showed the role that natural selection played in the evolution of modern day organisms.
8

Which best describes the fossil record?

A
The fossil record cannot provide evidence of evolution.
B
The fossil record provides evidence of a common ancestor to many species.
C
The fossil record provides evidence that disputes the theory of evolution.
D
The fossil record is inaccurate because scientists are not able to date fossils.
9

Scientists notice structural similarities between fossils of a land animal and an aquatic organism. They know the similarities are not a result of the two organisms having to adapt to similar environments. What can they attribute the structural similarities to?

A
convergent evolution
B
common ancestry
C
transitional evolution
D
similar mating habits
10

Determining the order of events and the relative age of rocks by examining the position of rocks in a sequence is called ____.

A
absolute dating
B
radiometric dating
C
relative dating
D
radiocarbon dating
11

Please select the word from the list that best fits the definition

A
carbonaceous film
B
cast
C
principle of superposition
D
radiometric dating
E
beta decay
F
half-life
G
index fossils
H
mold
I
uniformitarianism
J
radioactive decay
K
relative dating
L
unconformities
12

Which of these statements best sums up evolution?

A
rapid change in species’ habits and features
B
rapid development of vestigial structures in a species
C
change in a population through new species being made
D
change in a population through genetic variation over time
13

Dinosaurs were definitely cold blooded.

A
T
B
F
14

Life-forms that existed during the Paleozoic Era included ____.

A
fish
B
trilobites
C
reptiles
D
all of the above
15

A scientist makes the argument that she has found DNA evidence that shows that evolution does not exist. What would her evidence have to show for her to be correct?

A
Strong genetic similarities in closely related organisms and weak genetic similarities in distantly related organisms.
B
Weak genetic similarities in closely related organisms and strong genetic similarities in distantly related organisms.
C
Strong physical similarities among closely related organisms and also among distantly related organisms.
D
Weak physical similarities among closely related organisms and also among distantly related organisms.
16

Please select the word from the list that best fits the definition

A
remains
B
fossil
C
mold
D
hard
E
missing layer
F
trace
G
radioactive decay
H
carbon-14
17

If the same index fossils are found in two separate rock layers, the two rock layers most likely

A
reveal a disconformity.
B
reveal a nonconformity.
C
were formed at the same time.
D
were formed at different times.
18

In a series of undisturbed rock layers where shale lies between sandstone below and limestone above, the ____.

A
limestone is youngest
B
shale is youngest
C
sandstone is youngest
D
beds are all the same age
19

Gymnosperms, or seed-bearing plants, were the only abundant form of plant life during the Mesozoic Era.

A
T
B
F
20

What do gradualism and punctuated equilibrium have in common?

A
They are both explanations of the rate of evolutionary change.
B
They are both explanations that were put forth by Darwin.
C
They both discredit the theory of evolution.
D
They both utilize radioactive dating over relative dating.

Did you find these answers helpful?