Question 1

If a scientist found very high concentrations of organic biomarkers deep inside a 3.9 billion year old meteorite,how would this effect the explanation of the origins of life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  This would prove the extraterrestrial origin of life.
B)  This would provide evidence for the extraterrestrial origin of life.
C)  This would disprove the terrestrial origin of life.
D)  This would provide evidence for the uniqueness of life on earth.E) A) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 2

An experimental test of the hypothesis to explain the origin of the first organic compounds on Earth might include all of the following sequential steps except

Accepted Answer

A)  assembling an atmosphere with H2,CH4,NH3,and H2S.
B)  placing this atmosphere over liquid water.
C)  inoculating with a few bacteria to get the process started.
D)  increasing the temperature of the gases.
E)  providing energy with electrical spark discharges.F) A) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 3

Life apparently originated on Earth about

Accepted Answer

A)  1 million years ago.
B)  6000 years ago.
C)  4.5 billion years ago.
D)  8 billion years ago.
E)  3.5 billion years ago.F) All of the above
G) A) and B) E

Question 4

Imagine that NASA discovered a new planet with an atmosphere rich in hydrogen gas,hydrogen sulfide,ammonia and methane.We would call this a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  reducing atmosphere,because of the availability of hydrogen atoms that can donate electrons.
B)  reducing atmosphere because the atmosphere would reduce the energy necessary to build molecules.
C)  oxidizing atmosphere because of the availability of oxygen compounds.
D)  oxidizing atmosphere because of the lack of oxygen gas.E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 5

Prokaryotic organisms were the only life-forms present on earth for almost 2 billion years.Multicellular eukaryotes have only been around for about 25% of earth's history

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Vascular plants appeared about 450 million year ago.Vascular plants have existed on earth for ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  10% of its history
B)  20% of its history
C)  50% of its history
D)  75% of its history
E)  90% of its historyF) A) and E)
G) A) and C)

Question 7

A scientist is studying endosymbiosis in cells.This means she is investigating

Accepted Answer

A)  how mitochondria and chloroplasts were derived from eukaryotic cells.
B)  how mitochondria and chloroplasts were derived from prokaryotic cells.
C)  how mitochondria and chloroplasts evolved into eukaryotic cells.
D)  how mitochondria and chloroplasts evolved into prokaryotic cells.E) A) and C)
F) A) and D) B

Question 8

Which of the following was demonstrated by the Miller-Urey experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  Life began in the oceans.
B)  Life can be started experimentally in the laboratory.
C)  Organic molecules important to life could have been formed from a vast array of simple chemicals.
D)  Life began on the prebiotic Earth 3.5 billion years ago.E) A) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 9

The apparatus in the figure was used by Stanley Miller and Harold Urey to study the origin of life on Earth.What compound was excluded from the apparatus so that it would form a reducing atmosphere? 2 B) O2 C) NH3 D) H2 E) H2O" class="answers-bank-image d-inline" rel="preload" >

Accepted Answer

A)  CO2
B)  O2
C)  NH3
D)  H2
E)  H2OF) B) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 10

The group that probably gave rise to chloroplasts is the

Accepted Answer

A)  cyanobacteria.
B)  green photosynthetic bacteria.
C)  purple sulfur bacteria.
D)  nonsulfur purple bacteria.
E)  methane bacteria.F) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 11

It has been discovered that enzyme-like catalysis can be carried out not only by enzymes but also by

Accepted Answer

A)  sugars.
B)  DNA.
C)  phospholipids.
D)  RNA.
E)  steroids.F) A) and E)
G) D) and E)

Question 12

All of the following were produced in experiments on primitive Earth conditions conducted by Miller-Urey and others,except for

Accepted Answer

A)  amino acids.
B)  organic molecules.
C)  prokaryotes.
D)  hydrogen cyanide.
E)  urea.F) D) and E)
G) All of the above

Question 13

What is the advantage of having cyanobacteria living inside a cell?

Accepted Answer

A)  Enhanced protection of DNA
B)  Intracellular production of glucose
C)  Much more efficient protein synthesis
D)  Allows the cell to manufacture ATPE) A) and B)
F) All of the above

Question 14

Which eon would contain rocks with no fossils?

Accepted Answer

A)  Archean
B)  Hadean
C)  Proterozoic
D)  PhanerozoicE) A) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 15

Which one of the following statements about endosymbiosis and the origin of the eukaryotic cell is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mitochondria are the descendants of purple bacteria.
B)  The chloroplasts of red and green algae are the descendants of cyanobacteria.
C)  Algae incorporated prokaryotic cells that became chloroplasts,but never acquired mitochondria.
D)  Many compartments of the eukaryotic cell are derived from the endomembrane system.
E)  Ultimately,both the chloroplast and the mitochondria of eukaryotes are descendants of prokaryotic cells.F) A) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 16

The early Earth's reducing atmosphere probably contained all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide.
B)  water.
C)  oxygen.
D)  hydrogen sulfide.
E)  methane.F) A) and B)
G) D) and E) C

Question 17

The oldest microfossils are of

Accepted Answer

A)  prokaryotes.
B)  eukaryotes.
C)  insects.
D)  pollen grains.
E)  small animals.F) D) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 18

How did humans colonize the New World?

Accepted Answer

A)  Early humans walked across a land bridge during periods of lowered sea level.
B)  Christopher Columbus and a host of other explorers were the first to colonize the Americas.
C)  Humans drifted across the Atlantic on primitive canoes.
D)  Humans were present during the break-up of Gondwana.E) None of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 19

Why have plants been implicated in the Ordovician and Devonian glaciations,but not the Proterozoic glaciations?

Accepted Answer

A)  Proterozoic plants used anoxygenic photosynthesis.
B)  Proterozoic plants had simple root structures that did not increase rock weathering.
C)  Land plants had not yet evolved during the Proterozoic.
D)  The nonvascular plants present during the Proterozoic did not contribute to global nutrient cycles.E) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 20

During the Snowball Earth temperatures at the equator rarely exceeded -20 degrees Celsius.Why didn't heat from the sun melt the ice?

Accepted Answer

A)  The high levels of atmospheric moisture created extensive cloud cover.
B)  Ice reflected most of radiant energy.
C)  The ozone layer absorbed all the heat.
D)  The earth's core was cooled and kept the ice frozen.E) A) and B)
F) B) and D)

Exam 25: The Origin and Diversity of Life

If a scientist found very high concentrations of organic biomarkers deep inside a 3.9 billion year old meteorite,how would this effect the explanation of the origins of life on Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

An experimental test of the hypothesis to explain the origin of the first organic compounds on Earth might include all of the following sequential steps except

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Life apparently originated on Earth about

Correct AnswerverifiedE

Imagine that NASA discovered a new planet with an atmosphere rich in hydrogen gas,hydrogen sulfide,ammonia and methane.We would call this a(n)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Prokaryotic organisms were the only life-forms present on earth for almost 2 billion years.Multicellular eukaryotes have only been around for about 25% of earth's history

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Vascular plants appeared about 450 million year ago.Vascular plants have existed on earth for ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A scientist is studying endosymbiosis in cells.This means she is investigating

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Which of the following was demonstrated by the Miller-Urey experiment?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The apparatus in the figure was used by Stanley Miller and Harold Urey to study the origin of life on Earth.What compound was excluded from the apparatus so that it would form a reducing atmosphere?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The group that probably gave rise to chloroplasts is the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

It has been discovered that enzyme-like catalysis can be carried out not only by enzymes but also by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

All of the following were produced in experiments on primitive Earth conditions conducted by Miller-Urey and others,except for

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the advantage of having cyanobacteria living inside a cell?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which eon would contain rocks with no fossils?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which one of the following statements about endosymbiosis and the origin of the eukaryotic cell is FALSE?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The early Earth's reducing atmosphere probably contained all of the following except

Correct AnswerverifiedC

The oldest microfossils are of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How did humans colonize the New World?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why have plants been implicated in the Ordovician and Devonian glaciations,but not the Proterozoic glaciations?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

During the Snowball Earth temperatures at the equator rarely exceeded -20 degrees Celsius.Why didn't heat from the sun melt the ice?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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E

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B

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C

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