Question 1

The formation of the ozone shield during the Precambrian era helped to create favorable conditions for the evolution of terrestrial life forms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

________ proposed that polypeptides and RNA evolved simultaneously.

Accepted Answer

A)  Stanley Miller
B)  Graham Cairns-Smith
C)  Thomas Cech
D)  Aleksander Oparin
E)  Sidney FoxF) None of the above
G) B) and E)

Question 3

Dinosaurs were the dominant group during the Mesozoic Era and many scientists believe that they were

Accepted Answer

A)  endothermic,or warm-blooded.
B)  ectothermic,or cold-blooded.
C)  exergonic,or energy releasing.
D)  both endothermic and ectothermic.Some scientists believe that certain dinosaurs were endothermic while others believe that certain dinosaurs were ectothermic.E) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 4

If the hypothesis that protocells were based on an "RNA world" is correct,what would be necessary to shift to a "DNA world"?

Accepted Answer

A)  an enzyme or reaction capable of removing one oxygen from ribose in nucleotides
B)  enzymes for reverse transcription of RNA into DNA
C)  new enzymes to replicate the DNA
D)  new enzymes for transcribing DNA back to RNA
E)  All would be necessary to switch to a "DNA world."F) A) and E)
G) B) and C)

Question 5

The first known multicellular organisms evolved approximately how many years ago?

Accepted Answer

A)  3.5 BYA
B)  2.1 BYA
C)  1.4 BYA
D)  100 MYAE) None of the above
F) B) and D)

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true regarding the theory of continental drift?

Accepted Answer

A)  Alfred Wegener believed that the continents formed a supercontinent called Pangea.
B)  Charles Darwin believed that the continents formed a supercontinent called Pangea.
C)  Charles Lyell believed that the continents split into two smaller continents called Gondwana and Laurasia.
D)  Alfred Wallace believed that the distribution of seed fern fossils supported continental drift.E) A) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 7

The oxygen in the atmosphere developed approximately ________ billion years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  1.5
B)  2.0
C)  3.5
D)  4.5E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 8

Which of the following lists of mass extinctions and eras is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Precambrian experienced 0,Paleozoic experienced 3,Mesozoic experienced 2,and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions.
B)  The Precambrian experienced 2,Paleozoic experienced 2,Mesozoic experienced 3,and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions.
C)  The Precambrian experienced 0,Paleozoic experienced 2,Mesozoic experienced 3,and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions.
D)  The Precambrian experienced 1,Paleozoic experienced 3,Mesozoic experienced 2,and the Cretaceous experienced 1 mass extinctions.E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 9

The lack of oxygen in the ancient Earth's atmosphere was beneficial because oxygen combines with organic molecules to prevent them from forming polymers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which statement is NOT true about a protocell?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would have contained DNA as its genetic material.
B)  It would have been present before the development of a true cell.
C)  It would have had a lipid and protein membrane forming the outer layer.
D)  It would have contained a biochemical pathway for energy metabolism.
E)  It might have been like a coacervate droplet in which a semipermeable boundary allows some materials to be absorbed from the surrounding environment.F) A) and D)
G) C) and D)

Question 11

The Carboniferous Period is extremely significant to our current society because

Accepted Answer

A)  the Carboniferous forests turned into the coal that fuels modern society.
B)  human evolution began in the period.
C)  plants and animals first adapted to a terrestrial environment during this period.
D)  mammals diversified.E) A) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 12

The fact that a nucleic acid is a very complicated molecule suggests that

Accepted Answer

A)  the RNA-first hypothesis is impossible.
B)  RNA could not have arisen on its own by chance,but required enzymes to guide the synthesis of nucleotides and then nucleic acids.
C)  sophisticated enzymes were not present or available to synthesize it.
D)  no natural system could ever generate it.
E)  the protein-first hypothesis is therefore the only plausible hypothesis.F) None of the above
G) A) and B)

Question 13

Which piece of evidence best supports the endosymbiotic theory of organelle evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mitochondria and chloroplasts are the same size as bacteria.
B)  Mitochondria and chloroplasts divide by binary fission.
C)  Mitochondria and chloroplasts both contain DNA and some can make their own proteins.
D)  The outer membrane of chloroplasts and mitochondria resembles that of a eukaryotic cell while the inner membrane resembles that of a bacterial cell.
E)  All of these are correct.F) B) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 14

Which statement is NOT true about the RNA-first hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is supported by the discovery that RNA can act as an enzyme.
B)  It is supported by the fact that some viruses have RNA as their genetic material.
C)  It suggests that there was an "RNA world" about 4 billion years ago.
D)  It says that first RNA,then DNA,and then proteins would have been necessary to interact in the chemical evolution that would have led to the development of the first cells.E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 15

The first cells gave rise to

Accepted Answer

A)  bacteria and archaea.
B)  archaea and protists.
C)  bacteria and fungi.
D)  eukaryotes and bacteria.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 16

The time that it takes for half of a radioactive isotope to change into another stable element is its

Accepted Answer

A)  activation time.
B)  life span.
C)  half-life.
D)  chemical life cycle.E) None of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 17

The place where two plates meet and scrape past one another,creating stress that results in earthquakes,is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  subduction zone.
B)  transform boundary.
C)  oceanic ridge.
D)  supercontinent.E) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 18

Which of the following time periods contains the others?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cretaceous
B)  Triassic
C)  Jurassic
D)  MesozoicE) None of the above
F) A) and C)

Question 19

When and where did the first multicellular protists evolve?

Accepted Answer

A)  Africa,2.3 BYA
B)  Canada,1.4 BYA
C)  Middle East,4.6 BYA
D)  Asia,3.2 BYAE) B) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 20

Explain why stromatolites are believed to hold a clue to the origin of the first prokaryotic cells on Earth during the Precambrian Era.

Accepted Answer

Answers may vary but should indicate tha...

Exam 18: Origin and History of Life

The fact that a nucleic acid is a very complicated molecule suggests that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The formation of the ozone shield during the Precambrian era helped to create favorable conditions for the evolution of terrestrial life forms.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Carboniferous Period is extremely significant to our current society because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The time that it takes for half of a radioactive isotope to change into another stable element is its

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement is NOT true about a protocell?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If the hypothesis that protocells were based on an "RNA world" is correct,what would be necessary to shift to a "DNA world"?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Dinosaurs were the dominant group during the Mesozoic Era and many scientists believe that they were

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following lists of mass extinctions and eras is correct?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The oxygen in the atmosphere developed approximately ________ billion years ago.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The first known multicellular organisms evolved approximately how many years ago?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement is NOT true about the RNA-first hypothesis?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain why stromatolites are believed to hold a clue to the origin of the first prokaryotic cells on Earth during the Precambrian Era.

Correct AnswerverifiedAnswers may vary but should indicate tha...View AnswerShow Answer

The lack of oxygen in the ancient Earth's atmosphere was beneficial because oxygen combines with organic molecules to prevent them from forming polymers.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

________ proposed that polypeptides and RNA evolved simultaneously.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which piece of evidence best supports the endosymbiotic theory of organelle evolution?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The first cells gave rise to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The place where two plates meet and scrape past one another,creating stress that results in earthquakes,is a(n)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following time periods contains the others?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements is true regarding the theory of continental drift?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When and where did the first multicellular protists evolve?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
Answers may vary but should indicate tha...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified