BHP Benchmark 1 (2016)

Moments in the history of the Universe when specific ingredients under the right “Goldilocks Conditions” are transformed to create something entirely new and more complex are known as ______________________.

• Claim testers
• Thresholds of increasing complexity
• Collective learning
• The three bears

____________________ is the study of past events. 

• Biology
• Astronomy
• History
• Cosmology

An origin story is

• A scientific explanation for how atoms formed
• An attempt to explain the beginning of humanity and the Universe
• A theory as to why the Universe is expanding
• The use of spoken language to pass down a people’s history

The Big History timeline is different from more traditional, linear timelines of history because it is best to think of this course as a web of infinite connections interacting over billions of years, which are linked together to create everything we’ve ever known.

• True
• False

How are the eight thresholds of increasing complexity related to one another?

• Second cousins, by marriage
• They are not related to one another
• They are in order starting with the most complex to the simplest.
• One threshold builds upon the next to create greater complexity.

___________ are a specific set of conditions necessary to enable greater complexity.  

• Hierarchical relationships
• Goldilocks Conditions
• Weather conditions
• Biodiversity conditions

Match the artwork to the correct civilization and origin story. 

• Chinese: The originator of the world was Pan Gu.
• Iroquois: The first people lived beyond the sky.
• Greek: The first humans were created by the god Prometheus.
• Judeo-Christian: God created the heavens and the Earth.

Why did most origin stories begin as oral tradition?

• All origin stories were traditionally sung.
• Most origin stories were created before the invention of writing.
• Origin stories did not begin as oral tradition.
• All origin stories were written.

Which of the following statements best describes what makes Big History different from other origin stories?

• It is a modern, scientific origin story based on the best information from multiple disciplines.
• It's story is fixed and unchanging, with answers to every question humans have about the Universe.
• It only addresses questions about humans and their place in the Universe.
• It uses videos and a really cool website.

All origin stories are based on real people and events.

• True
• False