Life and Extinction

What does palaentology study?

• Artifact and the history of human life

• Planets and stars

• Fossils and the history of life

• Dinossaurs and their history

Robert Hooke was the first person to examine fossils. He thought that the organic material could be turned to stone by ...

• ...chemical reactions such as combustion.

• ...immersion in water that was rich in dissolved minerals.

• ...pressure and time on the fossils.

• ...the absence of decomposers.

According to Nicolas Steno what is a tongue stone?

• The tooth of living sharks that turned into fossil.

• The tooth of once-living whales that turned into fossil.

• The tongue of once-living sharks that turned into fossil.

• The tooth of once-living sharks that turned into fossil.

Who was the scientist responsible for establishing that extinctions had taken place in the past?

• George Cuvier

• Robert Hooke

• Nicolas Steno

• Charles Darwin

Natural selection is important for understanding extinctions, because it says that some individuals were _______________ to their ______________ and _______ likely to reproduce. These individuals were most likely to _________ long enough to __________, and so pass on their characteristics.

• environment; more; better suited; survive; breed

• less suited; environment;more; survive; breed

• better suited; environment; more; survive; breed

• better suited; environment;more; breed; survive

What was Charles Darwin's most important life event, according to himself?

• His voyage on the HMS Beagle, in 1831.

• His marriage with his cousin, Emma.

• The publication of his book, The Origin of Species, in 1859.

• His graduation as a clergyman from Cambridge.

What happened during the K-Pg Extinction, 66 million years ago?

• An asteroid impact on America, that covered the Earth in dust and possibly widespread volcanic eruptions.

• An asteroid impact on Mexico, that covered the Earth in dust and possibly food poisoning through plants.

• The great dying of more than 90% of life on Earth.

• An asteroid impact on Mexico, that covered the Earth in dust and possibly widespread volcanic eruptions.

What was the dramatic discovery that Luiz Alvarez, Walter Alvarez, Frank Asaro and Helen Vaughn made?

• Sedimentary layers at the K-Pg boundary all over the world containing a high concentration of iridium.

• Sedimentary layers at the K-Pg boundary all over the world containing a high concentration of vibranium.

• Sedimentary layers at the K-Pg boundary all over the world containing a high concentration of plutonium.

• Sedimentary layers at the K-Pg boundary all over the world containing a high concentration of iron oxide.

How many mass extinctions have the scientistists identified so far?

• Three

• Four

• Five

• Six

What is the geological column?

• A diagram that allows scientists to the story of civilisation and the challenges it has faced since its origin.

• A diagram that allows scientists to tell the story of dinosaurs and the challenges they faced since their origin.

• A diagram that allows scientists to tell the story of evolution and the challenges life has faced since its origin.

• A diagram that allows scientists to tell the story of humanity and the challenges we faced since our origin.