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1 | |
Approximately how many years ago were the earth and other planets in its solar system formed? |
| | A) | 6,000 |
| | B) | 100,000 |
| | C) | 10 million |
| | D) | 4.5 billion |
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2 | |
The oldest hints of life are found in |
| | A) | volcanic ash deposits |
| | B) | organic deposits in quartz crystals |
| | C) | upper sediment layers |
| | D) | the genetic code |
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3 | |
The first experiments to determine that amino acids form when components of the ancient atmosphere are placed in a test tube with sparks to simulate lightning were performed by _____________. |
| | A) | Oparin |
| | B) | John Haldane |
| | C) | Miller and Urey |
| | D) | Watson and Crick |
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4 | |
More recent prebiotic simulations in the lab mimic conditions found in ________________. |
| | A) | deep sea hydrothermal vents |
| | B) | shallow ponds |
| | C) | underside of sea ice |
| | D) | All of these are correct. |
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5 | |
A(n) ___________________, such as clay, is necessary for building large macromolecules. |
| | A) | cooling surface |
| | B) | hydrating surface |
| | C) | dehydrating surface |
| | D) | ignition source |
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6 | |
Both DNA and RNA carry genetic information, but something similar to RNA must have been the first nucleic acid because RNA _____________. |
| | A) | contains a gene’s information in mRNA |
| | B) | manufactures proteins |
| | C) | can act as an enzyme |
| | D) | All of these are correct. |
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7 | |
The major evolutionary advantage of DNA over RNA is that DNA ________________. |
| | A) | can synthesize proteins |
| | B) | can synthesize RNA |
| | C) | is more chemically stable |
| | D) | All of these are correct. |
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8 | |
Fossil evidence suggests that photosynthetic pigments were present by ___________ years ago. |
| | A) | 3.7 billion |
| | B) | 4.2 billion |
| | C) | 300 million |
| | D) | 3 million |
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9 | |
Eukaryotic cells arose in the _______________. |
| | A) | Archean era |
| | B) | Proterozoic era |
| | C) | Cambrian period |
| | D) | Ordovician period |
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10 | |
Multicellular life appeared _______________. |
| | A) | before photosynthetic pigments were formed |
| | B) | after life evolved on land |
| | C) | 1.2 billion years ago |
| | D) | 1 million years ago |
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11 | |
The most likely sequence of early evolution was: |
| | A) | single-celled eukaryotes, prokaryotic cells, multicellular algae, soft-bodies invertebrates |
| | B) | prokaryotic cells, multicellular algae, soft-bodied invertebrates, single-celled eukaryotes |
| | C) | prokaryotic cells, single-celled eukaryotes, multicellular algae, soft-bodied invertebrates |
| | D) | soft-bodied invertebrates, multicellular algae, single-celled eukaryotes, prokaryotic cells |
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12 | |
What is significant about the Ordovician period lasting from 505 to 435 million years ago? |
| | A) | first algae evolved |
| | B) | jawless fishes (first vertebrates) appeared |
| | C) | first evidence of multicellularity |
| | D) | Archaea first evolved |
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13 | |
The first terrestrial organisms do not appear in the fossil record until the beginning of the ____________ period. |
| | A) | Cambrian |
| | B) | Ordovician |
| | C) | Silurian |
| | D) | Devonian |
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14 | |
The “Age of Fishes” was the ________________ period. |
| | A) | Cambrian |
| | B) | Devonian |
| | C) | Ordovician |
| | D) | Silurian |
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15 | |
Which of the following was most important in the development of animals capable of living totally on land? |
| | A) | lungs |
| | B) | amniote egg |
| | C) | tetrapods |
| | D) | scales |
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16 | |
What group was most directly ancestral to the mammals? |
| | A) | thecodonts |
| | B) | invertebrates |
| | C) | therapsids |
| | D) | amphibians |
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17 | |
True or false. The reign of dinosaurs ended abruptly about 65 million years ago. |
| | A) | True |
| | B) | False |
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18 | |
True or false. All mammals are nourished by a placenta and develop within the mother’s body. |
| | A) | True |
| | B) | False |
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19 | |
Around 54 to 38 million years ago, grasslands spread and replaced forests as temperatures cooled and humidity dropped, allowing ___________ animals to thrive. |
| | A) | grazing |
| | B) | monotreme |
| | C) | arboreal |
| | D) | marsupial |
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20 | |
When did bipedalism in hominids arise? |
| | A) | in the earliest hominoids |
| | B) | 4 million years ago in Australopithecus |
| | C) | Neanderthal man |
| | D) | Homo erectus |
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