Deck 17: The History of Life

Question 1

RNA molecules that function as enzymes:

A)degrade proteins.
B)duplicate lipid molecules.
C)are called ribozymes.
D)form primitive cells.
E)developed from protein-based enzymes.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Louis Pasteur's experiment illustrated that:

A)microbes will grow spontaneously in a nutrient broth that has been sterilized and sealed.
B)only some organisms can form spontaneously in nutrient broth.
C)life began by chemical evolution.
D)some complex molecules associated with living organisms can be synthesized by heating and cooling a solution of simple molecules and providing an electric spark.
E)microbes will not grow in a nutrient broth that has been sterilized unless air is allowed to enter the vessel through an opening.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Which is the correct series of events in the evolution of life on Earth?

A)O2 → photosynthesis → aerobic metabolism
B)aerobic metabolism → photosynthesis → O2
C)O2 → aerobic metabolism → photosynthesis
D)photosynthesis → O2 → aerobic metabolism

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The experiments that demonstrated that meat does not spontaneously generate maggots were conducted by:

A)Harold Urey.
B)Francisco Redi.
C)Louis Pasteur.
D)Alexander Oparin.
E)Sidney Altman.

Question 5

The oldest fossil organisms presently known have been dated at approximately how many years old?

A)4)5 billion
B)3)5 billion
C)1)7 billion
D)less than 1.7 billion
E)more than 4.5 billion

Question 6

The idea that river mud left in the sun will turn into frogs illustrates:

A)the endosymbiont theory.
B)prebiotic evolution.
C)spontaneous generation.
D)self-replication.
E)how prokaryotes evolve.

Question 7

What compounds were used in Miller and Urey's experiment to simulate the atmosphere of early Earth?

A)oxygen, ammonia, hydrogen, and methane
B)ammonia, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide
C)water, oxygen, hydrogen, and methane
D)water, ammonia, hydrogen, and methane
E)water, oxygen, ammonia, and methane

Question 8

Some RNA molecules have been discovered that can:

A)degrade proteins.
B)duplicate lipid molecules.
C)act as enzymes.
D)form primitive cells.
E)convert organic molecules to protocells.

Question 9

One theory holds that the first self-replicating molecules were:

A)lipids.
B)amino acids.
C)RNA.
D)carbohydrates.
E)DNA.

Question 10

Who disproved the "broth-to-microorganisms" hypothesis?

A)Stanley Miller
B)Francisco Redi
C)Louis Pasteur
D)Alexander Oparin
E)Sidney Altman

Question 11

If you open a can of chicken noodle soup and immediately examine it microscopically, you will find no microorganisms. If you let the open can sit on the shelf for a few weeks and then examine it, you will find lots of microorganisms. The origin of these microorganisms is most likely:

A)spontaneous generation.
B)improper sterilization of the soup prior to canning.
C)prebiotic evolution.
D)endosymbiotic evolution.
E)airborne microorganisms.

Question 12

Based on current knowledge about the conditions of the early Earth, the first organisms were most likely:

A)photosynthetic prokaryotes.
B)photosynthetic eukaryotes.
C)anaerobic prokaryotes.
D)anaerobic eukaryotes.
E)multicellular eukaryotes.

Question 13

Theories on the atmosphere of early Earth indicate that it lacked:

A)H2.
B)H2O.
C)O2.
D)CH4.
E)NH3.

Question 14

Which of the following scientists was part of a pair who first discovered that cellular reactions can be catalyzed by a ribozyme?

A)Stanley Miller
B)Francisco Redi
C)John Tyndall
D)Alexander Oparin
E)Sidney Altman

Question 15

Who is credited with proposing that prebiotic chemical conditions could lead to the evolution of complex molecules and, eventually, to living organisms?

A)Stanley Miller
B)Francisco Redi
C)Louis Pasteur
D)Alexander Oparin and John Haldane
E)Sidney Altman

Question 16

The scenario of prebiotic evolution leading to the origin of life on Earth is plausible because:

A)experiments suggest that all the chemical components of living cells can be formed quickly from inorganic precursors.
B)there was a vast period of time for simple chemicals to evolve into complex cells.
C)it has been observed to occur near thermal vents at the bottom of the ocean.
D)it has been observed under laboratory conditions.
E)it has been observed to occur on other planets.

Question 17

The scientists usually given credit for disproving the theory of spontaneous generation of bacteria are:

A)Tyndall and Pasteur.
B)Oparin and Haldane.
C)Miller and Urey.
D)Cech and Altman.
E)Luis and Walter Alvarez.

Question 18

Miller and Urey's experiments to simulate prebiotic evolution produced:

A)a rich mixture of organic molecules.
B)mitochondria and chloroplasts.
C)large amounts of free oxygen.
D)prokaryotic cells.
E)protocells.

Question 19

The outer boundaries of laboratory-created vesicles are most similar to:

A)complete cells.
B)RNA.
C)bacteria.
D)amino acids.
E)cell membranes.

Question 20

The theory that life began in the distant past from nonliving molecules that became able to reproduce themselves is called:

A)prebiotic evolution.
B)prehistoric evolution.
C)natural selection.
D)spontaneous evolution.
E)endosymbiont evolution.

Question 21

The earliest photosynthetic organisms obtained hydrogen from:

A)water.
B)methane.
C)chlorophyll.
D)hydrogen sulfide.
E)hydrogen bromide.

Question 22

The first multicellular eukaryotic fossils were:

A)algae.
B)fungi.
C)cyanobacteria.
D)reptiles.
E)amphibians.

Question 23

The earliest fossil organisms resemble modern:

A)protists.
B)green algae.
C)eukaryotes.
D)prokaryotes.
E)protocells.

Question 24

Modern invertebrates first appear in the fossil record during the:

A)Precambrian era.
B)Silurian period.
C)Cambrian period.
D)Devonian period.
E)cyanobacteria.

Question 25

To be classified as a eukaryote, an organism must have:

A)a cell wall.
B)flagella.
C)internal membranes.
D)sexual reproduction.
E)centrioles.

Question 26

If the early Earth's atmosphere contained little or no O2, then where did most of the O2 in our modern atmosphere come from?

A)the oxidation of metals
B)photosynthesis
C)respiration
D)the breakdown of carbon dioxide
E)the splitting of water vapor by sunlight

Question 27

Probably the greatest advantage for the original multicellular organisms was their ability to:

A)use more oxygen.
B)increase their metabolism.
C)increase their food intake.
D)avoid predators.
E)photosynthesize.

Question 28

The earliest photosynthetic organisms:

A)probably did not produce oxygen.
B)probably used water as a source of hydrogen.
C)probably used hydrogen sulfide as a source of hydrogen.
D)date back to the time when life first emerged on Earth.
E)possessed chloroplasts.

Question 29

The earliest multicellular animals in the fossil record are:

A)jellyfish.
B)kelp.
C)trilobites.
D)worms.
E)cyanobacteria.

Question 30

The organisms originally responsible for putting oxygen in Earth's atmosphere lived around:

A)1)5 million years ago.
B)2)3 billion years ago.
C)3)5 million years ago.
D)3)5 billion years ago.
E)6 billion years ago.

Question 31

One advantage that enabled the seed plants to greatly surpass the ferns in colonizing the land was the evolution of:

A)a fibrous root system.
B)a woody stem.
C)sex without swimming sperm.
D)spores.
E)photosynthesis.

Question 32

The first multicellular terrestrial organisms were:

A)plants.
B)insects.
C)fungi.
D)amphibians.
E)reptiles.

Question 33

About 530 million years ago, what adaptation evolved to make fish the dominant predators of the sea?

A)jaws
B)scales
C)fins
D)internal skeleton
E)sensory organs

Question 34

Multicellularity enables organisms to:

A)be photosynthetic.
B)undergo aerobic respiration.
C)be big.
D)be fast.
E)reproduce more efficiently.

Question 35

The proposal that certain eukaryotic cell structures may have evolved from a prokaryotic symbiosis is called the:

A)protocell hypothesis.
B)living intermediate hypothesis.
C)endosymbiont hypothesis.
D)spontaneous generation hypothesis.
E)prebiotic evolution hypothesis.

Question 36

To survive successfully on land, plants needed to develop:

A)photosynthesis.
B)swimming sperm.
C)internal skeletons.
D)the ability to use oxygen.
E)methods to prevent water loss.

Question 37

The oxygen that arose in early Earth's atmosphere was likely produced by organisms that were very similar to modern:

A)algae.
B)protists.
C)plants.
D)fungi.
E)cyanobacteria.

Question 38

Exoskeletons provided an evolutionary advantage to organisms by:

A)increasing their ability to find a mate and reproduce.
B)allowing increased opportunities for symbiotic relationships.
C)increasing their mobility and protecting them from predation.
D)increasing predation.
E)allowing exposure to oxygen.

Question 39

An anaerobic prokaryote engulfs a prokaryote capable of using oxygen to produce energy. The anaerobe could now carry on:

A)photosynthesis.
B)aerobic metabolism.
C)both photosynthesis and aerobic metabolism.
D)only anaerobic metabolism.

Question 40

The endosymbiotic hypothesis accounts for the origin of which cell structure?

A)chloroplast
B)cell wall
C)chromosome
D)plasma membrane
E)ribosome

Question 41

The "Southern Beech" tree is found in such diverse places as Australia, South Africa, and South America. It was not transplanted by people. How did it probably get to these widely separated locations?

A)Seeds were carried by birds.
B)Seeds were blown by the prevailing winds.
C)These landmasses were once connected and later drifted apart.
D)The simultaneous creation of the same species occurred in different geographic locations.
E)Glaciers split what was once a continuous, huge population of beeches.

Question 42

Early land plants required adaptations that:

A)aided reproduction.
B)helped support the plant.
C)decreased water loss.
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 43

Birds and mammals have a more active lifestyle than reptiles due to:

A)internal fertilization.
B)a slower metabolism.
C)insulation over their body surface.
D)internal fertilization and a high, constant body temperature.
E)a high, constant body temperature and insulation over their body surface.

Question 44

By examining fossil evidence, paleontologists believe that mammals evolved from ancestors of modern:

A)sharks.
B)arthropods.
C)amphibians.
D)reptiles.
E)lobefins.

Question 45

Most scientists attribute the mass extinction of the dinosaurs to:

A)sunspots.
B)gradual climate change.
C)meteorite impact.
D)predation by mammals.
E)sea-level change.

Question 46

The modern-day group of vertebrates that bridges the evolutionary gap between land-dwelling and water-dwelling organisms is:

A)fish.
B)amphibians.
C)reptiles.
D)whales and dolphins.
E)aquatic birds.

Question 47

Which group of vertebrates was the first to evolve a waterproof egg, which allowed the group to move away from water, deeper onto dry land?

A)lobefins
B)mammals
C)birds
D)primates
E)reptiles

Question 48

Flowering plants first rose to prominence in the:

A)Cambrian period.
B)Precambrian era.
C)Cretaceous period.
D)Eocene epoch.
E)Paleozoic era.

Question 49

Reptiles evolved scaly body coverings as a means for:

A)insulation.
B)courtship rituals.
C)heat production.
D)flight.
E)protection from drying out.

Question 50

Ferns and club mosses had an advantage over earlier plants because they developed:

A)photosynthesis.
B)mitochondria.
C)swimming sperm.
D)cones.
E)flowers.

Question 51

The earliest group of land animals was the:

A)protists.
B)amphibians.
C)lobefins.
D)arthropods.
E)lungfish.

Question 52

The first land plants were restricted to moist, marshy environments because of:

A)the need for stem support.
B)the lack of a cuticle.
C)reproductive cell requirements.
D)the need for nutrients.
E)sensitivity to sunlight.

Question 53

The largest mass extinction event of all time occurred at the end of the:

A)Cretaceous period.
B)Cambrian period.
C)Pleistocene epoch.
D)Mesozoic era.
E)Permian period.

Question 54

Which arthropod characteristic "pre-adapted" them to life on land?

A)multiple legs
B)compound eyes
C)exoskeleton
D)open circulatory system
E)antennae

Question 55

The first terrestrial animals were probably:

A)arthropods.
B)amphibians.
C)reptiles.
D)dinosaurs.
E)mammals.

Question 56

Which of the following is assumed to be more primitive than a dinosaur and more complex than a shark?

A)starfish
B)segmented worm
C)crayfish
D)chicken
E)frog

Question 57

The exoskeleton of early marine arthropods can be considered a "pre-adaptation" for life on land because it:

A)protected against predators.
B)resisted water loss.
C)absorbed light.
D)reflected ultraviolet radiation.

Question 58

The earliest group of land plants whose reproduction did not require water for swimming sperm were the:

A)conifers.
B)ferns.
C)club mosses.
D)algae.
E)lobefins.

Question 59

The "pre-adaptations" of early arthropods that allowed them to evolve into terrestrial forms were:

A)lungs.
B)vertebral columns.
C)kidneys.
D)exoskeletons.
E)eggs.

Question 60

The generally slow and steady succession of species on Earth has been interrupted by:

A)unusually high rates of plate tectonics.
B)genetic equilibrium.
C)balanced polymorphism.
D)extreme specialization of a few species.
E)episodes of mass extinction.

Question 61

The scientific name for Neanderthals is:

A)Homo sapiens.
B)Homo erectus.
C)Homo habilis.
D)Australopithecus robustus.
E)Homo neanderthalensis.

Question 62

The species that paleoanthropologists believe may be the most direct ancestor to Homo sapiens is:

A)Homo habilis.
B)Homo ergaster.
C)Homo erectus.
D)Homo neanderthalensis.
E)Homo heidelbergensis.

Question 63

Homo heidelbergensis is believed to be the ancestor species of:

A)Homo ergaster.
B)Homo neanderthalensis.
C)Homo sapiens.
D)both Homo ergaster and Homo sapiens.
E)both Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens.

Question 64

A major human cultural innovation that happened about 10,000 years ago was the:

A)development of domesticated crops and livestock.
B)development of language.
C)development of self-expression in art forms.
D)use of tools.
E)ability to think in abstract terms.

Question 65

Current research indicates that hominins originally evolved in:

A)Africa.
B)Asia.
C)Europe.
D)North America.
E)Australia.

Question 66

Which of these characteristics separates primates from other mammals?

A)placental young
B)mammary glands
C)precision grip
D)parental care of young
E)tree-dwelling

Question 67

Which characteristic sets hominins apart from other primates?

A)bipedal locomotion
B)binocular vision
C)a four-chambered heart
D)grasping hands
E)facial hair

Question 68

In addition to Homo, another genus within the hominins is:

A)Tarsius.
B)Lemur.
C)Cro-Magnon.
D)Habilis.
E)Australopithecus.

Question 69

The first hominin species associated with the use of stone and bone tools was:

A)Australopithecus afarensis.
B)Australopithecus robustus.
C)Homo habilis.
D)Homo erectus.
E)Homo sapiens.

Question 70

What species of hominin created the cave paintings at Lascaux, France?

A)Homo erectus
B)Homo habilis
C)Homo sapiens
D)Australopithecus robustus
E)Australopithecus afarensis

Question 71

The human species first appeared in the:

A)Quaternary period.
B)Cretaceous period.
C)Jurassic period.
D)Tertiary period.
E)Permian period.

Question 72

What is the significance of upright walking?

A)It provides good posture.
B)It facilitates circulation.
C)It frees the hands for gathering and carrying food.
D)It facilitates social interactions.
E)It facilitates digestion.

Question 73

The hobbit-sized hominin whose fossilized remains were recently discovered on a remote oceanic island belonged to the species:

A)Homo erectus.
B)Homo habilis.
C)Homo sapiens.
D)Homo neanderthalensis.
E)Homo floresiensis.

Question 74

Which of the following processes involves behaviors that are acquired by learning and can be modified and passed on from one generation to the next?

A)prebiotic evolution
B)environmental selection
C)pre-adaptation
D)natural selection
E)cultural evolution

Question 75

It has been proposed that large brains evolved in Homo species because:

A)natural selection favored large-brained individuals because they were better in social interactions.
B)evolution of a large brain was a consequence of evolution of overall larger body size.
C)large brains allowed better visual acuity, which was favored by natural selection.
D)genetic drift increased the frequency of large-brained alleles.
E)large-brained individuals were better able to outwit and escape predators.

Question 76

All surviving humans belong to the species:

A)Homo erectus.
B)Homo habilis.
C)Homo sapiens.
D)Homo robustus.
E)Australopithecus robustus.

Question 77

Current theories hold that hominin species migrated out of Africa:

A)once, 10 million years ago.
B)once, nearly 2 million years ago.
C)once, nearly 800,000 years ago.
D)once, about 150,000 years ago.
E)multiple times throughout history.

Question 78

An adaptation that is closely associated with hominin evolution is:

A)a backbone.
B)lungs.
C)omnivory.
D)grasping hands.
E)hair.

Question 79

If the Cretaceous mass extinction had not occurred, which group of animals would probably include the largest land animals today?

A)amphibians
B)reptiles
C)birds
D)insects
E)bony fish

Question 80

Living organisms can spontaneously generate from nonliving matter. True or False?