Which of the following is TRUE?
A)Until recent history,extinctions have always happened gradually and on a small scale.
B)The number of species existing at one time has decreased throughout history.
C)Natural selection always favors complexity and a larger body size.
D)Species on Earth today are just a fraction of all species that ever lived.
E)Most organisms present early in Earth's prehistory were more complex than modern organisms.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fossil record suggests that over 99% of all species that ever existed are now extinct, meaning that the number of species existing at one time has likely increased over history rather than decreased. Option A is incorrect as mass extinctions have occurred throughout history, some of which have led to very rapid and widespread extinctions. Option C is also incorrect as natural selection does not always favor complexity or larger size - it depends on the environment and specific selective pressures. Option E is incorrect as the earliest organisms were likely much less complex than modern organisms.

Which of the Following Is TRUE