ORIGIN OF CELLS — PRACTICE TEST
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Choose the best answer.
1. Which gases were most abundant in Earth’s early atmosphere?
a) Oxygen and nitrogen
b) Carbon dioxide and oxygen
c) Methane and ammonia
d) Methane and oxygen
2. Temperatures on early Earth were higher because:
a) There was more ice on the planet
b) The greenhouse effect was stronger
c) Volcanic activity cooled the surface
d) Continents reflected solar radiation
3. Why was UV radiation higher on early Earth?
a) The oceans were deeper
b) Volcanic gases absorbed sunlight
c) There was little to no ozone layer
d) Earth was closer to the Sun
4. What was a major limitation of the Miller–Urey experiment based on modern
understanding?
a) They didn’t include methane
b) Their atmosphere was strongly reducing, unlike the likely neutral early atmosphere
c) They used too much nitrogen
d) They didn’t apply heat to the water
5. Which evidence suggests RNA came before DNA?
a) RNA is more stable than DNA
b) RNA can act as both a catalyst and genetic material
c) Ribosomes are made of DNA
d) RNA cannot self-replicate
6. What makes cells the smallest units of self-sustaining life?
a) They can spontaneously form from chemicals
b) They can carry out all MR H GREN functions
c) They always have nuclei
d) They are visible under microscopes
7. Which scientist disproved spontaneous generation using broth?
a) Francesco Redi
b) Louis Pasteur
c) Carl Woese
d) Charles Darwin
8. Why are viruses not considered alive?
a) They contain DNA
b) They cannot reproduce independently
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Choose the best answer.
1. Which gases were most abundant in Earth’s early atmosphere?
a) Oxygen and nitrogen
b) Carbon dioxide and oxygen
c) Methane and ammonia
d) Methane and oxygen
2. Temperatures on early Earth were higher because:
a) There was more ice on the planet
b) The greenhouse effect was stronger
c) Volcanic activity cooled the surface
d) Continents reflected solar radiation
3. Why was UV radiation higher on early Earth?
a) The oceans were deeper
b) Volcanic gases absorbed sunlight
c) There was little to no ozone layer
d) Earth was closer to the Sun
4. What was a major limitation of the Miller–Urey experiment based on modern
understanding?
a) They didn’t include methane
b) Their atmosphere was strongly reducing, unlike the likely neutral early atmosphere
c) They used too much nitrogen
d) They didn’t apply heat to the water
5. Which evidence suggests RNA came before DNA?
a) RNA is more stable than DNA
b) RNA can act as both a catalyst and genetic material
c) Ribosomes are made of DNA
d) RNA cannot self-replicate
6. What makes cells the smallest units of self-sustaining life?
a) They can spontaneously form from chemicals
b) They can carry out all MR H GREN functions
c) They always have nuclei
d) They are visible under microscopes
7. Which scientist disproved spontaneous generation using broth?
a) Francesco Redi
b) Louis Pasteur
c) Carl Woese
d) Charles Darwin
8. Why are viruses not considered alive?
a) They contain DNA
b) They cannot reproduce independently
