EARTH 104-MODULE 5 QUIZ (ACTUAL QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATED 2026
Due Jun 24 at 11:59pm Points 15 Questions 15
Available after May 31 at 8am Time Limit None
Attempt History
Attempt Time Score
LATEST Attempt 1 19 minutes 13 out of 15
Score for this quiz: 13 out of 15
Submitted Jun 24 at 7:21pm
This attempt took 19 minutes.
Question 1 pts
About 252 million years ago, the largest extinction known occurred at the end
of the Permian Period. Why?
The CO2 released by early humans barbecuing dinosaurs warmed the planet
too much
The ice ages began, and the cold froze the dinosaurs and other species
Correct! A meteorite kicked up dust that blocked the sun and froze the planet
Volcanic eruptions released CO2 that heated the planet greatly, and the
oceans released poison gas
Page 1 of 16
Dinosaurs suffered unfortunate gastric emissions that raised the Earth’s
temperature
, A meteorite did kill a lot of species a couple of hundred million years
more recently, but not at the end of the Permian. Instead, at the end of
the Permian, the vast outpouring of the Siberian Traps volcanoes
heated the atmosphere and changed the ocean’s chemistry, with
unpleasant results for most living things as it became very hot, and
the low-oxygen ocean belched out poison gases.
Question 2 pts
Over the last million years or so, ice has grown and shrunk in ice-age cycles.
Which of the following is most scientifically accurate about these ice-age
cycles?
They were caused by release of CO2 from some unknown source that was
once alive, and in turn caused dwarfing of animals.
They were caused by changes in the ocean that shifted CO2 into and out of
the air.
They were caused by changes in the ocean that shifted CO2 into and out of
the air, but this affected the Earth’s orbit, which caused the climate changes to
spread around the Earth.
Correct!
They were caused by features of Earth’s orbit that shifted sunlight around on
the planet, but the growth and shrinkage of ice caused other changes that
shifted CO2 into and out of the oceans, thus affecting the climate of the whole
Earth
They were caused by gaseous emissions from dinosaurs.
Page 2 of 16
, The dinosaurs had been dead for almost 65 million years by the time
the big ice ages got going. Features of the Earth’s orbit clearly paced
the ice-age cycling, but primarily moved sunshine around on the
planet rather than raising and lowering the total sunshine reaching the
planet. But, the changing sunshine, especially in the far north, led to
shifts in ocean currents, winds, ice, etc., which shifted CO2 into and
out of the ocean. When ice grew in the north, CO2 fell, and this cooled
places getting more sun; when ice melted in the north, CO2 rose, and
this warmed places getting less sun.
Question 3 pts
How have CO2 and temperature been related on Earth over the last few
hundred million years?
They have varied independently
When temperature rose, CO2 waited a while and then rose, because
temperature controls CO2 but CO2 does not affect temperature
They have moved in opposite directions, so that CO2 was always high during
cold times
Correct!
They have moved in the same direction, and at least some of the warmth
during hot times was caused by CO2.
Neither CO2 nor temperature has changed.
Page 3 of 16
ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATED 2026
Due Jun 24 at 11:59pm Points 15 Questions 15
Available after May 31 at 8am Time Limit None
Attempt History
Attempt Time Score
LATEST Attempt 1 19 minutes 13 out of 15
Score for this quiz: 13 out of 15
Submitted Jun 24 at 7:21pm
This attempt took 19 minutes.
Question 1 pts
About 252 million years ago, the largest extinction known occurred at the end
of the Permian Period. Why?
The CO2 released by early humans barbecuing dinosaurs warmed the planet
too much
The ice ages began, and the cold froze the dinosaurs and other species
Correct! A meteorite kicked up dust that blocked the sun and froze the planet
Volcanic eruptions released CO2 that heated the planet greatly, and the
oceans released poison gas
Page 1 of 16
Dinosaurs suffered unfortunate gastric emissions that raised the Earth’s
temperature
, A meteorite did kill a lot of species a couple of hundred million years
more recently, but not at the end of the Permian. Instead, at the end of
the Permian, the vast outpouring of the Siberian Traps volcanoes
heated the atmosphere and changed the ocean’s chemistry, with
unpleasant results for most living things as it became very hot, and
the low-oxygen ocean belched out poison gases.
Question 2 pts
Over the last million years or so, ice has grown and shrunk in ice-age cycles.
Which of the following is most scientifically accurate about these ice-age
cycles?
They were caused by release of CO2 from some unknown source that was
once alive, and in turn caused dwarfing of animals.
They were caused by changes in the ocean that shifted CO2 into and out of
the air.
They were caused by changes in the ocean that shifted CO2 into and out of
the air, but this affected the Earth’s orbit, which caused the climate changes to
spread around the Earth.
Correct!
They were caused by features of Earth’s orbit that shifted sunlight around on
the planet, but the growth and shrinkage of ice caused other changes that
shifted CO2 into and out of the oceans, thus affecting the climate of the whole
Earth
They were caused by gaseous emissions from dinosaurs.
Page 2 of 16
, The dinosaurs had been dead for almost 65 million years by the time
the big ice ages got going. Features of the Earth’s orbit clearly paced
the ice-age cycling, but primarily moved sunshine around on the
planet rather than raising and lowering the total sunshine reaching the
planet. But, the changing sunshine, especially in the far north, led to
shifts in ocean currents, winds, ice, etc., which shifted CO2 into and
out of the ocean. When ice grew in the north, CO2 fell, and this cooled
places getting more sun; when ice melted in the north, CO2 rose, and
this warmed places getting less sun.
Question 3 pts
How have CO2 and temperature been related on Earth over the last few
hundred million years?
They have varied independently
When temperature rose, CO2 waited a while and then rose, because
temperature controls CO2 but CO2 does not affect temperature
They have moved in opposite directions, so that CO2 was always high during
cold times
Correct!
They have moved in the same direction, and at least some of the warmth
during hot times was caused by CO2.
Neither CO2 nor temperature has changed.
Page 3 of 16
