ESS 101 Special Questions With Correct
Detailed Answers.
1. Most of what is known about the Earth's early planetary history comes from
_____________.
a. the sparse geologic record from 3.5 billion years ago
b. computer models of atmospheres changing with time
c. comparing Earth to its planetary neighbors, Venus and Mars
d. all of the above answers are correct
e. none of the above answers are correct - ANSWER- d. all of the above answers are
correct
2. Plasma ____________________
a. is the 3rd state of matter and like a gas
b. is the 4th state of matter and only exists at very high temperatures c. is the most
common state of matter in the universe
d. answers a and c are both correct
e. answers b and c are both correct - ANSWER- e. answers b and c are both correct
3. Which of the following statements is not true?
a. solar luminosity has changed over the Earth's history
b. most of the Earth's carbon is sequestered in its atmosphere
c. if photosynthesis ceased all the oxygen in the earth's atomosphere would be gone <1
million years d. life originated more than 4 billion years ago
e. land dwelling animals could only evolve when the ozone layer formed in the upper
atmosphere - ANSWER- b. most of the Earth's carbon is sequestered in its atmosphere
1. The 20,000 year climate cycle in East Africa that ranges from extreme aridity to very
wet conditions is driven by:
a. Sunspot cycles
b. Cyclical magma upwelling along the East African rift zone
c. Changes in the Earth's orbit around the sun
d. El Nino upwelling cycles in the west Pacific Ocean
e. None of the above answers are correct - ANSWER- c. Changes in the Earth's orbit
around the sun
2. The first major dispersal of our ancient human ancestors out of East Africa into
Eurasia may have been caused by:
Detailed Answers.
1. Most of what is known about the Earth's early planetary history comes from
_____________.
a. the sparse geologic record from 3.5 billion years ago
b. computer models of atmospheres changing with time
c. comparing Earth to its planetary neighbors, Venus and Mars
d. all of the above answers are correct
e. none of the above answers are correct - ANSWER- d. all of the above answers are
correct
2. Plasma ____________________
a. is the 3rd state of matter and like a gas
b. is the 4th state of matter and only exists at very high temperatures c. is the most
common state of matter in the universe
d. answers a and c are both correct
e. answers b and c are both correct - ANSWER- e. answers b and c are both correct
3. Which of the following statements is not true?
a. solar luminosity has changed over the Earth's history
b. most of the Earth's carbon is sequestered in its atmosphere
c. if photosynthesis ceased all the oxygen in the earth's atomosphere would be gone <1
million years d. life originated more than 4 billion years ago
e. land dwelling animals could only evolve when the ozone layer formed in the upper
atmosphere - ANSWER- b. most of the Earth's carbon is sequestered in its atmosphere
1. The 20,000 year climate cycle in East Africa that ranges from extreme aridity to very
wet conditions is driven by:
a. Sunspot cycles
b. Cyclical magma upwelling along the East African rift zone
c. Changes in the Earth's orbit around the sun
d. El Nino upwelling cycles in the west Pacific Ocean
e. None of the above answers are correct - ANSWER- c. Changes in the Earth's orbit
around the sun
2. The first major dispersal of our ancient human ancestors out of East Africa into
Eurasia may have been caused by:
