Evolution Making Sense Of Life 2nd Edition
by Carl Zimmer -Test Bank
Sample Test
Test Bank, Chapter 3
1. Lord Kelvin argued that based on the temperature of rocks, the earth could not be as old some geologists
thought. What turned out to be wrong with his reasoning?
• he claimed that the temperature of surface rocks should be used in calcuations, but these
calculations were shown to be unreliable
, • he did not realize that the planet’s interior was constantly changing
• the upper layers of the earth are cooler than Kelvin realized
• all of the above
2. Which of the following allowed scientists to determine whether early hominins were browsers (eating
shrubs primarily) or grazers (eating grasses primarily)?
• shrubs and grasses differ in the type of photosynthesis they perform
• shrubs and grasses have different carbon isotopic signatures
• fossil remains of plants surrounding hominins indicate what they most likely ate
• a and b are correct
• a, b, and c are correct
3. Scientists discover a new fossil that they expect is at least three million years old. To estimate the age of
the fossil they would most likely:
• search for layers of volcanic ash in rock layers above an below the location of the fossil
• use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the fossil itself
• use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the sedimentary layer in which the fossil was found
• all of the above
by Carl Zimmer -Test Bank
Sample Test
Test Bank, Chapter 3
1. Lord Kelvin argued that based on the temperature of rocks, the earth could not be as old some geologists
thought. What turned out to be wrong with his reasoning?
• he claimed that the temperature of surface rocks should be used in calcuations, but these
calculations were shown to be unreliable
, • he did not realize that the planet’s interior was constantly changing
• the upper layers of the earth are cooler than Kelvin realized
• all of the above
2. Which of the following allowed scientists to determine whether early hominins were browsers (eating
shrubs primarily) or grazers (eating grasses primarily)?
• shrubs and grasses differ in the type of photosynthesis they perform
• shrubs and grasses have different carbon isotopic signatures
• fossil remains of plants surrounding hominins indicate what they most likely ate
• a and b are correct
• a, b, and c are correct
3. Scientists discover a new fossil that they expect is at least three million years old. To estimate the age of
the fossil they would most likely:
• search for layers of volcanic ash in rock layers above an below the location of the fossil
• use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the fossil itself
• use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the sedimentary layer in which the fossil was found
• all of the above
