Daily Quiz

Question 1:

The author’s purpose in writing this passage is most likely to:

A. argue that life originated because of tidal patterns rather than hydrothermal vents.
B. explore conflicting viewpoints about a controversial theory of evolution.
C. explain the effect of lunar tides on the development of life on Earth.
D. describe the formation of protonucleic acids in tidal pools.

Question 2:

The above purpose is best established by which of the following lines?

A. “The ocean tides mirror life itself. Their ebb and flow pay homage to the cyclic nature of the cosmos” (lines 1-4)
B. “Without our moon, our marine environment would have had far fewer species” (lines 44-46)
C. “our moon’s gravitational influence also helped ensure that Earth’s spin axis and climate remained stable over long timescales” (141-145)
D. “But the lineages that ultimately gave rise to humans were at first intertidal” (153-156)

Question 3:

According to Bruce Lieberman, the tides’ role in creating life on earth could best be characterized as:

A. a chance occurrence.
B. a suspected hypothesis rather than a proven theory.
C. an important factor but not a determining one.
D. one of a number of equally important events.

Question 4:

As it is used in the sixth paragraph, the word “stymied” (line 139) most nearly means:

A. sped up.
B. destroyed.
C. tested.
D. triggered.

Question 5:

The central idea of the hypothesis proposed by Richard Lathe is that:

A. protonucleic acid fragments can only bond in high-saline environments.
B. the first protonucleic acids formed in the vicinity of Mont-Saint-Michel.
C. frequent high tides created an environment conducive to the development of protonucleic acids.
D. days on earth 3.9 billion years ago were much shorter than 24 hours.

Question 6:

The passage suggests that nucleic acids could not have developed on Mars because:

A. Mars’ moons were not large enough to cause lunar tides to develop.
B. intertidal regions were not hospitable to life.
C. its surface environment was exceptionally harsh.
D. the presence of two moons caused an irregular tidal flow.

Question 7:

Based on the passage, which of the following discoveries would most WEAKEN the hypothesis described in the fifth paragraph (lines 90-113) about the formation of protonucleic acids?

A. Pairs of protonucleic molecular strands at high tide.
B. A low tide containing high salt concentrations.
C. A bonded pair of protonucleic acids at low tide.
D. Dissociated molecular strands at high tide.

Question 8:

It is reasonable to conclude from the passage that 3.9 billion years ago, high tides occurred:

A. once per day.
B. twice per day.
C. three times per day.
D. six times per day.

Question 9:

Kevin Zahnle suggests that tides allowed DNA and RNA to replicate because they:

A. prevented the process of protonucleic dissociation.
B. created a 12-hour day.
C. provided less concentrated solutions.
D. created a dry environment where molecules could react.

Question 10:

Based on the information provided in the second paragraph (18-33), it can be reasonably inferred that a lack of lunar tides would have caused:

A. less energy to be shed annually into the ocean.
B. individual species to develop more slowly.
C. more extreme climactic oscillations between ice ages.
D. increased migration of plant and animal species.

Reading 35

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