Question

question 9
4 pts
using the diagram of the geologic time scale above, what is the best claim that can be made from the evidence in the chart?
use lowercase letters

1. life on earth began as simple organisms and became more complex over time.
2. life on earth began on land and moved into the oceans over time.
3. small, multi - celled organisms became large multi - celled organisms.
4. life on earth began as plant - like organisms and became animal - like organisms.

Explanation:

1. The geologic time scale shows early life (Precambrian) as simple single-celled organisms, with more complex life (like dinosaurs, mammals) appearing in later eras, so this claim is valid.
2. The earliest life in the geologic record is aquatic (ocean-dwelling), not land-based, so this claim is false.
3. The scale shows progression from single-celled to small multi-celled, then large complex multi-celled organisms, so this claim is valid.
4. Early life included both simple plant-like (cyanobacteria) and animal-like (single-celled heterotrophs) organisms, with neither evolving into the other exclusively, so this claim is false.

Answer:

1. true
2. false
3. true
4. false