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The Rise of Oxygen in the Earth's Atmosphere

Quiz by Nicole Garcia

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7 questions
Show answers
  • Q1
    Why is the Huronian Supergroup rock formation particularly interesting to scientists?
    because it contains unusually large amounts of oxygen and sulfur
    because it formed during the period when oxygen began to accumulate in the atmosphere
    because it drastically altered the planet's development when it first formed
    because it looks like a cross-section of a giant, stone encyclopedia
    120s
  • Q2
    In this article the author explains what scientists are trying to find out. What are the scientists in the article trying to find out?
    how the proportions of different sulfur isotopes change in the geologic record
    when sulfur first appeared in Earth's early atmosphere
    how the ozone layer formed and the effects of its formation
    when oxygen increased in Earth's early atmosphere
    120s
  • Q3
    "I've often wished that I had a time machine to go back and collect a sample of ancient atmosphere or an ancient bit of seawater," says Kaufman. "But we can't. All we can do is collect rocks that were formed under those waters and under that atmosphere." Which conclusion does this statement support?
    Scientists are unable to study what the Earth was like millions of years ago because they do not have the materials needed to do so.
    Scientists are skeptical about their ability to determine when oxygen levels in the Earth's early atmosphere rose.
    Scientist study rock formations in order to learn what Earth's atmosphere was like millions of years ago.
    Scientists study the atmosphere in order to learn what the Earth's seawater was like millions of years ago.
    120s
  • Q4
    "Individual layers of ancient sediment form horizontal stripes on the rock. From a few steps back, the rock wall looks like a cross-section of a giant, stone encyclopedia." Why might the author have included this description of the rock wall?
    to demonstrate why the author explains two different methods used to date the rise of oxygen in the atmosphere
    to explain why the author quotes scientists in the article
    to clarify why the author compares studying a rock formation to studying a book
    to show why the author presents information about different compounds in the article
    120s
  • Q5
    What is the main idea of this article?
    Scientists learn about sulfur by studying ancient rocks.
    Scientists learn about the history of sulfur in Earth's atmosphere by studying oxygen.
    Scientists learn about the history of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere by studying rocks.
    Scientists learn about redbeds by studying the history of Earth's atmosphere.
    120s
  • Q6
    The author asks these questions in the article. "But what can rocks reveal about something as formless as air, much less air that existed billions of years ago? How does one study the ancient atmosphere when no samples of it are left to collect?" Why might the author ask these questions? consider both the questions themselves and their context in the article.
    to force the reader to come up with ways to study the ancient atmosphere without collecting samples
    to invite the reader to learn more about the questions scientists ask themselves
    to suggest to the reader that it's impossible to learn about the ancient atmosphere using today's rocks
    to get the reader thinking about something that will be explained later in the text
    120s
  • Q7
    Read this sentence from the article. "As exposed rock weathers, its compostition is altered by compounds in the air." Which of the following words could replace "it's" without changing the meaning of the sentence?
    the compounds'
    the Earth's
    the weather's
    the rock's
    120s

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