Why Are Assemblages of Fossils Seen in Successive Geological Periods

question 13

Multiple Choice

Why are assemblages of fossils seen in successive geological periods so different?

• A) Rapid continental drift has altered the positions of continents such that the strata represent different locations on Earth.
• B) Rapid bursts of evolution have occurred due to changes in oxygen concentrations.
• C) Mass extinctions and the subsequent rebound of biological diversity have brought about sudden changes in the assemblages.
• D) Organisms continue to evolve during periods when fossilization does not occur.
• E) Fossil assemblages across successive strata blend into one another,and there are no sharp breaks.

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Definitions:

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses, while giving disproportionately less consideration to alternative possibilities.

Mindfulness

The state of being alert and mentally present for one’s everyday activities.

Open-Mindedness

The state of being receptive to other ways of looking at things.

Divergent Thinking

A thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions.