Why Are Fossils of Early Life on Earth Rarer Than

question 62

Multiple Choice

Why are fossils of early life on Earth rarer than fossils of plants and animals from the past few hundred million years?

• A) Early organisms lacked skeletons and other hard structures that are most likely to be fossilized.
• B) Life was far less abundant prior to a few hundred million years ago.
• C) Fossils could not form before there was oxygen in the atmosphere.
• D) We find fossils in sedimentary layers, and no sediments were deposited until just a few hundred million years ago.

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Definitions:

Group Cohesion

The bonding together of members of a group, resulting in a strong sense of collective identity, loyalty, and togetherness.

Loyalty To Neighbors

A sense of allegiance or support given to those living in close proximity, often manifesting in community assistance and solidarity.

Very Attractive

Possessing physical or other qualities that generate a high level of appeal or interest in others.

Groupthink

A psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people, where the desire for harmony or conformity results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.