What Is the Specific Mechanism by Which the Chicxulub Impact

question 136

Multiple Choice

What is the specific mechanism by which the Chicxulub impact is believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs and many other species 65 million years ago?

• A) Iridium poisoning due to fallout of meteoritic material destroyed a large fraction of the creatures within several days of the impact.
• B) Dust thrown up by the impact blotted out the Sun and disrupted the food chain over a period of several years.
• C) The incoming asteroid contained alien biological material that destroyed susceptible species within a few weeks of the impact.
• D) Shock waves and tsunamis (tidal waves) killed the majority of living creatures within a few minutes of the impact.

---

Definitions:

Martin Luther King, Jr.

An American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.

Freedom

The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

Oppressor

An individual, group, or institution that exercises authority or power over others in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.

Hurricane Katrina

A devastating Category 5 hurricane that struck the Gulf Coast of the United States in August 2005, causing widespread destruction and significant loss of life, particularly in New Orleans, Louisiana.