Origins of Earth and Life Study Guide
Exam Date: Tuesday, March 17
Name:
Per.
This exam will be worth approximately 40 points and will consist of multiple choice, matching and
short answer questions. Extra credit will be given to students who turn in a handwritten study
guide. Only 100% complete study guides will be accepted. You may prepare one side of a 3 x 5
notecard of your own handwritten notes to use on the test.
Earth
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Describe how Earth could have acquired our oceans.
Draw a scaled timeline with the following events included: “Formation of Earth”, “First
Single-Celled Organism”, “First Oxygen Producers”, “First Multi-Celled Organism”, Earliest
Modern Humans Appear”. Use your Geologic and Biologic Scaled Time-Line activity to help
you.
For each of the four eras of Earth’s History (Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic)
state how long they lasted and give an example of one major group of organisms that lived
during that time (try to focus on organisms that helped define that era)
Life:
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Define spontaneous generation and give an example. Also describe early experiments that
attempted to disprove spontaneous generation.
Summarize the experiment that created coacervates. Be sure to note whether it was in
support of or against the theory of spontaneous generation.
Describe the first true cells.
Explain how earth’s atmosphere got its free oxygen including when it happened, which
organisms created it, and how it affected other organisms
Fossils:
 Describe the various ways in which living organisms can be preserved as fossils (altered
remains, unaltered remains, original preservation) and give examples.
 Explain relative age and identify techniques that can be used to determine the relative age
of a fossil (Steno’s principles, etc). Draw a diagram of a layer of rocks and identify the
relative age of the layers.
 Explain absolute age and explain how radioactive dating can be used to determine absolute
age of a fossil. Include the concept of half life in your response.
 Complete sample half-life calculations and be able to read and analyze a half-life graph.
Evolution:
 Describe Charles Darwin and explain how his observations influenced his thoughts about
life on Earth.
 Describe the five points of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. Provide an example for each bullet.
 Be able to describe the different pieces of evidence of evolution and how they support the
idea of evolution. Be able to give an example of each.