Chapter 7-8

Question 0

Species

Answer 0

A group of organisms that can mate with one another to produce fertile offspring.

Question 1

Adaption

Answer 1

A characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

Question 2

Evolution

Answer 2

The process in which populations gradually change over time.

Question 3

Fossil

Answer 3

The remains or imprints of once-living organisms found in layers of rock.

Question 4

Fossil record

Answer 4

A timeline of life.

Question 5

Trait

Answer 5

A genetically determined characteristic.

Question 6

Selective breeding

Answer 6

The process in which humans select which plants or animals to reproduce based on certain desired traits.

Question 7

Natural selection

Answer 7

The process by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully than less well adapted organisms do.

Question 8

Generation time

Answer 8

The average time between one generation and the next.

Question 9

Speciation

Answer 9

The formation of new species as a result of evolution.

Question 10

Relative dating

Answer 10

Any method of determining whether an event or object is older or younger than other events or objects.

Question 11

Absolute dating

Answer 11

Any method of measuring the age of an object or event in years.

Question 12

Geologic time scale

Answer 12

The calendar scientists use to outline the history of life on earth.

Question 13

Extinct

Answer 13

Describes a species that has died out completely.

Question 14

Plate tectonics

Answer 14

The theory that explains how large pieces of the Earth’s outermost layer, called tectonic plates, move and change shape.

Question 15

Precambrian time

Answer 15

The time from the formation of Earth 4.6 billion years ago to about 542 million years ago.

Question 16

Paleozoic ear

Answer 16

Began at about 542 million years ago and ended about 251 million years ago.

Question 17

Mesozoic era

Answer 17

Began about 251 million years ago and lasted about 185.5 million years ago.

Question 18

Cenozoic era

Answer 18

Began about 65 million years ago and continues today.

Question 19

Primates

Answer 19

A group of mammals that includes humans, apes, monkeys, and lemurs.

Question 20

Hominids

Answer 20

Includes only humans and their human-like ancestors.

Question 21

Homo sapiens

Answer 21

The species of hominids that includes modern humans and their closest ancestors and that first appeared about 100,000 to 160,000 years ago.