Multiple Choice
Which of the following cannot be determined from the fossil record?
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24. History of Life on Earth
The Fossil Record
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What trend in the complexity of life over time is observed through the fossil record?
A
An increase in complexity from simple to more complex organisms
B
No significant change in complexity over time
C
A random fluctuation in complexity without a clear trend
D
A decrease in complexity from complex to simpler organisms
Verified step by step guidance1
Examine the fossil record, which provides evidence of past life forms and their structures, to understand the trend in complexity over time.
Identify the earliest life forms in the fossil record, which are typically simple, single-celled organisms such as bacteria and archaea.
Observe the progression in the fossil record, noting the appearance of more complex multicellular organisms, such as plants and animals, over time.
Consider the emergence of diverse and complex life forms, including vertebrates and flowering plants, which appear later in the fossil record.
Conclude that the fossil record shows a general trend of increasing complexity, from simple to more complex organisms, over geological time scales.
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