ES 9.6-9.7

Which of these is a YEC argument against macroevolution? (Select all that apply.)

• The fossils are overinterpreted (scientists are reading more into the fossils than are there)

• The timeline of the fossil record makes sense, showing logical changes from one species to the next

• There are few examples of fossils that can be put into a sequence that makes sense

• Since fossilization is rare, the fossil record is expected to be fragmented

• The Cambrian explosion

What is the Cambrian explosion?

• The sudden appearance of a diverse range of animal fossils in the fossil record during the Cambrian period.
• The Cambrian explosion refers to a period of extreme volcanic activity in the Cambrian period.
• The gradual disappearance of a diverse range of animal fossils in the fossil record during the Cambrian period.
• The sudden appearance of a diverse range of plant fossils in the fossil record during the Cambrian period.

How should the fossil record change over time, according to the uniformitarian model?

• The fossil record should show no changes over time
• The fossil record should show consistent, gradual changes over time

• The fossil record should show random changes over time
• The fossil record should show short bursts of change followed by long periods of little to no change.

What sort of change does the fossil record show?

• The fossil record shows no changes over time

• The fossil record shows consistent, gradual changes over time

• The fossil record shows random changes over time

• The fossil record shows short bursts of change followed by long periods of little to no change.

How does the Cambrian explosion present a problem for YEC?

• It aligns perfectly with the YEC belief in a sudden creation event
• All the diversity of types of animals would have had to happen as soon as Noah left the ark.

• It supports the idea of a young earth by showing gradual development of life forms
• It doesn't present any problem for YEC as it is consistent with their beliefs

What is biogeography?

• The study of the Earth's atmosphere and weather patterns
• The study of the human body and its functions
• The study of the distribution of species around the planet

• The study of ancient civilizations and their artifacts

What is the problem that kangaroos presents for YEC?

• It is difficult to explain how they got from the Middle East to Australia without leaving marsupial fossils along the way in Africa

• Their ability to jump long distances and carry their young in pouches makes them unlikey to have been in the ark

• They are not found in the bible accounts of the Flood

• There is a lack of evidence that kangaroos exist today

What is the most compelling evidence that the earth is billions of years old?

• Counting the number of tree rings and compare to the geological record

• Measuring the depth of sediment layers in the ocean

• If the earth is very old, certain isotopes should have decayed completely, leaving only decay products

• Observing the movement of tectonic plates

According to YEC, which statement must be true?

• The lengths of half-lives must have changed over time

• The lengths of half-lives have not changed over time

• Radiometric dating is impossible to

• There is no scientific data for YEC

What does the magnetic field of the Earth show, in terms of its age?

• That it has been steadily increasing in strength, showing that it is billions of years old

• That it has been steadily decreasing in strength, showing that it is about 6,000 years old

• That the magnetic field is just an imaginary idea

• That the Earth has no age, as it was never created