Asteroid Impact and Mass Extinction

66 million years ago, an asteroid struck near the Yucatán Peninsula, causing massive destruction and leading to the extinction of 75% of Earth's species, including most dinosaurs. The impact created the Chicxulub crater and triggered rapid climate change, blocking sunlight and collapsing food webs. Some species, like small birds and early mammals, survived due to their adaptability. Today, while the risk of a similar asteroid impact is low, human-induced climate change poses a significant threat to biodiversity.

What type of environment did Earth have 66 million years ago?

• Frozen with ice covering most of the land

• Tropical with diverse flora and fauna

• Desert-like with sparse vegetation

• Mountainous with little plant life

How wide was the asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago?

• 20 kilometers

• 5 kilometers

• 50 kilometers

• 12 kilometers

What was the immediate effect of the asteroid impact on the Earth's surface?

• Complete evaporation of the oceans

• Instant freezing of the atmosphere

• Formation of a small crater

• Creation of a 100-kilometer-wide hole

What was one of the main causes of the mass extinction following the asteroid impact?

• A sudden increase in volcanic activity

• A rapid drop in global temperatures

• A rise in sea levels

• A decrease in oxygen levels

Which group of animals managed to survive the mass extinction event?

• Ammonites

• Giant reptiles

• Small birds

• Large dinosaurs

What was the primary reason for the collapse of food webs worldwide after the asteroid impact?

• Increase in ocean salinity

• Lack of sunlight for photosynthesis

• Rapid death of plants and plankton

• Overpopulation of predators

What evidence do we have of the asteroid impact that caused the mass extinction?

• Fossilized dinosaur bones

• Traces of the asteroid scattered worldwide

• Ancient cave paintings

• Written records from early humans

Why might early mammals have survived the mass extinction event?

• They were immune to climate changes

• They lived in water

• They were able to burrow and hibernate

• They could fly away from danger

What is the estimated chance of a similar asteroid impact occurring in the next thousand years?

• 1 in 10 million

• 7 in a million

• 1 in 1,000

• 1 in 100

What is one of the current challenges humanity faces that is similar to the aftermath of the asteroid impact?

• Increased volcanic eruptions

• Rapid climate change due to emissions

• Frequent asteroid impacts

• Global cooling