Exploring the Permian Extinction and Ancient Reefs

What is the significance of the mountain in the West Texas desert?

• It is a desert dune.

• It is a modern coral reef.

• It is a prehistoric ocean reef.

• It is a volcanic mountain.

What role does limestone play in Earth's climate?

• It releases sulfur dioxide.

• It increases atmospheric CO2.

• It stores carbon long-term.

• It causes ocean acidification.

Which creatures went extinct at the Permian-Jurassic boundary?

• Mammals

• Dinosaurs

• Fusulinids

• Modern sponges

What was a major cause of the Great Dying?

• Asteroid impact

• Tsunamis

• Massive volcanic eruptions

• Ice age

How did the oceans contribute to the Permian extinction?

• By drying up

• By cooling rapidly

• By releasing methane

• By absorbing CO2 and becoming acidic

What is the significance of the Siberian traps?

• They were a site of asteroid impact.

• They were a source of freshwater.

• They caused massive volcanic eruptions.

• They were a habitat for dinosaurs.

What percentage of terrestrial animals died during the Permian extinction?

• 90%

• 30%

• 50%

• 70%

What is a potential modern-day implication of the Permian extinction?

• A new ice age

• A decrease in biodiversity

• A sixth mass extinction

• Increased volcanic activity

How does the current rate of atmospheric change compare to the past?

• It is unpredictable.

• It is the same as in the past.

• It is faster than in the past.

• It is slower than in the past.

What choice do humans have that ancient creatures did not?

• To migrate to other planets

• To reverse time

• To understand and change their impact

• To control volcanic eruptions