Item EN014002: Many species have become extinct throughout the history of life on earth.
Which of the following is TRUE about the extinction of species?
- Very few species have ever become extinct. Most continue to exist.
- There have been extinction events in which many species became extinct at about the same time. Aside from these, extinction is very rare.
- Up until recently, species rarely became extinct. Humans have cause the majority of extinctions.
- Many species have become extinct throughout the history of life on earth.
- Distribution of Responses
- Students Responding Correctly
Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | 1632 | 3140 | 52% |
Grades | |||
6–8 | 930 | 1922 | 48% |
9–12 | 702 | 1218 | 58% |
Gender | |||
Male | 748 | 1517 | 49% |
Female | 859 | 1569 | 55% |
Primary Language | |||
English | 1454 | 2793 | 52% |
Other | 131 | 267 | 49% |
- Disciplinary Core Ideas
- LS4.A The collection of fossils and their placement in chronological order (e.g., through the location of the sedimentary layers in which they are found or through radioactive dating) is known as the fossil record. It documents the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of many life forms throughout the history of life on Earth.
- NRC Framework
- LS4: Natural selection can act more rapidly after sudden changes in conditions, which can lead to the extinction of species.