[Campbell Biology P.590] Which of the following statements accurately describes a key piece ... | Practice Question

Which of the following statements accurately describes a key piece of evidence or an immediate consequence of the asteroid impact associated with the Cretaceous mass extinction?

  • A: The impact directly led to a 100,000-year period of global warming.
  • B: A thin layer of clay enriched in iridium, an element rare on Earth, suggests an extraterrestrial cause.
  • C: The Chicxulub crater measures 10 km across, indicating the exact size of the asteroid.
  • D: Large-scale volcanic eruptions occurred immediately after the asteroid impact, causing populations to decline.

Explanation

The text states, "One clue to a possible cause of the Cretaceous mass extinction is a thin layer of clay enriched in iridium that dates to the time of the mass extinction. Iridium is an element that is very rare on Earth but common in many of the meteorites and other extraterrestrial objects that occasionally fall to Earth."