[Campbell Biology P.725] Based on the provided text, which of the following best describes t... | Practice Question

Based on the provided text, which of the following best describes the Ediacaran biota?

  • A: They were the first known single-celled organisms, dating back to 1 billion years ago.
  • B: They were macroscopic, soft-bodied multicellular eukaryotes that represent some of the earliest known animals.
  • C: They were microscopic animal embryos found exclusively in Australia.
  • D: They were a diverse group of sponges and cnidarians that were the first to develop hard shells.

Explanation

The text describes the Ediacaran biota as 'macroscopic fossils of animals' dating from about '560 million years ago', members of 'an early group of mostly soft-bodied multicellular eukaryotes'. This aligns perfectly with option B.