6. The word “consumed” is closest in meaning to
(A) changed
(B) exposed
(C) destroyed
(D) covered

2. In paragraph 2, why does the author include the information that dinosaurs had flourished for tens of millions of years and then suddenly disappeared? (A) To support the claim that the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous is the best-documented of the dozen or so mass extinctions in the geological record (B) To explain why as many as half of the species on Earth at the time are believed to have become extinct at the end of the Cretaceous (C) To explain why paleontologists have always been intrigued by the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous (D) To provide evidence that an impact can be large enough to disturb the environment of the entire planet and cause an ecological disaster

3. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 3 about the location of the meteorite impact in Mexico? (A) The location of the impact site in Mexico was kept secret by geologists from 1980 to 1990. (B) It was a well-known fact that the impact had occurred in the Yucatán region. (C) Geologists knew that there had been an impact before they knew where it had occurre(D) (D) The Yucatán region was chosen by geologists as the most probable impact site because of its climat(E)

4. According to paragraph 3, how did scientists determine that a large meteorite had impacted Earth? (A) They discovered a large crater in the Yucatán region of Mexico. (B) They found a unique layer of sediment worldwid(E) (C) They were alerted by archaeologists who had been excavating in the Yucatán region. (D) They located a meteorite with a mass of over a trillion tons.

5. The word “excavating” is closest in meaning to (A) digging out (B) extending (C) destroying (D) covering up

7. According to paragraph 4, all of the following statements are true of the impact at the end of the Cretaceous period EXCEPT: (A) A large amount of dust blocked sunlight from Earth. (B) Earth became cold and dark for several months. (C) New elements were formed in Earth’s crust. (D) Large quantities of nitric acid were produce(D)

8. The phrase “tentatively identified” is closest in meaning to (A) identified after careful study (B) identified without certainty (C) occasionally identified (D) easily identified

9. The word “perspective” is closest in meaning to (A) sense of values (B) point of view (C) calculation (D) complication

10. Paragraph 6 supports which of the following statements about the factors that are essential for the survival of a species? (A) The most important factor for the survival of a species is its ability to compete and adapt to gradual changes in its environment. (B) The ability of a species to compete and adapt to a gradually changing environment is not the only ability that is essential for survival. (C) Since most extinctions of species are due to major meteorite impacts, the ability to survive such impacts is the most important factor for the survival of a species. (D) The factors that are most important for the survival of a species vary significantly from one species to another.

11. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the following sentence? Earth is a target in a cosmic shooting gallery, subject to random violent events that were unsuspected a few decades ago. Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information. (A) Until recently, nobody realized that Earth is exposed to unpredictable violent impacts from spac(E) (B) In the last few decades, the risk of a random violent impact from space has increase(D) (C) Since most violent events on Earth occur randomly, nobody can predict when or where they will happen. (D) A few decades ago, Earth became the target of random violent events originating in outer spac(E)

12. According to the passage, who conducted investigations about the current dangers posed by large meteorite impacts on Earth? (A) Paleontologists (B) Geologists (C) The United States Congress (D) NASA