How much do you know about extinction?

How much do you know about extinction? | quiz

Hi Everyone!

Welcome back to the blog! This week is our last monthly quiz! We'd love to hear which one was your favourite in the comments! We also have a quick online survey for what our monthly post should be next year. We really appreciate any feedback and this is the best way for you to tell us what you want to see us post about and share! From a monthly challenge to an environmental book of the month - we just want to know what you think!

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So, how much do you know about extinction? You may know some from our "animals you don't know are on the edge of extinction" series, or from the news as extinction is such a buzzword. All of these facts are from reliable sources such as National Geographic, as well as the statistics being cross checked with other websites.

1. How many years ago was the most recent mass extinction?

a) 44 million

b) 55 million

c) 66 million

2. How many species could be threatened by extinction?

a) one thousand

b) one million

c) one billion

3. How much time will it take to reach mass extinction if we continue at the current rate?

a) 250 - 550

b) 550 - 850

c) 850 - 1150

4. By how much have average global wildlife population sizes decreased over the last 50 years?

a) 28%

b) 48%

c) 68%

5. Which area has shown the biggest decrease in species' population sizes?

a) Tundra areas (Arctic/Antarctic)

b) Sub-Regions of Americas

c) Desert regions

6. Which species are declining the fastest?

a) land animals

b) freshwater animals

c) saltwater animals

7. How many plants are at risk from extinction?

a) 20%

b) 40%

c) 60%

8. True or False - 20% of the world's insect population could disappear within decades.

9. True or False - 10, 000 years ago there were Giant Armadillos as big as cars.

10. True or False - many scientists believe that half of the Earth's species will be extinct in 100 years.

Bonus fact:

A less-known goal of the Nazi party was to resurrect extinct animals!

Answers:

1. c - the cretaceous-paleogene extinction was 66 million years ago.

2. b - up to one million species of animals and plants are threatened by extinction

3. a - if we continue on the current trajectory, in 250 - 550 years we will reach a mass extinction.

4. c - global average wildlife population sizes decreased by 68% over the last 50 years.

5. b - the sub-regions of the Americas have seen the biggest decrease in population sizes.

6. b - freshwater animals are declining the fastest.

7. b - 40% of plants are are at risk of dying out.

8. false - 40% of the world's insect population is actually at risk!

9. true - they became extinct 10 000 years ago.

10. false - the prediction by many scientists is actually 75 years!

Your Green World Blog Team💚

Sources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/mass-extinction
https://www.factretriever.com/extinction-facts
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/11/extinction-facts-wildlife-attenborough/

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