hard · SAT Reading & Writing

While researching a topic, a student takes the following notes: - The 'Great Oxidation Event' (GOE) occurred approximately 2.4 billion years ago. - It was caused by the rise of cyanobacteria, which produce oxygen through photosynthesis. - Prior to the GOE, Earth's atmosphere was nearly devoid of free oxygen. - The sudden presence of oxygen led to the mass extinction of many anaerobic organisms. - Oxygen also reacted with methane, cooling the Earth and triggering a massive ice age. - The GOE ultimately paved the way for the development of more complex life forms. The student wants to emphasize the dual nature of the Great Oxidation Event as both a destructive and a creative force. Which choice most effectively uses information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

1. By producing oxygen through photosynthesis, early cyanobacteria fundamentally changed the chemical composition of Earth's atmosphere.
2. The mass extinction of anaerobic organisms was the only reason that complex life was able to evolve in the wake of the Great Oxidation Event.
3. Although the Great Oxidation Event caused mass extinctions and a severe ice age, it was also the essential catalyst that allowed for the later emergence of complex life.
4. The Great Oxidation Event, triggered by cyanobacteria 2.4 billion years ago, was a catastrophic event that caused a global ice age and wiped out anaerobic life.

Sign up free to see the explanation and track your rank →