Question

Since the origin and diversification of life on Earth, there have been five episodes of mass extinction of species. How is the sixth extinction, which is in progress, different from the previous episodes ?

• A. Lower extinction rate
• B. 10× faster
• C. Zero rate
• D. 100–1000× faster

Hint:

The Sixth Extinction is "Man-made" and moving at a "Super-speed" compared to the past natural extinctions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The Earth is currently witnessing the "Sixth Extinction," but unlike the previous five mass extinctions (such as the one that wiped out the dinosaurs), this one has distinct characteristics:
• Anthropogenic Cause: The previous extinctions were caused by natural disasters (volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts). The current episode is primarily driven by human activities like habitat destruction and over-exploitation.
• Accelerated Rate: Estimates suggest that the current rate of species loss is 100 to 1000 times faster than the natural background (pre-human) rates of extinction.