Question

The diagram below shows a portion of the geologic time scale.

Picture shows a geologic scale with first box labeled '4.6 to 4.0 bya' on top and 'Rocks are formed' within the box, second box labeled '4.0 to 3.5 bya' on top and 'Microscopic life appears' within the box, third box labeled '3.5 to 2.5 bya' on top and 'Atmosphere with oxygen formed' within the box, fourth box labeled '2.5 bya to 370 mya' on top and 'Land animals appear' within the box, fifth box labeled '370 to 250 mya' on top and 'Single giant landmass formed' within the box, and sixth box labeled '250 to 120 mya' on top and 'Flowering plants appear on Earth' within the box.

Which of these is the most likely inference that can be drawn from the time scale?

microscopic life appeared on Earth before flowering plants
microscopic life appeared on Earth before rocks were formed
flowering plants appeared on Earth before oxygen was formed
flowering plants appeared on Earth before land animals were created

Answer 1

microscopic life appeared on Earth before flowering plants

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The answer is microscopic life appeared on Earth before flowering plants. This is because according to the label on the second box, microscopic life appeared 4.0 to 3.5 billion years ago, and this is way before the date 250 to 120 millions years ago indicated on the label on the sixth box the flowering plants appeared on Earth.