Scientists have documented and described more than 1.5 million species on Earth. This number _________________________.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

This question asks about a estimate related to the known number of species on Earth and how it compares to the true total. 
Option 1: 'is much lower than the actual number of species on Earth' — This statement aligns with the scientific consensus that there are far more species awaiting discovery or formal description than have been documented to date. Researchers estimate that many niche groups, microbes, invertebrates, and rainforest organisms remain undescribed, so the documented count is indeed substantially smaller than the total. 
Option 2: 'is much higher than the actual number of species on Earth' — This would imply that scientists have overcounted or significantly overestimated the number of species, which contradicts the ongoing understanding that the true total is not yet reached and that many species are yet to be found. It runs against evidence of under-description rather than over-description. 
Option 3: 'is the actual number of species on Earth' — This would claim we have precisely identified every species, which is not supported by scientific practice. Taxonomy is incomplete for many groups, and new species are regularly described, meaning the documented number is not the definitive total. 
In evaluating these choices, consider the difference between documented species (the count scientists have described) and the broader, often unknown, total including undescribed species. The breadth of biodiversity, especially among microbes, insects, and organisms in remote ecosystems, makes the undercount the more plausible position. Also reflect on the purpose of taxonomy: it aims to catalog life, but the catalog is far from complete, given the vast diversity yet to be explored. 
Therefore, the reasoning supports the interpretation that the documented number is not equal to the full total and is instead lower than the true number, given the likelihood of undiscovered species and the current gaps in knowledge across many taxa. 
Note: This analysis examines each option's internal logic and how well it matches established scientific understanding; it does not rely on any information beyond standard concepts about species discovery and description.

2025FallC-T-BIO322-61477 PRACTICE QUIZ - Chapter 2

Scientists have documented and described more than 1.5 million species on Earth. This number _________________________.

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