Scientists believe that the waters covering the surface of the earth?
a) are not visible from space
b) are slowly drying up
c) first appeared during the age of dinosaurs
d) are a recent addition to our planet
e) have been here since the crust solidified
To answer this question, we can eliminate some options right away. Option a) "are not visible from space" can be discarded because water bodies like oceans, seas, and large lakes are indeed visible from space.
Now, let's consider the remaining options. Option b) "are slowly drying up" is incorrect because there is no scientific evidence indicating that the Earth's water bodies are drying up. In fact, the Earth's water cycle maintains a relatively stable amount of water on the planet.
Option c) "first appeared during the age of dinosaurs" is also incorrect because water has been present on Earth for far longer than the age of dinosaurs. There are early geological records that suggest the existence of water on our planet even before the age of dinosaurs.
Option d) "are a recent addition to our planet" can be eliminated as well. Water has been present on Earth for billions of years, and its existence predates humans and even life as we know it.
This leaves us with option e) "have been here since the crust solidified." This option is correct. The Earth's water is believed to have originated from the condensation of water vapor in the planet's early atmosphere. As the Earth cooled and its crust solidified, water accumulated on the surface, forming oceans, lakes, rivers, and other water bodies.
In conclusion, option e) is the correct answer. The waters covering the surface of the Earth have been here since the crust solidified.