The author suggests which one of the following about the Cretaceous crisis? A. It was the second most devastating extinction episode in history. B. It was the most devastating extinction episode up until that time. C. It was less devastating to species diversity than is the current biodiversity crisis. D. The rate of extinction among marine animal species as a result of the crisis did not approach 77 percent. E. The dinosaurs comprised the great majority of species that perished during the crisis.