Geologic Time Notes

Multiple Choice

About how old is Earth?

• 4.6 billion years ago

• 4.6 million years ago

• 4,600 years ago

• 4.6 Eons ago

Multiple Choice

Alfred Wegner first hypothesized the idea that the continents were once stuck together in one super continent, but through continental drift, slowly separated over time. How did he justify his idea?

• The weather conditions of continents that were side by side were similar

• Fossils from the coast of one continent were also found on a nearby continent

• Some continents still contain the same animals

• Geographic formations on some continents are similar to those of bordering continents

Multiple Choice

How does the presence of similar fossils on different continents support the theory of continental drift?

• It suggests that continents have always been separate.

• It indicates that continents were once connected and have drifted apart.

• It shows that fossils can travel across oceans.

• It proves that fossils are not reliable evidence.

Multiple Choice

What is the significance of finding marine fossils on mountain tops?

• It suggests that mountains were once underwater.

• It indicates that marine life can survive on land.

• It proves that mountains are older than oceans.

• It shows that marine fossils are not reliable evidence.

Multiple Choice

What reasoning supports the idea that fossils provide evidence of Earth's changes over time?

• Fossils are only found in volcanic rocks.

• Fossils show that the same species have always existed on Earth.

• Fossils indicate that different species lived in different geological periods.

• Fossils are randomly distributed without any pattern.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a piece of evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics?

• The presence of similar fossils on different continents.

• The uniform distribution of earthquakes around the world.

• The consistent climate across all continents.

• The identical rock formations found only in the Northern Hemisphere.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following represents the era of time that we are currently in?

• Paleozoic Era

• Mesozoic Era

• Precambrian Era

• Cenozoic Era

Multiple Choice

There have been 5 mass extinctions in Earth's history. Which of the following answer choices was a cause of these extinctions? You may select more than one answer. Check all that apply.

• increased carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere

• an asteroid impact

• melting of glaciers and rising sea levels

• widespread volcanic activity

• All of them

Multiple Choice

There have been 5 mass extinctions in Earth's history. Which of the following mass extinctions occurred first?

• End Permian

• Triassic

• Late Devonian

• End Ordovician

Multiple Choice

Which of the following events resulted in the most species extinctions overall?

• Triassic

• End Permian

• Late Devonian

• Cretaceous (KT Event)

Multiple Choice

A comet or asteroid impact on the earth is a frequently suggested cause for many of the mass extinctions. For which of the major mass extinctions does the most evidence exist that this was the main trigger for the event?

• End Permian

• Cretaceous (KT Event)

• Late Devonian

• Triassic

Multiple Choice

What era do you currently live in?

• Cenozoic
• Mesozoic
• Paleozoic
• Precambrien

Multiple Choice

Modern humans originated in

• Africa
• Asia
• North America
• Europe

Multiple Choice

Which era was the longest, taking up 88% of geologic time?

• Precambrian

• Paleozoic

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

Multiple Choice

What major event ended the Mesozoic Era ?

• The Earth stopped rotating.

• One of several "Ice Ages".

• An asteroid struck the Earth.

• A tornado destroyed most life on the planet.

Multiple Choice

The first flowering plants (angiosperms) with hard seeds appeared at the End of the _____________________. The flowering plants became dominant during the _____________.

• Precambrian, Paleozoic

• Mesozoic, Cenozoic

• Paleozoic, Mesozoic

• Cenozoic, Mesozoic

Multiple Choice

Which came first?

• Trilobites are one of the dominant species on Earth

• Amphibians leave the water

• The age of reptiles

• Early humans arise on Earth

Multiple Choice

Which type of life was dominant on earth during the Paleozoic era?

• Mammals and birds

• Invertebrates and non-flowering plants

• Bacteria and algae

• Dinosaurs and flowering plants

Multiple Choice

Pangaea formed near the end of the Paleozoic Era. What was Pangaea?

• a species of lemur

• a lake in Brazil

• a giant landmass of continents

Multiple Choice

Which era is known as the age of dinosaurs?

• cenozoic era

• paleolithic era

• mesozoic era

• precambrian era

Multiple Choice

Which era is known as the age of Mammals?

• precambrian era

• mesozoic era

• paleozoic era

• cenozoic era