Earth's Geological Time Scale Exam - Multiple Choice - 2023-2024

1. The Geologic time scale is subdivided into

• A. Eons, periods, epochs, eras
• B. Eras, eon, periods, epochs
• C. Epochs, periods, eras, eons
• D. Eons, eras, periods, epochs

2. Using the information and the geologic time scale below, choose the period that falls within the Mesozoic Era?

• A. Cambrian
• C. Quaternary
• B. Triassic
• D. Cenozoic

3. Which era contains the most complex organisms?

• A. Cenozoic Era
• C. Precambrian Time
• B. Mesozoic Era
• D. Paleozoic Era

4. Which event ended the Mesozoic Era?

• A. continental drift that changed climate
• B. use of fossil fuels by humans
• C. extinction of 90% marine life
• D. asteroid striking Earth and changing climate

5. Recorded human history accounts for _____________________________________.

• A. about half of Earth’s history
• C. all of Earth’s history
• B. a very small portion of the Earth’s history
• D. only the last 100 million years

6. The intervals of Earth's history are defined largely by their environmental conditions and the effects of those conditions on lifeforms. How does catastrophes relate to environmental conditions, lifeforms, and the intervals of Earth's history?

• A. Catastrophes help scientists mark environmental conditions only before lifeforms appeared on Earth.
• B. Catastrophes can cause rapid changes to environmental conditions and lifeforms, and they often mark the end or beginning of an interval.
• C. Catastrophes mark extinctions at the ends of intervals but never cause changes in environmental conditions.
• D. Catastrophes always mark the middle of an interval, and they represent stable environmental conditions for lifeforms. Learning Target #2: I can apply geologic principles to interpret rock sequence and determine relative age.

7. Relative Age Dating does all the following EXCEPT :

• A. allows scientist to date rock, fossils, and geological events
• B. gives a numerical value in years old
• C. uses the method of superposition to date rocks
• D. uses general terms, such as older and younger

8. The principal of original horizontality states that ________.

• A. most rocks in the Earth's crust are layered horizontally
• B. igneous rocks form essentially horizontal layers
• C. metamorphic gradients are essentially horizontal before deformation
• D. sediments are deposited as essentially horizontal layers

9. ______ states that younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed?

• A. Law of crosscutting relationships
• B. Law of superposition
• C. Relative Dating
• D. Unconformity Use this pictur e to answer questions 11 and 12

10. Which of the following layers is the youngest layer?

• A. Layer E
• B. Intrusion D
• C. Intrusion H
• D. Layer L