wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

7th Grade History of Earth -Eons and Eras

Total questions: 46

Worksheet time: 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

When was the Earth Formed?

a)

100 Years Ago

b)

4.6 Billion Years Ago

c)

2019 Years Ago

d)

16.7 Million Years Ago

2.

What are the 4 Eons in order?

a)

Hadean, Proterozoic, Archean, Phanerozoic

b)

Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, Phanerozoic

c)

Archean, Hadean, Proterozoic, Present

d)

Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, Mealrozoic

3.

The most present eon continues to this day starting back about 540 million years ago. During this eon, organisms evolved and died in mass numbers, but also includes the start of human life. What is the name of this eon?

a)

Hadean

b)

Archean

c)

Phanerozoic

d)

Proterozoic

4.

In this eon multicellular life was created. During this eon the Earth was considered the Snowball Earth and the Oxygen Catastrophe occurred causing loss of oxygen on our Earth. This eon is also the 3rd eon in Earth’s history. Which eon is this?

a)

Archean

b)

Hadean

c)

Proterozoic

d)

Phanerozoic

5.

The moon formed during this eon, this eon occured before life and before the crust had solidified. Lava and magma was everywhere, and lots of comets bombarded the earth, giving the earth the large amounts of water you see today. Which eon is this?

a)

Hadean

b)

Archean

c)

Proterozoic

d)

Phanerozoic

6.

The moon formed during this eon because a Mars sized planet glanced of the earth, sending some of the earth's top layers and some of this planet going into orbit around the earth, as many small asteroids, which eventually formed one mass of rock, the moon we see today. The moon now causes the tides, low tide and high tide. What eon is this?

a)

Hadean

b)

Archean

c)

Proterozoic

d)

Phanerozoic

7.

During which Eon did 96% of marine species as well as a similar amount of land animals perish that could’ve been caused by volcanic eruptions? (Hint: Called "The Great Dying")

a)

Phanerozoic

b)

Archean

c)

Hadean

d)

Proterozoic

8.

What 2 pieces of evidence is most helpful in understanding events that occurred in Earth’s past?

a)

Layers of Rock

b)

Fossils

c)

The Geologic Time Scale

d)

Scientific Tools

9.

What was the effect of Earth’s crust forming?

a)

Plants were able to photosynthesize by getting minerals from the soil

b)

Life could form on Earth

c)

Animals could build habitats to live in

d)

The ocean formed

10.

What was the effect of "The Great Dying"?

a)

If allowed plants to thrive.

b)

Almost all organisms perished, which started the evolution of dinosaurs.

c)

All organisms could now walk on land and swim in water.

d)

Water was now more affordable for organisms in any area.

11.

The Earth’s temperature became more even and cooled down. Water vapor formed oceans and the Earth was cool enough to form the first continent, Vaalbara. Oxygen was released into the atmosphere (Great Oxygenation Event) and the first life formed. What eon is this?

a)

Archean

b)

Hadean

c)

Proterozoic

d)

Phanerozoic

12.

index fossil - a fossil of

a)

widely distributed organisms that lived during extended periods

b)

widely distributed organisms that lived during only one short period

c)

narrowly distributed organisms that lived during extended periods

d)

narrowly distributed organisms that lived during only one short period

13.

The Law of Superposition - In sedimentary rock layers

a)

each layer is older than the one above it

b)

each layer is younger than the one above it

c)

each layer is older than the one below it

d)

each layer is relative age

14.

geologic time scale - a record of the geologic events and life forms in

a)

the fault of a rock

b)

the index of a fossil

c)

the superiority of a position

d)

the history of Earth

15.
What is a mass extinction?
a)
when there was no water
b)
when many species evolve
c)
when the Earth was formed
d)
when many types of species die out
16.
The Mesozoic Era was known as...
a)
the age of reptiles
b)
the age of mammals
c)
the age of plants
d)
the age of birds
17.
Between 299 and 250 million years ago, Earth's continents formed a vast landmass called Pangaea. 
a)
True
b)
False
18.
The Triassic Period saw the rise of __________, or warm-blooded vertebrates that feed milk to their young.
a)
Mammals
b)
Reptiles
19.

The geologic time scale is divided up 4 large units of time called:

a)

Eons

b)

Eras

c)

Periods

d)

Epochs

20.

The oldest eon is called:

a)

Proterozoic

b)

Paleozoic

c)

Hadean

d)

Archean

21.

What were the earliest life forms on Earth?

a)

simple, multicellular organisms

b)

unicellular plants

c)

photosynthesizing bacteria

d)

anaerobic bacteria

22.

Which was the last life form to emerge on Earth?

a)

insects

b)

reptiles

c)

flowers

d)

humans

23.

What is not a possible cause for the mass extinction events that occurred during the Phanerozoic Eon?

a)

asteroid impact

b)

climate change

c)

volcanism

d)

humans

24.

In which of the following eras did humans first appear in the fossil record?

a)

Precambrian

b)

Paleozoic

c)

Mesozoic

d)

Cenozoic

25.
During Precambrian Time, simple life forms existed in the oceans of Earth. This was followed, during the Paleozoic Era, by the "great ___________ explosion" when many new life forms appeared on Earth in a very short period of time.
a)
Burgess
b)
Cambrian
c)
Geologic
d)
Jurassic
26.
Which of the following would most likely fossilize?
a)
skin
b)
muscles
c)
bone
d)
internal organs
27.
Which of the following is a natural factor that can cause extinction?
a)
cutting of rainforest
b)
removing natural habitats
c)
pollution
d)
climate change
28.
According to the fossil record, which of the following best describes what happened to most organisms that have ever lived on Earth?
a)
became endangered
b)
became fossils
c)
became extinct
d)
became adapted and survived
29.

When did the age of mammals begin?

a)

Once the big mean dinosaurs died off. End of Mesozoic

b)

After the Cambrian explosion

c)

After Lunch

d)

The end of the Cenozoic

30.
Why are some reptiles still around even though the dinosaurs went extinct?
a)
The ones that survived are smaller.
b)
The ones that are here today evolved to survive changes in the environment.
c)
The ones that are around today hide from the climate change.
d)
They grew fur and survived the ice ages.
31.
What will most likely cause the extinction of our species?
a)
Asteroid impact or climate change
b)
Aliens take over our planet and make us their pets
c)
Another ice age gradually freezing the planet
d)
A smarter more powerful species evolves and eats us.
32.

A fossil of widely-distributed organisms that lived during only one short period

a)

absolute age

b)

index fossil

c)

law of superposition

d)

relative age

33.
Where can the oldest layer be found?
a)
The top layer
b)
The middle layer
c)
They are all the same age
d)
The bottom layer
34.
Which layer formed first?
a)
Rock Layer W
b)
Rock Layer X
c)
Rock Layer Y
d)
Rock Layer Z
35.
If scientists found this fossil, what could they infer?
a)
what fish are like today
b)
that this fish lacked oxygen
c)
what kind of animal ate this fish
d)
that water once covered the area
36.

Correctly sequence the layers of rocks oldest to youngest

a)

A,D, C, B, E

b)

E, B,C D, A

c)

B,E,C, D, A

37.
Life probably evolved during this eon.
a)
Hadean
b)
Archean
c)
Proterozoic
d)
Phanerozoic
38.
Eukaryotic life evolved during the _______________ eon.
a)
Hadean
b)
Archea
c)
Proterozoic
d)
Phanerozoic
39.
What gas was necessary for complex (eukaryotic) life to evolve?
a)
Carbon dioxide
b)
Oxygen
c)
Dihydrogen monoxide
d)
Methane
40.
During which eon did multicellular life evolve?
a)
Archean
b)
Hadean
c)
Proterozoic
d)
Phanerozoic
41.

what is the Paleozoic era?

a)

Mesozoic Era

b)

the era of jesus Christ

c)

the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic Eon. It is the longest of the Phanerozoic eras.

d)

Primitive fish and reptiles, land plants, and insects

42.

What is the Cenozoic era?

a)

The youngest era of the Phanerozoic eon

b)

The oldest of the Phanerozoic eon

c)

the longest lasting era of the Phanerozoic eon

d)

idek I don’t speak this language

43.
Which portion of the timeline is known as the "Age of Mammals"?
a)
Precambrian Time
b)
Paleozoic Era
c)
Mesozoic Era
d)
Cenozoic Era
44.
Place the following in order starting with the OLDEST
1  Paleozoic
2  Cenozoic
3  Precambrian
4  Mesozoic
a)
1 3 2 4 
b)
3 1 4 2
c)
4 3 2 1 
d)
2 3 1 4
45.
Which type of animal appears earliest in the fossil record?  (OLDEST)
a)
Reptiles
b)
Birds
c)
Dinosaurs
d)
Fish
46.
The mostly deadly Mass Extinction (90% of species) occurs at the end of the...
a)
Paleozoic Era 
b)
Mesozoic Era
c)
Cenozoic Era
d)
Precambrian Time