question

1) Which of the following gases was NOT part of Earth's original atmosphere? A) water vapor B) carbon dioxide C) nitrogen D) oxygen E) both A and C

answer

: D

question

: 1 2) The most common Precambrian fossils are ________, layered mounds of calcium carbonate. A) prokaryotes B) chert C) trilobites D) stromatolites E) none of these

answer

: D

question

: 1 3) The ________ era is known as the "age of flowering plants." A) Precambrian B) Paleozoic C) Cenozoic D) Devonian E) Silurian

answer

: C

question

: 1 4) ________ are among the most widespread Paleozoic fossils. A) Stromatolites B) Birds C) Dinosaurs D) Salamanders E) Brachiopods

answer

: E

question

: 1 5) As the solar system began forming, the first materials to condense into small particles were ________ and nickel. A) oxygen B) silicon C) nitrogen D) carbon E) none of these

answer

: E

question

: 1 6)Which one of the following represents the greatest expanse of geological time? A)Mesozoic B) Cenozoic C) Precambrian D) Paleozoic

answer

: C

question

: 1 7) During the early Paleozoic era, South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, India, and perhaps China comprised the vast southern continent of ________. A) Europe B) Laurasia C) Gondwanaland D) Antindia E) Pangaea

answer

: C

question

: 1 8) Which type of bacteria thrive in environments that lack free oxygen? A) aerobic B) placental C) anaerobic D) foraminifera E) photosynthetic

answer

: C

question

: 1 9) Which era of geologic time spans about 88 percent of Earth's history? A) Precambrian B) Paleozoic C) Mesozoic D) Cenozoic E) none of above

answer

: A

question

: 1 10) The ________ means "the Sun in the making." A) solar disk B) presun C) nebular Sun D) sol E) protosun

answer

: E

question

: 1 11) Mammals became the dominant land animals during the ________ era. A) Pleistocene B) Cenozoic C) Cretaceous D) Mesozoic E) Paleozoic

answer

: B

question

: 1 12) The ________ period was a time of major extinctions, including 75 percent of amphibian families. A) Jurassic B) Mississippian C) Permian D) Pennsylvanian E) Devonian

answer

: C

question

: 1 13) The beginning of the Cambrian period marks an important event in animal evolution — the appearance of organisms with ________. A) wings B) cells C) hard parts D) vertebrae E) none of the above

answer

: C

question

: 1 14) The era of "ancient life" is the ________ era. A) Cenozoic B) Precambrian C) Neolithic D) Mesozoic E) none of these

answer

: E

question

: 1 15) Due to a virtual absence of land plants and certain animals, fossil fuels are notably absent in ________ rocks. A) Precambrian B) Paleozoic C) Mesozoic D) Cenozoic E) Paleozoic and Mesozoic

answer

: A

question

: 1 16) The major source of free oxygen in the atmosphere is from ________. A) molten rock B) water C) green plants D) silicate minerals E) glaciers

answer

: C

question

: 1 17) The age of Earth is about ________. A) 2 billion years B) 4.6 million years C) 16 million years D) 4.5 billion years E) 195 million years

answer

: D

question

: 1 18) The Precambrian rock record indicates that much of Earth's first free oxygen combined with ________ dissolved in water. A) potassium B) silicon C) iron D) carbon E) none of these

answer

: C

question

: 1 19) Which one of the following does NOT characterize the early development and specialization of the primitive mammals? A) increase in size B) increase in stomach capacity C) increase in brain capacity D) specialization of limbs E) specialization of teeth

answer

: B

question

: 1 20) As they formed, due to their high temperatures and comparatively weak gravitational fields, which planets were unable to retain appreciable amounts of hydrogen, helium, and ammonia? A) Jupiter and Neptune B) Mercury and Earth C) Uranus and Pluto D) Jupiter and Uranus E) Neptune and Uranus

answer

: B

question

: 1 21)Abundant fossil evidence did not appear in the geologic record until about ________. A)5 billion years ago B) 6 million years ago C) 540 million years ago D) 300 million years ago E) 3 billion years ago

answer

: C

question

: 1 22) During the late Paleozoic, the present-day North America, Europe, western Asia, Siberia, and perhaps China formed the northern continent of ________. A) Gondwanaland B) Laurasia C) Greenland D) Africa E) none of the above

answer

: B

question

: 1 23) Most ________ rocks are devoid of fossils, which hinders correlation of rocks. A) Precambrian B) Paleozoic C) Mesozoic D) Cenozoic E) Mesozoic and Cenozoic

answer

: A

question

: 1 24) The ________ period is sometimes called the "golden age of trilobites." A) Cambrian B) Silurian C) Pennsylvanian D) Devonian E) Triassic

answer

: A

question

: 1 25) ________ means "planets in the making." A) Jovian B) Asteroids C) Terrestrial D) Protoplanets

answer

: D

question

: 1 26) The process in which plants use light energy to synthesize food sugars from carbon dioxide is called ________. A) photosynthesis B) hydration C) oxidation D) fusion E) none of these

answer

: A

question

: 1 27) The beginning of the ________ era is marked by the appearance of the first life forms with hard parts. A) Precambrian B) Paleozoic C) Mesozoic D) Cenozoic

answer

: B

question

: 1 28) Each continent contains large "core areas" of Precambrian rocks referred to as ________. A) rifts B) plates C) plateaus D) shields E) none of these

answer

: D

question

: 1 29) By the close of the Paleozoic, all the continents had fused into the single super continent of ________. A) Laurasia B) Pangaea C) Appalachia D) Gondwanaland E) Europa

answer

: B

question

: 1 30) Earth's primitive atmosphere evolved from gases ________. A) produced by radioactive decay B) collected from the nebula C) escaping from water D) from the Sun E) expelled from within

answer

: E

question

: 1 31) The most economically important resource in Cenozoic strata of the Gulf Coast is ________. A) petroleum B) carbon C) coal D) fresh water E) iron

answer

: A

question

: 1 32) The waste gas released by plants as they synthesize food sugars from carbon dioxide and water is ________. A) oxygen B) methane C) nitrogen D) carbon dioxide

answer

: A

question

: 1 33) Most of Earth's iron ore occurs in middle ________ rocks. A) Precambrian B) Paleozoic C) Mesozoic D) Cenozoic

answer

: A

question

: 1 34) The first true terrestrial animals were the ________. A) mammals B) reptiles C) lobe-finned fish D) trilobites E) marsupials

answer

: B

question

: 1 35) This least understood era of Earth's history has not been subdivided into briefer time units. A) Precambrian B) Paleozoic C) Mesozoic D) Cenozoic

answer

: A

question

: 1 36) During the ________ period, large evaporite deposits of rock salt and gypsum formed in North America. A) Cambrian B) Silurian C) Pennsylvanian D) Jurassic E) Tertiary

answer

: B

question

: 1 37) The supercontinent of Pangaea began to break up during the ________ era. A) Precambrian B) Paleozoic C) Mesozoic D) Cenozoic

answer

: C

question

: 1 38) Which era is sometimes called the "age of dinosaurs?" A) Pleistocene B) Cenozoic C) Cretaceous D) Mesozoic E) none of the above

answer

: D

question

: 1 39) During the ________ era, the westward-moving North American plate began to override the Pacific plate, eventually causing the tectonic activity that ultimately formed the mountains of western North America. A) Precambrian B) Paleozoic C) Mesozoic D) Cenozoic E) none of the above

answer

: C

question

: 1 40) By the ________ period, large tropical swamps extended across North America, eventually becoming the vast coal deposits of today. A) Cambrian B) Silurian C) Pennsylvanian D) Devonian E) Triassic

answer

: C

question

: 1 41) One group of reptiles, exemplified by the fossil Archaeopteryx, led to the evolution of ________. A) dinosaurs B) mammals C) cephalopods D) birds E) horses

answer

: D

question

: 1 42) Which period is known as the "age of fishes"? A) Jurassic B) Mississippian C) Permian D) Pennsylvanian E) Devonian

answer

: E

question

: 1 43) During the Cenozoic, plate interactions gave rise to many events of mountain building, volcanism, and earthquakes in ________ North America. A) western B) central C) eastern D) southern E) northern

answer

: A

question

: 1 44) The cells of these primitive organisms lack organized nuclei and they reproduce asexually. A) trilobites B) eukaryotes C) prokaryotes D) brachiopods E) none of these

answer

: C

question

: 1 45) Following the reptilian extinctions at the close of the Mesozoic, two groups of mammals, the marsupials and ________, evolved. A) eukaryotes B) cephalopods C) trilobites D) placentals E) stromatolites

answer

: D

question

: 1 Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern. 46) A. Cambrian B. Mississippian C. Jurassic D. Devonian

answer

: C

question

: 1 47) A. trilobites B. brachiopods C. fish D. dinosaurs

answer

: D

question

: 1 48) A. Cenozoic B. Phanerozoic C. Mesozoic D. Paleozoic

answer

: B

question

: 1 49) The decay of radioactive atoms, coupled with heat released by colliding particles, produced at least some melting of Earth's early interior.

answer

: TRUE

question

: 1 50) We are now living in the Mesozoic era.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 51) Most Mesozoic rocks are devoid of fossils; consequently this is the least understood span of Earth's history.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 52) Probably the single most characteristic feature of the Precambrian is its great abundance of fossil evidence.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 53) Due to differentiation, the lighter, gaseous materials escaped Earth's interior and became the primitive atmosphere.

answer

true

question

: 1 54) During the early Paleozoic era, the continent of Gondwanaland included North and South America.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 55) The bodies of our solar system began forming about 5 billion years ago from an enormous cloud of minute rocky fragments and gases.

answer

: TRUE

question

: 1 56) The first true terrestrial land animals were the mammals.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 57) Earth's original atmosphere, several billion years ago, was similar to the present atmosphere.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 58) The Cenozoic era is the age of mammals.

answer

: TRUE

question

: 1 59) The major source of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere is from the decay of plants.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 60) The supercontinent of Pangaea formed during the late Mesozoic era.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 61) Much of the original free oxygen in the atmosphere combined with iron dissolved in water to become iron oxide.

answer

: TRUE

question

: 1 62) During the Cenozoic era, the eastern and western margins of North America experienced similar geologic events.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 63) The large outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) contain huge amounts of hydrogen and other light materials as part of their composition.

answer

: TRUE

question

: 1 64) Fossil fuels are abundant in Precambrian rocks.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 65) A major event of the Mesozoic era was the breakup of the supercontinent called Pangaea.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 66) The fault-block mountains of Nevada and Mexico formed during the Cenozoic era.

answer

: TRUE

question

: 1 67) When Earth's primitive surface cooled below water's boiling point, torrential rains slowly filled low areas, forming oceans.

answer

: TRUE

question

: 1 68)Volcanic activity was common in western North America during much of Cenozoic time.

answer

: TRUE

question

: 1 69) The earliest land plants had large, broad leafs to efficiently intercept sunlight.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 70) Mammals replaced reptiles as the dominant land animals in the Cenozoic era.

answer

: TRUE

question

: 1 71) Well preserved remains of many tiny organisms extend the record of life back beyond 5 billion years.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 72) A wave of late Pleistocene extinctions rapidly eliminated many large mammals.

answer

: TRUE

question

: 1 73) The beginning of the Precambrian era is marked by the appearance of the first life forms with hard parts.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 74) Many reptile groups became extinct at the close of the Cenozoic era.

answer

: FALSE

question

: 1 75) During the Cenozoic era, a great wedge of sediments from the eroding Rockies created the Great Plains.

answer

: TRUE

question

: 1 76) Bacteria that thrive in oxygen free environments are called ________ bacteria.

answer

: anaerobic

question

: 1 77) The theory for the formation of the solar system is known as the ________.

answer

: nebular hypothesis

question

: 1 78) During the early Paleozoic era, the ________ orogeny affected eastern North America from the present-day central Appalachians to Newfoundland.

answer

: Taconic

question

: 1 79) What were the three gases that made up Earth's original atmosphere?

answer

: water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen

question

: 1 80)The rock formations of the ________ era are more widespread and less disturbed than those of any other time.

answer

: Cenozoic

question

: 1 81) During the process of ________, plants release the gas ________.

answer

: photosynthesis, oxygen

question

: 1 82) By the late ________ period, true air-breathing amphibians with fish-like heads and tails had evolved.

answer

: Devonian

question

: 1 83) The ________ era spans about 88 percent of Earth's history.

answer

: Precambrian

question

: 1 84) The most economically important resource in Cenozoic strata of the Gulf Coast is ________.

answer

: petroleum (natural gas)

question

: 1 85) Planets in the making are referred to as ________.

answer

: protoplanets

question

: 1 86) The most common Precambrian rock type is ________ rock.

answer

: metamorphic

question

: 1 87) The Cenozoic era is often called the "age of ________."

answer

: mammals

question

: 1 88) On each continent, large "core areas" of Precambrian rocks, called ________, dominate the surface.

answer

: shields

question

: 1 89) The ________ period was the "golden age of trilobites."

answer

: Cambrian

question

: 1 90) The time of the great extinction that took place at the end of the Mesozoic era is called the ________ or KT boundary.

answer

: Cretaceous-Tertiary

question

: 1 91) The Sun in the making is known as the ________.

answer

: protosun

question

: 1 92)Western North America is the leading edge of the ________ plate.

answer

: North American

question

: 1 93) Extensive deposits of ________ ore are found worldwide in Precambrian rocks.

answer

: iron

question

: 1 94) In North America (including Greenland), the vast exposure of Precambrian rocks, called the ________ Shield, encompasses 2.8 million square miles.

answer

: Canadian

question

: 1 95) The development of ________, organisms that reproduce sexually and have cells that contain nuclei, may have increased dramatically the rate of evolutionary change.

answer

: eukaryotes

question

: 1 96) Human evolution takes place during the ________ period of the ________ era.

answer

: Quaternary; Cenozoic

question

: 1 97) Fossils that are not of the animals themselves, but of their activities, such as trails and wormholes, are referred to as ________ fossils.

answer

: trace

question

: 1 98) The ________ were the dominant trees of the Mesozoic era.

answer

: gymnosperms

question

: 1 99) Following the reptilian extinctions at the close of the Mesozoic era, two groups of mammals, the marsupials and ________, evolved and expanded.

answer

: placentals

question

: 1 100) Many of the most ancient fossils are found in a hard, dense, chemical rock called ________.

answer

: chert

question

: 1 101) The late ________ era extinction was the greatest of at least five mass extinctions to occur over the past 540 million years.

answer

: Paleozoic

question

: 1 102) ________ are the dominant land plants of the Cenozoic era.

answer

: Angiosperms

question

: 1 103) Primitive organisms, called ________, reproduce asexually and contain cells that lack organized nuclei.

answer

: prokaryotes

question

: 1 104) Toward the end of the Mesozoic era, the ________ orogeny formed the southern ranges of the Rocky Mountains.

answer

: Laramide

question

: 1 105) One hypothesis for the extinction that took place at the end of the Mesozoic is that a large ________ collided with Earth.

answer

: asteroid (or comet)

Chapter 12 Earth Science – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards