Question 1

The eon represented by abundant deposits of strata with shelly fossils is the ____________.

Accepted Answer

The Phanerozoic eon is defined by the abundance of visible and complex life forms that have left behind abundant deposits of fossils, including shelly fossils. The other choices (Archean, Hadean, Proterozoic) represent earlier eons that are not defined by the abundance of shelly fossils.

Question 2

The first terrestrial vertebrates (with an amphibian life cycle)are represented by fossils that are Late ____________ in age.

Accepted Answer

The first terrestrial vertebrates with an amphibian life cycle are represented by fossils that are Late Devonian in age. This includes early amphibians such as Ichthyostega and Acanthostega.

Question 3

The Taconic,Acadian,and Alleghenian orogenic events all led to uplift in the region of the modern ____________.

Accepted Answer

The Taconic, Acadian, and Alleghenian orogenic events all occurred during the formation of the Appalachian Mountains, so the correct choice is B) Appalachians.

Question 4

Where today would you expect to find rocks deposited by late Paleozoic glaciers?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Where today would you expect to find...

Question 5

Once an ancient mountain range is destroyed by erosion,it leaves no detectable record,and therefore geologists can never learn of its past existence.

Accepted Answer

While the ancient mountain range may be eroded away and may no longer physically exist, geological records such as sedimentary deposits and rock formations can provide evidence of its past existence. Therefore, geologists can still learn about its existence even if it is not physically present.

Question 6

The late Paleozoic Hercynian orogen is an event related to ____________.

Accepted Answer

The Hercynian orogen refers to the mountain-building event that occurred during the late Paleozoic era (about 300-350 million years ago) as a result of the collision and assembly of several smaller continents, ultimately leading to the formation of the supercontinent Pangaea. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer. A and B are incorrect as they refer to uplift events in the Rocky Mountains, which occurred millions of years later during the Cenozoic era. D is incorrect as the supercontinent Rodinia formed during the Neoproterozoic era, well before the Hercynian orogen.

Question 7

Tree-sized relatives of the living ferns,club mosses,and scouring rushes were common in environments termed coal swamps during the ____________ Period.

Accepted Answer

The term "coal swamps" is often used to refer to the extensive forests of giant, tree-like plants that lived during the Carboniferous Period, approximately 359 million to 299 million years ago. These plants included relatives of ferns, club mosses, and scouring rushes, and their decomposition formed the coal deposits that are mined today.

Question 8

A crustal rock dated to 150 Ma is how old?

Accepted Answer

Ma stands for "mega-annum," which means "million years ago." Therefore, a crustal rock dated to 150 Ma is 150 million years old.

Question 9

Tyrannosaurus rex,one of the largest carnivorous dinosaur species,lived during the ____________ Period.

Accepted Answer

Tyrannosaurus rex lived during the Cretaceous Period, which lasted from approximately 145 to 66 million years ago. The Ordovician and Carboniferous periods were much earlier, while the Jurassic Period came before the Cretaceous and had its own distinct group of dinosaurs.

Question 10

Rodinia and Pangaea are supercontinents that assembled during the ____________ and ____________,respectively.

Accepted Answer

Rodinia assembled during the Proterozoic, while Pangaea assembled during the Paleozoic.

Question 11

Dinosaurs first appeared during the ____________ Period.

Accepted Answer

Dinosaurs first appeared during the Triassic Period, which occurred approximately 251-199 million years ago.

Question 12

Animals and plants are both ____________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Animals and plants are both ____________.
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Question 13

The fossil fish Tiktaalik made headlines in 2005 because it ____________.

Accepted Answer

Tiktaalik represents an important transitional form in the evolution of vertebrates from aquatic to terrestrial environments. It has features that are intermediate between those of more typical bony fish and those of tetrapods, such as lungs and limb-like fins. Its discovery provided important insights into the evolutionary history of vertebrates.

Question 14

The Cambrian explosion not only produced an abundance of new animal species but also gave rise to the first shells,spines,and active swimmers.This suggests the important influence of ____________ in driving animal evolution.

Accepted Answer

The emergence of carnivorous predators during the Cambrian explosion likely drove the evolution of many new defensive adaptations, including the development of shells and spines. Additionally, the evolution of active swimmers may have been a response to the need to escape from and outmaneuver predators. While photosynthetic organisms and filter-feeders played important roles in shaping the Cambrian ecosystem, they are less directly linked to the evolution of these specific adaptations. Atmospheric oxygen levels may have also played a role in the Cambrian explosion by allowing for the evolution of larger and more complex animal forms, but again, this is less directly linked to the development of shells, spines, and active swimmers.

Question 15

The first mammals appeared during the ____________ Period.

Accepted Answer

The first mammals appeared during the Triassic Period, which occurred approximately 252 to 201 million years ago. This period is known for the diversification of reptiles and the rise of the dinosaurs, but it also marks the emergence of the first mammalian ancestors.

Question 16

Geographically,a shield and surrounding platform together are ____________.

Accepted Answer

A shield and surrounding platform together make up a craton, which is a stable, ancient block of the earth's crust that has been largely unaffected by tectonic activity since the Precambrian era.

Question 17

The oldest terrestrial insect fossils are found in rocks from the ____________ Period.

Accepted Answer

The oldest terrestrial insect fossils are found in rocks from the Devonian Period.

Question 18

The late Proterozoic Grenville orogen is an event related to ____________.

Accepted Answer

The Proterozoic Grenville orogeny occurred around 1 billion years ago, and it marked the assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia. The Grenville orogeny resulted in the formation of the Grenville Mountains, which were located in the eastern part of North America. The uplift of the modern Rocky Mountains (A) and the ancestral Rocky Mountains (B) occurred much later during the Mesozoic era. The assembly of Pangaea (C) occurred during the late Paleozoic era, after the Grenville orogeny.

Question 19

The earliest forests containing woody trees appeared during the ____________.

Accepted Answer

The earliest forests containing woody trees appeared during the Middle Paleozoic (Devonian) period. It was a time of dramatic evolution of plants, including the rise of trees, which transformed the Earth's surface and atmosphere.

Question 20

The Cambrian Period is a time in Earth history when ____________.

Accepted Answer

The Cambrian Period is known for the sudden appearance of abundant shelly organisms in the fossil record, representing the diversification of life during this time. Choices B, C, and D are not accurate descriptions of the Cambrian Period.

Quiz 13: A Biography of Earth