Question 1

An iridium-rich layer of clay,glass spherules,and shocked quartz grains strongly suggests that the K-T boundary extinctions were at least in part caused by

Accepted Answer

The presence of iridium-rich layer, clay, glass spherules, and shocked quartz grains suggest that the K-T boundary extinctions were caused by a bolide impact, most likely a meteoroid or comet. The high levels of iridium are consistent with extraterrestrial sources, as iridium is more abundant in meteorites than on Earth. The impact would have caused widespread fires, tsunamis, and a "nuclear winter" effect, leading to the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs and many other species.

Question 2

The Western Interior Seaway reached its greatest level of continental inundation during the ________ Period.

Accepted Answer

The Western Interior Seaway reached its greatest level of continental inundation during the Cretaceous Period.

Question 3

Animals and plants are both

Accepted Answer

Both animals and plants are eukaryotes, which means they have complex cellular organelles such as a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Autotrophs are organisms that can produce their own food, while prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, and Archaea are a separate domain of unicellular organisms.

Question 4

Dinosaurs first appeared during the ________ Period.

Accepted Answer

Dinosaurs first appeared during the Triassic period, which occurred between 252 and 201 million years ago.

Question 5

The small cells of bacteria lack nuclei and are termed

Accepted Answer

The small cells of bacteria lack nuclei and are termed prokaryotic.

Question 6

Most DNA in the cells of animals and plants is housed within a nucleus; such cells are termed

Accepted Answer

The term for cells that contain a nucleus to house their DNA is eukaryotic. Choice A - Prokaryotic - refers to cells that lack a nucleus, while choice B - Prokinetic - is not a scientific term related to cell structure. Choice D - Analgesic - refers to pain-relieving medication and is not related to cell structure.

Question 7

Through geologic time,continents have drifted over the surface of the Earth,but each continent has

Accepted Answer

The answer of Through geologic time,continents have drifted over the...

Question 8

Use the graph of sea level below.When was sea level the highest?

Accepted Answer

The graph shows that sea level was highest during the Cretaceous period.

Question 9

Geographically,a shield and surrounding platform together are

Accepted Answer

A shield and surrounding platform together create a stable, interior region of a continent that is commonly referred to as a craton. These regions are composed of ancient, stable rocks that have been largely unaffected by tectonic activity and erosion, making them ideal locations for mineral exploration and extraction.

Question 10

The fossil fish Tiktaalik made headlines in 2005 because it

Accepted Answer

Tiktaalik is an important transitional fossil because it has a mix of fish-like and tetrapod-like features, such as a neck, ribs, and wrist-like bones. It is considered a key example of a species that bridged the gap between aquatic and terrestrial animals during the evolution of vertebrates. It has nothing to do with human fishing, sharks, or modern-day existence.

Question 11

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 are all related to the formation of the Appalachian Mountains. The Rockies, Alps, and Himalayas are located on different continents and were formed by different geological processes.

Question 12

The Cambrian Period is a time in the Earth's history when

Accepted Answer

The Cambrian Period is known for the appearance of the first abundant shelly organisms in the fossil record, marking the beginning of the Paleozoic Era. Options B and C are not relevant to the Cambrian Period, and option D is incorrect as dinosaurs did not appear until much later in the Mesozoic Era.

Question 13

The Chicxulub crater is located on which continent?

Accepted Answer

The Chicxulub crater is located on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, which is part of North America.

Question 14

The first mammals appeared during the ________ Period.

Accepted Answer

The first mammals are believed to have appeared during the Triassic Period, which lasted from approximately 252 million to 201 million years ago. This was a time when the Earth's climate was generally hot and dry, and many new groups of animals were beginning to evolve. The earliest mammals were small and relatively simple in structure, but they eventually gave rise to a diverse array of species, including the familiar mammals that we know today.

Question 15

The late Proterozoic Grenville orogeny is an event related to

Accepted Answer

The late Proterozoic Grenville orogeny is an event that has been linked to the assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia. This event occurred around 1 billion years ago and resulted in the formation of the Grenville Mountains, which were subsequently eroded to form the Grenville Province of eastern North America. Therefore, the best choice is D, assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The Phanerozoic eon is characterized by abundant and diverse life forms, including those with shelly fossils. The other options (Archean, Hadean, and Proterozoic) lack significant evidence of such life forms.

Question 17

Which of the following is true of the Earth's glacial history?

Accepted Answer

The term "snowball Earth" refers to a period of time, approximately 635-720 million years ago, when geological evidence suggests that the Earth's surface was almost entirely covered in glacial ice. This period is also known as the Cryogenian period.

Question 18

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, which occurred between 416 and 358 million years ago.

Question 19

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 served as a major driving force for the evolution of new animal species with protective shells, spines, and the ability to swim actively to escape predation. This selective pressure likely contributed to the rapid diversification of animal life during this time period.

Question 20

The earliest forests containing woody trees appeared during the

Accepted Answer

The earliest forests containing woody trees appeared during the Middle Paleozoic (Devonian) period, approximately 385 million years ago. This period saw the development of a diverse range of plants, including early trees such as Archaeopteris.

Quiz 13: A Biography of the Earth