Question 1

During what time period did dinosaurs roam the Earth? What is the accepted theory for why they went extinct?

Accepted Answer

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Question 2

Why are rocks formed before 3.85 Ga so rare?

Accepted Answer

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Question 3

The Alps,the Himalayas,the Cordillera,and the Andes are mountain belts that resulted from orogenic events during the 
A) Triassic Period.
B) Cenozoic Era.
C) Devonian Period.
D) Mesozoic Era.

Accepted Answer

The Cenozoic Era, which began approximately 66 million years ago, is the most recent geological era and is characterized by the formation of many modern mountain ranges including the Alps, Himalayas, Cordillera, and Andes.

Question 4

During the Cretaceous Period there was globally very high sea level at a time of overall warm climates.What is the mechanism for creating this high sea level?
A) very high rates of seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges
B) the polar ice caps melted in the warm climate
C) high rates of comet impacts which melted and added water to the oceans
D) the water was displaced by the bodies of huge marine reptiles

Accepted Answer

High rates of seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges cause the ocean floor to be elevated, displacing water and raising global sea levels.

Question 5

Present day orogens are identified by finding regions of high,rugged peaks.How can geologists identify orogens that have been eroded away? How might the age of these orogens be determined?

Accepted Answer

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Question 6

The most recent interval of Neogene glaciation gave way to warmer,interglacial conditions ________ years ago.
A) 1 million
B) 200,000
C) 75,000
D) 11,000

Accepted Answer

The most recent interval of Neogene glaciation gave way to warmer, interglacial conditions approximately 11,000 years ago, which marks the beginning of the Holocene epoch. This is also referred to as the present interglacial period. Choice A is too early, choice B is too early as well, and choice C is too recent.

Question 7

By the end of the Hadean,the Earth had a primitive atmosphere and early oceans.Contrast these with the oceans and atmosphere of today.

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

During the Cenozoic Era,__________ rapidly diversified to fill the ecological niches left by the K-Pg mass extinction.
A) birds
B) dinosaurs
C) mammals
D) crocodiles

Accepted Answer

The K-Pg mass extinction wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs, leaving behind a wide range of ecological niches for other organisms to exploit. Mammals quickly diversified and evolved to fill these niches, with many different groups radiating out into diverse ecological roles. Birds did undergo significant evolutionary radiation in the Cenozoic era, but their diversification primarily occurred after the extinction event that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs. Crocodiles also diversified during this time, but not to the same extent as mammals. Therefore, the best choice is C) mammals.

Question 9

The Himalayas were produced during the Cenozoic by the collision of Southern Asia with
A) India.
B) Australia.
C) Africa.
D) South America.

Accepted Answer

The collision of the Indian subcontinent with southern Asia began around 50 million years ago, during the Cenozoic era, and is responsible for the formation of the Himalayan mountain range.

Question 10

Convergence along the western margin of North America during the Cenozoic gave way to rifting forces that created the characteristic topography of the
A) Coast Ranges.
B) Basin and Range Province.
C) Colorado Plateau.
D) Columbia Plateau.

Accepted Answer

The Basin and Range Province is characterized by a series of alternating valleys and mountain ranges that were formed by rifting forces, which pulled apart the western margin of North America during the Cenozoic. This created the unique topography of the Basin and Range Province.

Question 11

What is meant by the term "Snowball Earth?" What period of time in the Earth's history does this refer to,and what were conditions like at this time? Support your answer with evidence.

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Question 12

What is an epicontinental sea? Why might an epicontinental sea form and then disappear? Are there any examples of such seas today?

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Question 13

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.
A) photosynthetic organisms
B) climate
C) carnivorous predators
D) filter-feeding organisms

Accepted Answer

The rise of new predators likely played a significant role in driving the evolution of new defensive adaptations such as shells and spines, as well as the development of more efficient swimming capabilities in prey species.

Question 14

What major change took place on the Earth at the beginning of the Paleozoic? What is the Cambrian explosion?

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Question 15

What caused the buildup of oxygen in the atmosphere at roughly 2.5 Ga?

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Question 16

Humans belong to a lineage of mammals called the
A) carnivores.
B) primates.
C) odd-toed ungulates.
D) edentates.

Accepted Answer

Humans belong to the primate lineage of mammals, which includes monkeys, apes, and lemurs. This is based on anatomical and genetic similarities. The other choices (carnivores, odd-toed ungulates, and edentates) are all distinct lineages with different anatomical and behavioral characteristics.

Question 17

Describe how fossils can be used to interpret the geologic history of an area.

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Question 18

How does the cause of end-Permian mass extinction compare with the K-Pg extinction event? In which did more species go extinct?

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Question 19

The Miocene Epoch saw the spread of which new vegetative zone?
A) grasslands
B) angiosperm forests
C) gymnosperm forests
D) tree fern forests

Accepted Answer

The Miocene Epoch saw the rise of grasslands and savannas across many continents.

Quiz 11: A Biography of the Earth

During what time period did dinosaurs roam the Earth? What is the accepted theory for why they went extinct?

Why are rocks formed before 3.85 Ga so rare?

The Alps,the Himalayas,the Cordillera,and the Andes are mountain belts that resulted from orogenic events during the

During the Cretaceous Period there was globally very high sea level at a time of overall warm climates.What is the mechanism for creating this high sea level?

Present day orogens are identified by finding regions of high,rugged peaks.How can geologists identify orogens that have been eroded away? How might the age of these orogens be determined?

The most recent interval of Neogene glaciation gave way to warmer,interglacial conditions ________ years ago.

By the end of the Hadean,the Earth had a primitive atmosphere and early oceans.Contrast these with the oceans and atmosphere of today.

During the Cenozoic Era,__________ rapidly diversified to fill the ecological niches left by the K-Pg mass extinction.

The Himalayas were produced during the Cenozoic by the collision of Southern Asia with

Convergence along the western margin of North America during the Cenozoic gave way to rifting forces that created the characteristic topography of the

What is meant by the term "Snowball Earth?" What period of time in the Earth's history does this refer to,and what were conditions like at this time? Support your answer with evidence.

What is an epicontinental sea? Why might an epicontinental sea form and then disappear? Are there any examples of such seas today?

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.

What major change took place on the Earth at the beginning of the Paleozoic? What is the Cambrian explosion?

What caused the buildup of oxygen in the atmosphere at roughly 2.5 Ga?

Humans belong to a lineage of mammals called the

Describe how fossils can be used to interpret the geologic history of an area.

How does the cause of end-Permian mass extinction compare with the K-Pg extinction event? In which did more species go extinct?

The Miocene Epoch saw the spread of which new vegetative zone?