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Physic
Q:
The iridium layer at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary is attributed to
A) meteorite bombardment.
B) massive volcanic eruptions.
C) massive earthquakes and shock waves.
D) extinction of the dinosaurs.
Q:
The Cretaceous extinction that wiped out 60% of Earth's species (including the dinosaurs) is attributed to
A) the break-up of Pangaea.
B) meteorite bombardment.
C) massive volcanic eruptions.
D) all of the above
Q:
During the Mesozoic, the supercontinent of Pangaea fragmented into
A) Laurasia and Gondwanaland.
B) a rift zone between Africa and Europe.
C) the present-day continents we see today.
D) four quadrants.
Q:
During the Mesozoic, the supercontinent of Laurasia fragmented into the continents of
A) North America, Europe, and Asia.
B) South America, Africa, Antarctica/Australia, and India/Madagascar.
C) North America, Europe, and Africa.
D) South America, Australia, and Antarctica.
Q:
During the Mesozoic, the supercontinent of Gondwanaland fragmented into the continents of
A) North America, Europe, and Asia.
B) South America, Africa, Antarctica/Australia, and India/Madagascar.
C) North America, Europe, and Africa.
D) South America, Africa, and Europe/Asia.
Q:
The Andes and the Sierra Nevada Mountains began to form during the Mesozoic due to
A) the formation of the Atlantic Ocean.
B) subduction of Pacific oceanic crust beneath North and South American continental crust.
C) rifting between North America and Africa.
D) meteorite bombardment in Mexico.
Q:
The break-up of Pangaea resulted in the separation of
A) habitats.
B) landmasses.
C) plant and animal life.
D) landmasses, and plants and animals and their habitats.
Q:
The break-up of Pangaea began in the Mesozoic era
A) with the rifting apart of North America and Africa.
B) with the collision of North America with Africa.
C) with the formation of the Himalayan Mountains.
D) at the end of the Ordovician.
Q:
Going from oldest to youngest, the three periods of the Mesozoic are
A) Triassic, Jurassic, and Permian.
B) Jurassic, Triassic, and Cretaceous.
C) Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous.
D) Cretaceous, Permian, and Jurassic.
Q:
Dinosaurs were abundant during the
A) Paleozoic era.
B) Devonian era.
C) Mesozoic era.
D) Cenozoic era.
Q:
Iridium is an element that is relatively
A) abundant on Earth, but very rare in meteorites.
B) rare on Earth, but very common in meteorites.
C) abundant on both the Earth and the Moon.
D) rare on both Earth and in meteorites.
Q:
The break-up of Pangaea had worldwide consequences with the exception of
A) the lowering of sea level.
B) a rise in sea level.
C) the divergence and evolution of new species.
D) climate change.
Q:
The break-up of Pangaea resulted in
A) a worldwide rise in sea level.
B) a worldwide drop in sea level.
C) no significant change in sea level.
D) alternating sea level changes.
Q:
The break-up of Pangaea began in the Mesozoic era
A) during the Jurassic.
B) during the Triassic.
C) at the end of the Triassic.
D) at the end of the Ordovician.
Q:
During the Cretaceous period, Earth experienced a worldwide rise in sea level caused by
A) melting of glacial ice.
B) the thermal expansion of the crustal surface and the breakup of Pangaea.
C) subduction of the seafloor.
D) subduction of continental land masses.
Q:
The Mesozoic era is known as the age of the
A) dinosaur.
B) reptile.
C) fishes.
D) synapsids.
Q:
Paleozoic sedimentary rocks derived from marine deposits are widely distributed in all of the continents. What does this indicate about the height of the continents relative to sea level during the Paleozoic?
Q:
Why does sea level rise when spreading rate increases?
Q:
Coal beds are formed from the accumulation of plant material that becomes trapped in swamp floors. Yet coal deposits are present in the continent of Antarctica, where no swamps or vegetation exists. How can this be?
Q:
What types of events ended the Paleozoic era?
Q:
What spectacular development in organisms marks the beginning of the Paleozoic era?
Q:
Why is it believed that large parts of the United States were once covered by shallow seas?
Q:
At the end of the Ordovician, many shallow-marine organisms went extinct due to
A) deep water predators.
B) a long duration of high sea level.
C) cooling temperatures, increased glaciation, and decreased sea level.
D) cooling temperatures, increased glaciation, and a rise in sea level.
Q:
All continental landmasses joined together as Pangaea resulted in
A) a reduction in shallow marine habitats.
B) a long duration of high sea level.
C) an increase of seafloor spreading.
D) increased species diversification.
Q:
The Permian extinction predominantly affected
A) reptiles.
B) marine life.
C) insects life.
D) terrestrial life.
Q:
The supercontinent of Pangaea formed during the
A) Cenozoic.
B) Paleozoic.
C) Mesozoic.
D) Precambrian.
Q:
Earth's early life forms were marine organisms. Life moved to the land during the
A) Cambrian period.
B) Ordovician period.
C) Silurian period.
D) Triassic period.
Q:
The high concentration of iridium at the Cretaceous Tertiary boundary is most likely attributed to
A) a worldwide rise in sea level.
B) meteorite bombardment.
C) an out flux of iridium from Earth's interior.
D) none of the above
Q:
Possible ways that sea level could lower include a decrease in
A) worldwide temperatures and an increase in the rate of seafloor spreading.
B) worldwide temperatures and a decrease in the rate of seafloor spreading.
C) tectonic activity and an increase in worldwide temperatures.
D) the rate of seafloor spreading and an increase in worldwide temperatures.
Q:
Ancient coal beds can be found in Antarctica because
A) at one time the climate of Antarctica was mild enough to support swamplands.
B) ancient coal beds were frozen in the Antarctic ice.
C) it used to be located in the northern hemisphere.
D) it was located at the equator during the Carboniferous period.
Q:
The "Cambrian explosion" refers to the
A) great many meteorite bombardments that occurred during that time.
B) great diversity of life that blossomed during that time.
C) evolution and great diversity of blastoids during that time period.
D) numerous volcanic eruptions that took place during that time.
Q:
The first time period for which abundant fossils have been found is the
A) Precambrian.
B) Silurian.
C) Pliocene.
D) Cambrian.
Q:
Organisms with the ability to be easily preserved as fossils began to flourish about
A) 4.6 billion years ago.
B) 3.8 billion years ago.
C) 543 million years ago.
D) 65 million years ago.
Q:
The emergence of terrestrial lifefor example, land plants, came about during the
A) Triassic.
B) Silurian.
C) Ordovician.
D) Carboniferous era.
Q:
Most coal deposits were formed in the
A) Cenozoic era.
B) Mesozoic era.
C) Paleozoic era.
D) Precambrian era.
Q:
Coal is composed of
A) petrified wood.
B) buried plant material that has partially decayed.
C) buried animal material that has partially decayed.
D) a combination of oil-rich sediments and calcareous ooze.
Q:
Ancient geologic processes as revealed in Paleozoic rock layers were
A) predominantly volcanic in origin.
B) primarily glacial.
C) predominantly processes of erosion and sedimentation.
D) very similar to processes seen today.
Q:
At the end of the Paleozoic era, all
A) dinosaurs became extinct.
B) flowering plants grew to great heights.
C) fish species became extinct.
D) trilobites became extinct.
Q:
The first reptiles occurred during the
A) Tertiary.
B) Ordovician.
C) Triassic.
D) Carboniferous.
Q:
The beginning of the Paleozoic is marked by the emergence of
A) organisms with hard parts.
B) fish and fungi.
C) extensive glaciated deposits.
D) none of these
Q:
The climatic zones of Pangaea ranged from
A) glaciation in the south, and a mild temperate climate in the north.
B) cold, dry temperatures in the north, and warm, tropical temperatures in the south.
C) humid uplands in the north, and drier, desert like conditions in the south.
D) widespread glaciation in the north, and a warm, tropical climate in the south.
Q:
The formation of the supercontinent of Pangaea caused
A) a worldwide rise in sea level.
B) a worldwide drop in sea level.
C) no change in sea level.
D) none of these
Q:
The formation of the early Appalachian Mountains began as a result of tectonic activity during the
A) Paleozoic era.
B) Triassic era.
C) Mesozoic era.
D) Cenozoic era.
Q:
The Permian period experienced major extinctions, which may have been due to
A) global warming.
B) the emergence of the reptile.
C) the breakup of Pangaea.
D) the formation of Pangaea.
Q:
The formation of the supercontinent of Pangaea
A) resulted from the collision of all major land masses.
B) produced widespread mountain building in the Himalayas.
C) resulted in extensive volcanic activity and flood basalts.
D) all of these
Q:
The Carboniferous period is well noted for the
A) emergence of the insect.
B) evolution of the amniotic egg.
C) age of the reptiles.
D) extinction of shallow water organisms.
Q:
Rocks from the Carboniferous period are significant because they
A) contain diamonds.
B) provide gold and silver deposits.
C) have large deposits of coal and oil.
D) are a source of cement.
Q:
The Devonian period is most noted for the
A) ability of certain fishes to breath air.
B) ability of certain fishes to move onto land.
C) first amphibians.
D) great diversification of fishessome developed lungs, some moved to land, and some became amphibians.
Q:
Large deposits of gypsum and other evaporite minerals are evidence of
A) volcanic activity during the Cambrian period.
B) dried up shallow seas from the Silurian period.
C) seafloor spreading during the Permian period.
D) glaciation during the Triassic period.
Q:
The most important event during the Cambrian period was the
A) emergence of the fishes.
B) ability of organisms to form an outer skeleton.
C) emergence of the trilobite.
D) ability of organisms to develop lungs.
Q:
The Paleozoic era begins with the Cambrian and concludes with the
A) Ordovician period.
B) Silurian period.
C) Permian period.
D) Triassic period.
Q:
Sea level fluctuated several times during the Paleozoic. Which of the following is not a representative factor for sea level rise in the Paleozoic?
A) Melting of continental glaciers.
B) Ocean basins stood high on the asthenosphere due to active seafloor spreading.
C) Ocean basins stood high on the asthenosphere due to slow but continuous seafloor convergence.
D) The breakup of the Precambrian supercontinent.
Q:
Describe the conditions of Earth during the Precambrian.
Q:
What was the one most important event in the Precambrian?
Q:
Earth's first atmosphere was rich in water vapor but poor in free oxygen. The atmosphere became more oxygenated with the
A) development of the ozone layer.
B) emergence of stromatolites that developed a simple version of photosynthesis.
C) emergence of gases from volcanic eruptions.
D) both A and B.
Q:
Development of Earth's early oceans was likely due to
A) water-rich meteors bombarding Earth's surface.
B) volcanic outgassing in Precambrian time.
C) intense convection in the mantle, and severe heat dissipation from Earth's interior.
D) cooler temperatures that promoted the condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere.
Q:
During the Precambrian, the development of the ozone layer helped
A) primitive organisms on Earth's surface to nucleate.
B) shield Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
C) promote the emergence of stromatolites.
D) promote the development of anaerobic organisms.
Q:
The oldest known fossils of single-celled organisms are
A) 4.6 billion years old.
B) 3.9 billion years old.
C) 3.3-3.5 billion years old.
D) 1.3-1.5 billion years old.
Q:
The oldest known fossils are
A) trilobites and brachiopods.
B) algae and bacteria.
C) fungi and algae.
D) worms and jellyfish.
Q:
The banded iron formations began to form when
A) carbon dioxide dissolved in seawater.
B) varying oxygen levels allowed the precipitation of alternating layers of iron oxide.
C) oxide minerals were deposited on the ocean bottom.
D) iron from lava flows settled into layered formations.
Q:
Which of the following is not true of the fossil record?
A) The fossil record spans 3 billion years of Earth's 4.6 billion year age.
B) The most common fossils are from organisms that had hard parts like shells and bones.
C) Similar to present day stromatolites, the first fossils were simple, anaerobic algal plants.
D) The Paleozoic era is credited with the emergence of life.
Q:
Life forms in the Precambrian include
A) trilobites, brachiopods and stromatolites.
B) cyanobacteria and trilobites.
C) the agnatha and the coelacanths.
D) stromatolites and certain primitive blue-green algae.
Q:
Life forms in the Precambrian included
A) trilobites.
B) brachiopods.
C) coelacanths.
D) cyanobacteria.
Q:
The Precambrian witnessed the development of
A) the first atmosphere.
B) the ozone layer.
C) photosynthesis.
D) photosynthesis, an oxygenated atmosphere, and the ozone layer.
Q:
Why are periods the most fundamental time unit?
Q:
From first to last, name the eons on the Geologic Time Scale.
A) Phanerozoic, Proterozoic, Archean, Hadean.
B) Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, Phanerozoic.
C) Proterozoic, Phanerozoic, Hadean, Archean.
D) Precambrian, Phanerozoic, Proterozoic, Paleozoic.
Q:
On the Geologic Time Scale, the time unit representing the largest span of time is the
A) Phanerozoic.
B) Precambrian.
C) Proterozoic.
D) Mega-annum.
Q:
The fundamental time unit representing a major change in life forms is the
A) eon subdivision.
B) era subdivision.
C) period subdivision.
D) epoch subdivision.
Q:
The geologic time scale is broken up into time units of different sizes based on
A) eons, eras, periods, and epochs.
B) changes in fossilization.
C) visible and nonvisible life forms.
D) major changes in life forms.
Q:
A radiometric date is determined from mica that has been removed from a rock. What does the date signify if the mica is found in granite? What does the date signify if the mica is found in schist?
Q:
In dating a mineral, what is meant by "resetting of the mineral's time clock"?
Q:
Which isotopes are most appropriate for dating formations from the following ages: (a) the early Precambrian; (b) the Mesozoic; (c) the late Pleistocene?
Q:
What are some of the uncertainties in obtaining radiometric carbon dates?
Q:
What are the limitations in obtaining radiometric dates?
Q:
In radioactive decay, when the parent material decays to one-half of its original amount, the time is
A) one half-life.
B) two half-lives.
C) three half-lives.
D) four half-lives.
Q:
In radioactive decay, when the parent material decays to one-quarter of its original amount, the time is
A) one half-life.
B) two half-lives.
C) three half-lives.
D) four half-lives.
Q:
If a radioactive element has a half-life of 5760 years, and the amount of parent material remaining is one-fourth of the original amount, the specimen is about
A) 11,520 years old.
B) 17,280 years old.
C) 23,040 years old.
D) 28,800 years old.
Q:
By radiometric dating, the oldest mineral in a sedimentary rock was found to be 1.4 million years old. What is the age of the sedimentary rock?
A) 1.4 million years
B) no older than 1.4 million years
C) no younger than 1.4 million years
D) Radiometric dating does not work for sedimentary rocks.
Q:
The resetting of a mineral's time clock means that
A) a mineral can be formed and reformed again and again.
B) the date obtained will be the date of the metamorphic event, not the date of the rock's formation.
C) the date obtained will be the date of the rock's formation, not the date of the metamorphic event.
D) minerals can tell time just like a clock can tell time.
Q:
Granitic pebbles with a radiometric age of 300 million years are embedded in a sedimentary rock. A dike, dated at 200 million years, intrudes into the sedimentary rock. With all this information we can estimate the age of the sedimentary rock to be
A) older than 300 million years.
B) younger than 200 million years.
C) between 200 and 300 million years old.
D) precisely 300 million years old.