Question 1

The waste gas released by plants as they synthesize food sugars from carbon dioxide and water is ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  methane 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  oxygen 
A)  methane 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  oxygen

Question 2

In the early history of Earth, the solid surface of the earth weathered more rapidly than now because ______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  there was little topography so shallow water washed across the surface often 
B)  the rocks at the surface were weak because there was little oxygen available 
C)  the early rain was very acidic 
D)  there were numerous earthquakes and volcanoes breaking up the surface 
E)  the atmosphere contained large amounts of corrosive methane 
A)  there was little topography so shallow water washed across the surface often 
B)  the rocks at the surface were weak because there was little oxygen available 
C)  the early rain was very acidic 
D)  there were numerous earthquakes and volcanoes breaking up the surface 
E)  the atmosphere contained large amounts of corrosive methane

Question 3

The Great Oxygen Event marks the time, approximately 2.5 billion years ago, when ______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  there was enough oxygen in the atmosphere to support a major burst of life on Earth 
B)  there was a massive volcanic eruption that lead to a very rapid increase in oxygen levels on Earth 
C)  there was significant oxygen in the atmosphere 
D)  there was a cataclysmic weather event that absorbed most of the oxygen in the atmosphere and locked it into iron deposits in the oceans 
E)  photosynthesis was clearly established and producing oxygen 
A)  there was enough oxygen in the atmosphere to support a major burst of life on Earth 
B)  there was a massive volcanic eruption that lead to a very rapid increase in oxygen levels on Earth 
C)  there was significant oxygen in the atmosphere 
D)  there was a cataclysmic weather event that absorbed most of the oxygen in the atmosphere and locked it into iron deposits in the oceans 
E)  photosynthesis was clearly established and producing oxygen

Question 4

Birds evolved from______.

Accepted Answer

A)  gymnosperms 
B)  apatosaurus 
C)  tree- climbing amphibians 
D)  pterosaurs 
E)  archaeopteryx 
A)  gymnosperms 
B)  apatosaurus 
C)  tree- climbing amphibians 
D)  pterosaurs 
E)  archaeopteryx

Question 5

Banded Iron Formations are interbedded iron oxides and chert that formed on the sea floor between 3.5 and 2 billion years ago because _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  iron and chert were abundant in the early Earth 
B)  iron was using the oxygen produced by bacteria and chert was a common ocean deposit 
C)  chert was being deposited by bacteria and iron was a common ocean deposit 
D)  outgassing produced both chert and iron oxide in roughly equal amounts 
E)  photosynthesis had not yet started to generate oxygen so iron and chert were deposited on the sea floor 
A)  iron and chert were abundant in the early Earth 
B)  iron was using the oxygen produced by bacteria and chert was a common ocean deposit 
C)  chert was being deposited by bacteria and iron was a common ocean deposit 
D)  outgassing produced both chert and iron oxide in roughly equal amounts 
E)  photosynthesis had not yet started to generate oxygen so iron and chert were deposited on the sea floor

Question 6

Bacteria that thrive in oxygen free environments are called ______bacteria.

Accepted Answer

A)  anaerobic 
B)  stromatolite 
C)  free 
D)  prokaryotic 
A)  anaerobic 
B)  stromatolite 
C)  free 
D)  prokaryotic

Question 7

The most common Precambrian fossils are _______ , layered mounds of calcium carbonate.

Accepted Answer

A)  trilobites 
B)  eukaryotes 
C)  prokaryotes 
D)  chert 
E)  stromatolites 
A)  trilobites 
B)  eukaryotes 
C)  prokaryotes 
D)  chert 
E)  stromatolites

Question 8

The Appalachian Mountains formed as a result of______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  the collision of North America and Africa 
B)  the collision of Greenland and Norway 
C)  the break- up of Pangaea 
D)  the initial formation of Pangaea 
E)  the collision of North America and Europe 
A)  the collision of North America and Africa 
B)  the collision of Greenland and Norway 
C)  the break- up of Pangaea 
D)  the initial formation of Pangaea 
E)  the collision of North America and Europe

Question 9

Why is the mass of Earth important for life?

Accepted Answer

A)  If Earth had more or less mass, it would not have plate tectonics and would be covered entirely by water. 
B)  If Earth's mass were greater, we would be bombarded by meteorites and if it were smaller, we would not be able to hold the moon in orbit. 
C)  If Earth had more or less mass, the atmosphere would be very different with either too much ammonia and methane or too little oxygen and water. 
D)  If Earth's mass were significantly different, we would be bombarded by cosmic rays that would strip away our atmosphere. 
A)  If Earth had more or less mass, it would not have plate tectonics and would be covered entirely by water. 
B)  If Earth's mass were greater, we would be bombarded by meteorites and if it were smaller, we would not be able to hold the moon in orbit. 
C)  If Earth had more or less mass, the atmosphere would be very different with either too much ammonia and methane or too little oxygen and water. 
D)  If Earth's mass were significantly different, we would be bombarded by cosmic rays that would strip away our atmosphere.

Question 10

An important evolutionary step for reptiles was______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  the formation of a true spine 
B)  the growth of scales from armor plating 
C)  lungs that could hold air 
D)  the development of shell- covered eggs 
A)  the formation of a true spine 
B)  the growth of scales from armor plating 
C)  lungs that could hold air 
D)  the development of shell- covered eggs

Question 11

The most common Precambrian rock type is ______rock.

Accepted Answer

A)  volcanic 
B)  igneous 
C)  sedimentary 
D)  metamorphic 
A)  volcanic 
B)  igneous 
C)  sedimentary 
D)  metamorphic

Question 12

A major site of sediment deposition during the Cenozoic was______.

Accepted Answer

A)  central Texas 
B)  the central U.S. 
C)  the western coast of the U.S. 
D)  the Gulf of Mexico 
E)  the Rocky Mountains 
A)  central Texas 
B)  the central U.S. 
C)  the western coast of the U.S. 
D)  the Gulf of Mexico 
E)  the Rocky Mountains

Question 13

By the late ______period, true air- breathing amphibians with fish- like heads and tails had evolved.

Accepted Answer

A)  Silurian 
B)  Cambrian 
C)  Devonian 
D)  Ordovician 
A)  Silurian 
B)  Cambrian 
C)  Devonian 
D)  Ordovician

Question 14

Examine Figure 12.12 below, which illustrates the distribution of cratons and orogens mountain belts. on Earth today. Briefly discuss how have these regions have developed over time using the concept of plate tectonics. Include the relationship between specific types of plate boundaries to the various regions if possible.

Accepted Answer

Each of the orogenies can be a

Question 15

Through repeated collisions, planetesimals grew into eight______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  protoplanets 
B)  protons 
C)  protostars 
D)  protosuns 
A)  protoplanets 
B)  protons 
C)  protostars 
D)  protosuns

Question 16

Human ancestors developed the tendency to walk on two legs instead of four in order to accommodate______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  riding elephants 
B)  climbing trees in the forests 
C)  picking fruit 
D)  hunting and gathering food in grasslands 
E)  running across hot ash beds in Tanzania 
A)  riding elephants 
B)  climbing trees in the forests 
C)  picking fruit 
D)  hunting and gathering food in grasslands 
E)  running across hot ash beds in Tanzania

Question 17

Due to differentiation, the lighter, gaseous materials escaped Earth's interior and became what is called the ______atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  primitive 
B)  modern 
C)  transitional 
D)  formative 
A)  primitive 
B)  modern 
C)  transitional 
D)  formative

Question 18

The largest of the stars are denoted by the letter______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  I 
B)  K 
C)  G 
D)  M 
A)  I 
B)  K 
C)  G 
D)  M

Question 19

Why is it important that we have a rigid lithosphere overlying a weak asthenosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  If we did not have the rigid lithosphere and weak asthenosphere, the atmosphere would be very different with either too much ammonia and methane or too little oxygen and water. 
B)  If we did not have the rigid lithosphere and weak asthenosphere, we would be bombarded by cosmic rays that would strip away our atmosphere. 
C)  If we did not have the rigid lithosphere and weak asthenosphere, the earth would not have plate tectonics and would be covered entirely by water. 
D)  If we did not have the rigid lithosphere and weak asthenosphere, we would be bombarded by meteorites and we would not be able to hold the moon in orbit. 
A)  If we did not have the rigid lithosphere and weak asthenosphere, the atmosphere would be very different with either too much ammonia and methane or too little oxygen and water. 
B)  If we did not have the rigid lithosphere and weak asthenosphere, we would be bombarded by cosmic rays that would strip away our atmosphere. 
C)  If we did not have the rigid lithosphere and weak asthenosphere, the earth would not have plate tectonics and would be covered entirely by water. 
D)  If we did not have the rigid lithosphere and weak asthenosphere, we would be bombarded by meteorites and we would not be able to hold the moon in orbit.

Question 20

The salinity of the oceans is ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  staying the same 
B)  fluctuating 
C)  continually increasing 
D)  continually decreasing 
A)  staying the same 
B)  fluctuating 
C)  continually increasing 
D)  continually decreasing

Exam 12: Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The waste gas released by plants as they synthesize food sugars from carbon dioxide and water is ______.

In the early history of Earth, the solid surface of the earth weathered more rapidly than now because ______ .

The Great Oxygen Event marks the time, approximately 2.5 billion years ago, when ______ .

Birds evolved from______.

Banded Iron Formations are interbedded iron oxides and chert that formed on the sea floor between 3.5 and 2 billion years ago because _______.

Bacteria that thrive in oxygen free environments are called ______bacteria.

The most common Precambrian fossils are _______ , layered mounds of calcium carbonate.

The Appalachian Mountains formed as a result of______ .

Why is the mass of Earth important for life?

An important evolutionary step for reptiles was______ .

The most common Precambrian rock type is ______rock.

A major site of sediment deposition during the Cenozoic was______.

By the late ______period, true air- breathing amphibians with fish- like heads and tails had evolved.

Through repeated collisions, planetesimals grew into eight______ .

Human ancestors developed the tendency to walk on two legs instead of four in order to accommodate______ .

Due to differentiation, the lighter, gaseous materials escaped Earth's interior and became what is called the ______atmosphere.

The largest of the stars are denoted by the letter______ .

Why is it important that we have a rigid lithosphere overlying a weak asthenosphere?

The salinity of the oceans is ______.

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Weathering, Soil, and Mass Movement

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Light, Telescopes, and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters