Exam 12: Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

Which era is sometimes called the "age of dinosaurs?"

Many of the most ancient fossils are found in a hard, dense, chemical rock called ________.

The most economically important resource in Cenozoic strata of the Gulf Coast is ________.

Which era of geologic time spans about 88 percent of Earth's history?

By the ________ period, large tropical swamps extended across North America, eventually becoming the vast coal deposits of today.

During the Cenozoic era, the eastern and western margins of North America experienced similar geologic events.

Which one of the following represents the greatest expanse of geological time?

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

Which type of bacteria thrive in environments that lack free oxygen?

The decay of radioactive atoms, coupled with heat released by colliding particles, produced at least some melting of Earth's early interior.

Due to differentiation, the lighter, gaseous materials escaped Earth's interior and became the primitive atmosphere.

During the process of ________, plants release the gas ________.

The ________ were the dominant trees of the Mesozoic era.

Mammals became the dominant land animals during the ________ era.

We are now living in the Mesozoic era.

Mammals replaced reptiles as the dominant land animals in the Cenozoic era.

The bodies of our solar system began forming about 5 billion years ago from an enormous cloud of minute rocky fragments and gases.

Why is it so difficult to interpret the geology of the Precambrian? How are these difficulties or limitations different in the younger eras of the Phanerozoic Eon? Finally, are there unique rocks or events in the Precambrian that are not present in younger rocks?

The earliest land plants had large, broad leafs to efficiently intercept sunlight.

Which period is known as the "age of fishes"?