Question 1

The first supercontinent, Rodinia, formed at the end of the

Accepted Answer

A) Hadean. 
B) Precambrian. 
C) Paleozoic 
D) Archean. 
A) Hadean. 
B) Precambrian. 
C) Paleozoic 
D) Archean.

Question 2

Some researchers have suggested the use of the term __________ to denote the most recent part of the geologic record, which has been characterized by rapid changes in the atmosphere, landscape, and biodiversity as a result of human actions.

Accepted Answer

A) Holocene 
B) Homosapian 
C) Anthropocene 
D) Neogene 
A) Holocene 
B) Homosapian 
C) Anthropocene 
D) Neogene

Question 3

Which of the following images contains evidence of the earliest life to form on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)    
B)    
C)    
D)    
A)    
B)    
C)    
D)

Question 4

The Great Oxygenation Event occurred ~2.4 Ga and forced large amounts of __________ to precipitate out of the ocean.

Accepted Answer

A) oxygenated halite 
B) iron minerals 
C) carbonate minerals 
D) Ediacaran fauna 
A) oxygenated halite 
B) iron minerals 
C) carbonate minerals 
D) Ediacaran fauna

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Archean. 
B)  Hadean. 
C) Proterozoic. 
D) Phanerozoic 
A)  Archean. 
B)  Hadean. 
C) Proterozoic. 
D) Phanerozoic

Question 6

The earliest continental crust likely had a __________ composition.

Accepted Answer

A) felsic 
B) intermediate 
C) mafic 
D) ultramafic 
A) felsic 
B) intermediate 
C) mafic 
D) ultramafic

Question 7

Why are rocks formed before 3.85 Ga so rare?

Accepted Answer

It is possible that rocks older than 4 b

Question 8

It took so long for true crust to form on Earth because

Accepted Answer

A) Earth had to complete the differentiation process before rocks could form. 
B) temperatures were so high that any crust that did form was quickly remelted. 
C) there was no atmosphere on the planet and thus no air to cool the crust. 
D) heat from the creation of the magnetic field kept the surface molten. 
A) Earth had to complete the differentiation process before rocks could form. 
B) temperatures were so high that any crust that did form was quickly remelted. 
C) there was no atmosphere on the planet and thus no air to cool the crust. 
D) heat from the creation of the magnetic field kept the surface molten.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

Fossils are evidence of past life and th

Question 10

The first pieces of true continental crust formed in the __________ Eon.

Accepted Answer

A)  Archean 
B)  Hadean 
C) Proterozoic 
D) Phanerozoic 
A)  Archean 
B)  Hadean 
C) Proterozoic 
D) Phanerozoic

Question 11

During the Hadean Eon, Earth's surface was mostly

Accepted Answer

A) vapor. 
B) cratered. 
C) molten. 
D) frozen. 
A) vapor. 
B) cratered. 
C) molten. 
D) frozen.

Question 12

Describe the circumstances that led to the formation of true continental crust during the Archean.

Accepted Answer

During the Hadean, Earth was too hot to

Question 13

Which eon saw the first single-celled organism?

Accepted Answer

A) Proterozoic 
B) Archean 
C) Hadean 
D) Cenozoic 
A) Proterozoic 
B) Archean 
C) Hadean 
D) Cenozoic

Question 14

The __________ occurred possibly because of the creation of many new ecological niches that formed as a result of the breakup of Pannotia.

Accepted Answer

A) Cambrian explosion 
B) Phanerozoic expansion 
C) Cambrian diversification 
D) Paleozoic diversification 
A) Cambrian explosion 
B) Phanerozoic expansion 
C) Cambrian diversification 
D) Paleozoic diversification

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT true of Earth's glacial history?

Accepted Answer

A) The Earth's climate has cooled enough in the past for large ice sheets to cover expanses of the continents. 
B) A glacial maximum at the end of the Proterozoic resulted in the great oxygenation event. 
C) The term snowball Earth refers to a time in which Earth's surface was almost entirely covered in glacial ice. 
D) Periods of increased glaciation in Earth's history are correlative with times of lower sea levels. 
A) The Earth's climate has cooled enough in the past for large ice sheets to cover expanses of the continents. 
B) A glacial maximum at the end of the Proterozoic resulted in the great oxygenation event. 
C) The term snowball Earth refers to a time in which Earth's surface was almost entirely covered in glacial ice. 
D) Periods of increased glaciation in Earth's history are correlative with times of lower sea levels.

Question 16

Which of the following provide evidence of past life and thus help geologists understand how life, and the environments they lived in, changed throughout Earth's history?

Accepted Answer

A) igneous rocks 
B) fossils 
C) faults 
D) strata 
A) igneous rocks 
B) fossils 
C) faults 
D) strata

Question 17

The first mammals appeared during the __________ Period.

Accepted Answer

A) Cambrian 
B) Devonian 
C) Permian 
D) Triassic 
A) Cambrian 
B) Devonian 
C) Permian 
D) Triassic

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT an example of a cyclic change in the Earth system?

Accepted Answer

A) rock cycle 
B) sea-level cycle 
C) supercontinent cycle 
D) faunal succession cycle 
A) rock cycle 
B) sea-level cycle 
C) supercontinent cycle 
D) faunal succession cycle

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Coast Ranges. 
B)  Basin and Range Province. 
C) Colorado Plateau. 
D) Columbia Plateau. 
A)  Coast Ranges. 
B)  Basin and Range Province. 
C) Colorado Plateau. 
D) Columbia Plateau.

Question 20

Why did banded iron formations form between 2.4 and 1.8 Ga?

Accepted Answer

A) The oceans became oversaturated in iron. 
B) The oceans began to absorb large amounts of oxygen. 
C) Cyanobacteria stopped using them as nutrients. 
D) A mass extinction released iron into the oceans. 
A) The oceans became oversaturated in iron. 
B) The oceans began to absorb large amounts of oxygen. 
C) Cyanobacteria stopped using them as nutrients. 
D) A mass extinction released iron into the oceans.

Exam 10: A Biography of Earth

The first supercontinent, Rodinia, formed at the end of the

Some researchers have suggested the use of the term __________ to denote the most recent part of the geologic record, which has been characterized by rapid changes in the atmosphere, landscape, and biodiversity as a result of human actions.

Which of the following images contains evidence of the earliest life to form on Earth?

The Great Oxygenation Event occurred ~2.4 Ga and forced large amounts of __________ to precipitate out of the ocean.

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

The earliest continental crust likely had a __________ composition.

Why are rocks formed before 3.85 Ga so rare?

It took so long for true crust to form on Earth because

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

The first pieces of true continental crust formed in the __________ Eon.

During the Hadean Eon, Earth's surface was mostly

Describe the circumstances that led to the formation of true continental crust during the Archean.

Which eon saw the first single-celled organism?

The __________ occurred possibly because of the creation of many new ecological niches that formed as a result of the breakup of Pannotia.

Which of the following is NOT true of Earth's glacial history?

Which of the following provide evidence of past life and thus help geologists understand how life, and the environments they lived in, changed throughout Earth's history?

The first mammals appeared during the __________ Period.

Which of the following is NOT an example of a cyclic change in the Earth system?

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

Why did banded iron formations form between 2.4 and 1.8 Ga?

The Earth in Context

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

A Process of Change: Metamorphism and the Rock Cycle

Crags, Cracks, and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

Shaping the Earths Surface: Landscapes, the Hydrologic Cycle, and Mass Wasting

Freshwater: Streams, Lakes, and Groundwater

Extreme Realms: Desert and Glacial Landscapes

Ocean Waters: the Blue of the Blue Marble

Marine Geology: the Study of Ocean Basins and Coasts

The Air We Breathe: Introducing Earths Atmosphere

Winds of the World: the Earths Major Weather Systems

Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and Local Weather Systems

Climate and Climate Change

Our Solar System and Beyond

Our Neighborhood in Space

The Sun, Stars, and Deep Space

Prelude: Welcome to Earth Science

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