Question 1

Banded-iron formations,such as the one in the image below,show evidence of an

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen-poor atmosphere because all of the oxygen was dissolved into the oceans and then precipitated as iron-oxide minerals. 
B)  acidic ocean that forced iron to bond with the oxygen in the water to form iron-oxide minerals. 
C)  oxygen-poor ocean because all the oxygen was trapped in the iron-oxide minerals that make up the formation. 
D)  oxygen-rich atmosphere that forced the oceans to become oxidizing and precipitate iron-oxide minerals. 
A)  oxygen-poor atmosphere because all of the oxygen was dissolved into the oceans and then precipitated as iron-oxide minerals. 
B)  acidic ocean that forced iron to bond with the oxygen in the water to form iron-oxide minerals. 
C)  oxygen-poor ocean because all the oxygen was trapped in the iron-oxide minerals that make up the formation. 
D)  oxygen-rich atmosphere that forced the oceans to become oxidizing and precipitate iron-oxide minerals. D

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic Era.Their extinction marks the end of the Cretaceous and the beginning of the Cenozoic Era.Most geologists have concluded that the extinction of the dinosaurs happened as a result of the impact of a very large meteorite.

Question 3

What is an epicontinental sea? Why might an epicontinental sea form and retreat? What does this have to do with transgression and regression?

Accepted Answer

Epicontinental seas are shallow seas that periodically flooded large regions of continental interiors at various times in the geologic past.Epicontinental seas form when sea level rises (transgression)and they disappear when sea level drops (regression).Transgressions and regressions could have been caused by global sea level change,mountain building processes,the subsidence or uplift of continents,or the formation/melting of glaciers.

Question 4

Toward the end of the Archean Eon,

Accepted Answer

A)  the first abundant shelly organisms appeared in the fossil record. 
B)  the Earth's interior was so hot that a solid outer crust,if present,was likely being extensively remelted. 
C)  stable continental interiors,termed cratons,first formed. 
D)  the dinosaurs appeared and came to dominate large-scale terrestrial life. 
A)  the first abundant shelly organisms appeared in the fossil record. 
B)  the Earth's interior was so hot that a solid outer crust,if present,was likely being extensively remelted. 
C)  stable continental interiors,termed cratons,first formed. 
D)  the dinosaurs appeared and came to dominate large-scale terrestrial life.

Question 5

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 6

Stromatolites are layered structures produced by the activity of

Accepted Answer

A)  dinosaurs. 
B)  methanogens. 
C)  cyanobacteria. 
D)  green algae. 
A)  dinosaurs. 
B)  methanogens. 
C)  cyanobacteria. 
D)  green algae.

Question 7

The Earth became internally differentiated,with a metallic core distinct from the rocky mantle,during the

Accepted Answer

A)  Archean Eon. 
B)  Hadean Eon. 
C)  Proterozoic Eon. 
D)  Paleozoic Era. 
A)  Archean Eon. 
B)  Hadean Eon. 
C)  Proterozoic Eon. 
D)  Paleozoic Era.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

A)  India. 
B)  Australia. 
C)  Africa. 
D)  South America. 
A)  India. 
B)  Australia. 
C)  Africa. 
D)  South America.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

A)  birds 
B)  dinosaurs 
C)  mammals 
D)  crocodiles 
A)  birds 
B)  dinosaurs 
C)  mammals 
D)  crocodiles

Question 10

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.

Accepted Answer

Near the end of the Proterozoic Eon,radi

Question 11

Once an ancient mountain range is destroyed by erosion,what evidence can geologists look for to learn of its past existence?

Accepted Answer

A)  high,rugged peaks 
B)  crust containing igneous activity,deformation,and metamorphism 
C)  fossils of mountain-dwelling plants and animals 
D)  There is no detectable record of destroyed mountain ranges. 
A)  high,rugged peaks 
B)  crust containing igneous activity,deformation,and metamorphism 
C)  fossils of mountain-dwelling plants and animals 
D)  There is no detectable record of destroyed mountain ranges.

Question 12

Oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere is derived from

Accepted Answer

A)  volcanic outgassing. 
B)  photosynthesis. 
C)  animal respiration. 
D)  water from the oceans breaking down into hydrogen and oxygen during evaporation. 
A)  volcanic outgassing. 
B)  photosynthesis. 
C)  animal respiration. 
D)  water from the oceans breaking down into hydrogen and oxygen during evaporation.

Question 13

Tyrannosaurus rex,one of the largest carnivorous dinosaur species,lived during the ________ Period.

Accepted Answer

A)  Ordovician 
B)  Carboniferous 
C)  Jurassic 
D)  Cretaceous 
A)  Ordovician 
B)  Carboniferous 
C)  Jurassic 
D)  Cretaceous

Question 14

The small cells of bacteria lack nuclei and are termed

Accepted Answer

A)  prokinetic. 
B)  prokaryotic. 
C)  eukaryotic. 
D)  analgesic. 
A)  prokinetic. 
B)  prokaryotic. 
C)  eukaryotic. 
D)  analgesic.

Question 15

The fossil fish Tiktaalik made headlines in 2005 because it

Accepted Answer

A)  was preserved with a hook in its mouth and represents the oldest evidence of human fishing. 
B)  was the largest shark ever recovered from the fossil record. 
C)  represents a transitional form between lobe-finned fish and terrestrial vertebrates. 
D)  was found alive in the modern deep ocean; previously,the fish was thought to be extinct. 
A)  was preserved with a hook in its mouth and represents the oldest evidence of human fishing. 
B)  was the largest shark ever recovered from the fossil record. 
C)  represents a transitional form between lobe-finned fish and terrestrial vertebrates. 
D)  was found alive in the modern deep ocean; previously,the fish was thought to be extinct.

Question 16

Archean greenstones are formed from

Accepted Answer

A)  basalts produced at hot spots. 
B)  sand and clay eroded from volcanic areas. 
C)  the precipitation of silica in the deep sea. 
D)  metamorphosed relicts of ocean crust. 
A)  basalts produced at hot spots. 
B)  sand and clay eroded from volcanic areas. 
C)  the precipitation of silica in the deep sea. 
D)  metamorphosed relicts of ocean crust.

Question 17

A cratonic platform is

Accepted Answer

A)  a low-lying region where Precambrian rocks crop out. 
B)  a low-lying region where Precambrian rocks are covered by Phanerozoic sedimentary strata. 
C)  a region of compressed rock located behind a volcanic arc at a convergent continental margin. 
D)  synonymous with "craton." 
A)  a low-lying region where Precambrian rocks crop out. 
B)  a low-lying region where Precambrian rocks are covered by Phanerozoic sedimentary strata. 
C)  a region of compressed rock located behind a volcanic arc at a convergent continental margin. 
D)  synonymous with "craton."

Question 18

The Western Interior Seaway reached its greatest level of continental inundation during the ________ Period.

Accepted Answer

A)  Ordovician 
B)  Carboniferous 
C)  Jurassic 
D)  Cretaceous 
A)  Ordovician 
B)  Carboniferous 
C)  Jurassic 
D)  Cretaceous

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A)  1 million 
B)  200,000 
C)  75,000 
D)  12,000 
A)  1 million 
B)  200,000 
C)  75,000 
D)  12,000

Question 20

The earliest forests containing woody trees appeared during the

Accepted Answer

A)  Late Proterozoic. 
B)  Early Paleozoic (Ordovician). 
C)  Middle Paleozoic (Devonian). 
D)  Late Paleozoic (Permian). 
A)  Late Proterozoic. 
B)  Early Paleozoic (Ordovician). 
C)  Middle Paleozoic (Devonian). 
D)  Late Paleozoic (Permian).

Exam 13: A Biography of the Earth

Banded-iron formations,such as the one in the image below,show evidence of an

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

What is an epicontinental sea? Why might an epicontinental sea form and retreat? What does this have to do with transgression and regression?

Toward the end of the Archean Eon,

The first mammals appeared during the ________ Period.

Stromatolites are layered structures produced by the activity of

The Earth became internally differentiated,with a metallic core distinct from the rocky mantle,during the

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

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

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.

Once an ancient mountain range is destroyed by erosion,what evidence can geologists look for to learn of its past existence?

Oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere is derived from

Tyrannosaurus rex,one of the largest carnivorous dinosaur species,lived during the ________ Period.

The small cells of bacteria lack nuclei and are termed

The fossil fish Tiktaalik made headlines in 2005 because it

Archean greenstones are formed from

A cratonic platform is

The Western Interior Seaway reached its greatest level of continental inundation during the ________ Period.

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

The earliest forests containing woody trees appeared during the

Cosmology and the Birth of the Earth

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Drifting Continents and Spreading Seas

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

Pages of Earths Past: Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism: a Process of Change

The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

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

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

Squeezing Power From a Stone: Energy Resources

Riches in Rock: Mineral Resources

Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements

Streams and Floods: the Geology of Running Water

Restless Realm: Oceans and Coasts

A Hidden Reserve: Groundwater

An Envelope of Gas: the Earths Atmosphere and Climate

Dry Regions: the Geology of Deserts

Amazing Ice: Glaciers and Ice Ages

Global Change in the Earth System

Introducing Rocks

a Surface Veneer: Sediments and Soils

the Rock Cycle in the Earth System

the Earths Interior, Revisited: Seismic Layering, Gravity, and the Magnetic Field

Memories of Past Life: Fossils and Evolution

Ever-Changing Landscapes and the Hydrologic Cycle

Prelude: and Just What Is Geology

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