Question 1

Much of the early hydrogen and helium escaped the earth's atmosphere into space because ________.

Accepted Answer

A) The earth's gravity was weak 
B) The earth's gravity was strong 
C) Solar winds were strong 
D) Solar winds were weak 
E) All of the above 
A) The earth's gravity was weak 
B) The earth's gravity was strong 
C) Solar winds were strong 
D) Solar winds were weak 
E) All of the above

Question 2

Antarctica became glaciated because ________.

Accepted Answer

A) it moved to a position over the south pole 
B) ocean circulation changed with the northward movement of South America 
C) ocean circulation changed with the southward movement of South America 
D) global climate changed with the formation of the Himalayan Mountains 
E) a meteorite impact changed the earth's tilt axis 
A) it moved to a position over the south pole 
B) ocean circulation changed with the northward movement of South America 
C) ocean circulation changed with the southward movement of South America 
D) global climate changed with the formation of the Himalayan Mountains 
E) a meteorite impact changed the earth's tilt axis

Question 3

The development of ________,organisms that reproduce sexually and have cells that contain nuclei,may have increased dramatically the rate of evolutionary change.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The development of ________,organisms that reproduce sexually...

Question 4

What would have happened to the earth if it were 10% farther from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) Our atmosphere would consist mainly of carbon dioxide. 
B) Our atmosphere would consist mainly of nitrogen. 
C) Liquid water and the water cycle would not exist. 
D) Our Sun would have burned out after a few hundred million years so life would not evolve. 
A) Our atmosphere would consist mainly of carbon dioxide. 
B) Our atmosphere would consist mainly of nitrogen. 
C) Liquid water and the water cycle would not exist. 
D) Our Sun would have burned out after a few hundred million years so life would not evolve.

Question 5

Mammals became the dominant land animals during the ________ era.

Accepted Answer

A) Pleistocene 
B) Cenozoic 
C) Cretaceous 
D) Mesozoic 
E) Paleozoic 
A) Pleistocene 
B) Cenozoic 
C) Cretaceous 
D) Mesozoic 
E) Paleozoic

Question 6

An important evolutionary step for reptiles was ________.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

The salinity of the oceans is continuously increasing due to weathering of rocks and the transport of the weathering products to the oceans.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

During the ________ era,the westward-moving North American plate began to override the Pacific plate,eventually causing the tectonic activity that ultimately formed the mountains of western North America.

Accepted Answer

A) Precambrian 
B) Paleozoic 
C) Mesozoic 
D) Cenozoic 
E) none of the above 
A) Precambrian 
B) Paleozoic 
C) Mesozoic 
D) Cenozoic 
E) none of the above

Question 9

Most ________ rocks are devoid of fossils,which hinders correlation of rocks.

Accepted Answer

A) Precambrian 
B) Paleozoic 
C) Mesozoic 
D) Cenozoic 
E) Mesozoic and Cenozoic 
A) Precambrian 
B) Paleozoic 
C) Mesozoic 
D) Cenozoic 
E) Mesozoic and Cenozoic

Question 10

Which of the following is modern descendant of the Gymnosperm?

Accepted Answer

A) pine trees 
B) tulips 
C) turkeys 
D) crocodiles 
E) sharks 
A) pine trees 
B) tulips 
C) turkeys 
D) crocodiles 
E) sharks

Question 11

Why is the mass of the earth important to maintain life as we know it?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

The modern oceans are a major repository for the greenhouse gas ________,which some organisms utilize to make their shells.

Accepted Answer

A) SiO2 
B) Ammonia 
C) Limestone 
D) CO2 
E) Iron oxide 
A) SiO2 
B) Ammonia 
C) Limestone 
D) CO2 
E) Iron oxide

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of By the late ________ period,true air-breathing amphibians...

Question 14

Which of the following is not a hypothesis for how life began?

Accepted Answer

A) Methane and hydrogen sulfide from deep-sea hydrothermal vents and hot springs like those at Yellowstone National Park provided the necessary materials. 
B) Asteroids and comets brought amino acids to Earth. 
C) Outgassing and related volcanic materials brought proto amino acids to the surface of the earth. 
D) Methane and ammonia in the early atmosphere combined with the help of lightning or ultraviolet light to produce the first amino acids. 
A) Methane and hydrogen sulfide from deep-sea hydrothermal vents and hot springs like those at Yellowstone National Park provided the necessary materials. 
B) Asteroids and comets brought amino acids to Earth. 
C) Outgassing and related volcanic materials brought proto amino acids to the surface of the earth. 
D) Methane and ammonia in the early atmosphere combined with the help of lightning or ultraviolet light to produce the first amino acids.

Question 15

Why is the molten metallic outer core and the magnetic field important to life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

When Earth's primitive surface cooled below water's boiling point,torrential rains slowly filled low areas,forming oceans.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Sea level is constant over long periods of the earth's history,and that is why it is used as a major datum for mapping elevations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Following the reptilian extinctions at the close of the Mesozoic,two groups of mammals,the marsupials and ________,evolved.

Accepted Answer

A) eukaryotes 
B) cephalopods 
C) trilobites 
D) placentals 
E) stromatolites 
A) eukaryotes 
B) cephalopods 
C) trilobites 
D) placentals 
E) stromatolites

Question 19

The supercontinent of Pangaea formed during the late Mesozoic era.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

A) Mesozoic 
B) Cenozoic 
C) Precambrian 
D) Paleozoic 
A) Mesozoic 
B) Cenozoic 
C) Precambrian 
D) Paleozoic

Exam 12: Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

Much of the early hydrogen and helium escaped the earth's atmosphere into space because ________.

Antarctica became glaciated because ________.

The development of ________,organisms that reproduce sexually and have cells that contain nuclei,may have increased dramatically the rate of evolutionary change.

What would have happened to the earth if it were 10% farther from the Sun?

Mammals became the dominant land animals during the ________ era.

An important evolutionary step for reptiles was ________.

The salinity of the oceans is continuously increasing due to weathering of rocks and the transport of the weathering products to the oceans.

During the ________ era,the westward-moving North American plate began to override the Pacific plate,eventually causing the tectonic activity that ultimately formed the mountains of western North America.

Most ________ rocks are devoid of fossils,which hinders correlation of rocks.

Which of the following is modern descendant of the Gymnosperm?

Why is the mass of the earth important to maintain life as we know it?

The modern oceans are a major repository for the greenhouse gas ________,which some organisms utilize to make their shells.

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

Which of the following is not a hypothesis for how life began?

Why is the molten metallic outer core and the magnetic field important to life on Earth?

When Earth's primitive surface cooled below water's boiling point,torrential rains slowly filled low areas,forming oceans.

Sea level is constant over long periods of the earth's history,and that is why it is used as a major datum for mapping elevations.

Following the reptilian extinctions at the close of the Mesozoic,two groups of mammals,the marsupials and ________,evolved.

The supercontinent of Pangaea formed during the late Mesozoic era.

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

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Weathering, soil, and Mass Wasting

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, deserts, and Wind

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

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 Weather

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origin of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Light,astronomical Observations,and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters