AnswersEarth and Space ScienceThe Earth's History

The Earth's History — Test Answers

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1
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What does the presence of Glossopteris fossils in Antarctica suggest?

A
Glossopteris plants could grow in icy conditions.
B
Antarctica was once warmer and located closer to the equator.
C
The fossils were transported to Antarctica by ocean currents.
D
Wind and water currents carried Glossopteris seeds all over the globe.
2
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What does the lack of layering in meteorites suggest about their geologic history?

A
They are formed from the Earth's core.
B
They underwent extreme tectonic activity.
C
They were exposed to oceanic weathering.
D
They formed before differentiation occurred.
3

How does the iridium layer help geologists correlate rock layers across different locations?

A
Because of its unique properties, it is a key bed that can be easily identified in many locations worldwide.
B
The presence of this layer proves that all living organisms died during the impact, and new types of organisms appeared in their place.
C
It can be used as a key bed because it is very thick and is surrounded by the same rock type in all locations.
D
It is the only layer that contains fossils of both dinosaurs and mammals in all of these locations.
4

Choose the correct answer from each drop-down menu to complete the statements.

Answer:

declined sharply|increased gradually

5

What geological process most likely led to the formation of microcontinents around 3.8 billion years ago?

A
the formation of the Moon
B
the rise in oxygen levels
C
the cooling and formation of crust
D
an increase in solar radiation
6

A different scientist uses radiometric dating techniques and discovers that the material in rock layer E is 60 million years old. Determine whether each statement is supported by the evidence in the model and from the radiometric dating.

Answer not available
8

Which question could best be answered by using this model?

A
Which layer is most likely to contain fossils useful for relative dating?
B
Is rock layer F older than rock layer E?
C
Why does rock layer E have a different orientation than rock layers A-D?
D
How long has the lake above rock layer G existed?
9

Determine whether each statement about horse evolution is true or false. Select the correct answer in each row.

Answer not available
10

Choose the correct answer from each drop-down menu to complete the statements.

Answer:

land|Transitional|hind limbs

11

What is a plausible reason why evolutionary radiations tend to follow mass extinctions?

A
Surviving organisms have access to more resources than were available to them before the extinction event.
B
Mass extinctions wipe out all life except the simplest forms, so evolution must start over again to generate new life forms.
C
Extinction events cause improvements in climate that make the planet more suitable for a wider variety of life forms.
D
Organisms that become extinct are not complex or diverse, and organisms that survive extinction events are.
12

A paleontologist discovers a fossilized tree trunk in a sedimentary rock layer. They estimate the tree trunk is less than 50,000 years old. Which dating method would be the most appropriate for determining its age?

A
uranium-lead dating
B
relative dating
C
dendrochronology
D
radiocarbon dating
13

Choose whether each statement is true or false.

Answer not available
14

A paleontologist discovers tropical plant fossils in rock layers in northern Canada. These fossils are similar to plants that grow only in warm, humid environments today. What do these fossils tell us about the past climate in Canada?

A
Canada used to be covered by a shallow ocean.
B
Canada was once covered by desert and sand dunes.
C
Canada has always been cold and snowy.
D
Canada once had a warm, moist tropical climate.
15

Click and drag these events into order. Place the first event at the top of the list and the last event on the bottom.

Answer not available
16

Geologists studying the Jack Hills in Western Australia found 4.4 billion-year-old zircon crystals embedded in rocks. These zircons indicate the presence of solid rock and possibly liquid water. Choose the correct answer in each row to indicate whether each statement is true or false.

Answer not available
17

Select the dating method that would be most appropriate for each material.

Answer not available
18

How can varves be used to construct a timeline of environmental changes?

A
Varves can be correlated between distant locations to provide a continuous record of climate change throughout Earth's history.
B
Varves record annual freezes and thaws and contain bubbles of air that can tell us about how the atmosphere changed.
C
Varves contain radioactive isotopes that decay at a steady rate and can be used to determine the relative ages of sediment layers.
D
Varves record seasonal deposition of sediments in glaciers and lakes and contain pollen that tells us about past environments.
19

Reference the Geologic Time Scale in the handbook. Determine whether each statement is true or false.

Answer not available
20

Drag the geologic time intervals in order from largest to smallest. Place the longest interval at the top and the shortest at the bottom.

Answer not available
21

What type of evidence supports the theory that the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction was caused by an asteroid strike?

A
banded-iron formations younger than 66 Ma
B
impact crater and tsunami deposits at 66 Ma
C
stromatolite fossils older than 66 Ma
D
coal seams both older and younger than 66 Ma

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