Earth Science, 12E (Tarbuck/Lutgens)

Earth Science, 12e (Tarbuck/Lutgens)

Chapter 12: Earth's Evolution through Geologic Time

Which of the following gases was NOT part of Earth's original atmosphere?

water vapor

carbon dioxide

nitrogen

oxygen

both A and C

Answer:

Diff: 1

The most common Precambrian fossils are ______, layered mounds of calcium carbonate.

prokaryotes

chert

trilobites

stromatolites

none of these

Answer:

Diff: 1

The ______era is known as the "age of flowering plants."

Precambrian

Paleozoic

Cenozoic

Devonian

Silurian

Answer:

Diff: 1

______are among the most widespread Paleozoic fossils.

Stromatolites

Birds

Dinosaurs

Salamanders

Brachiopods

Answer:

Diff: 1

As the solar system began forming, the first materials to condense into small particles were ______and nickel.

oxygen

silicon

nitrogen

carbon

none of these

Answer:

Diff: 1

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

Mesozoic

Cenozoic

Precambrian

Paleozoic

Answer:

Diff: 1

During the early Paleozoic era, South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, India, and perhaps China comprised the vast southern continent of ______.

Europe

Laurasia

Gondwanaland

Antindia

Pangaea

Answer:

Diff: 1

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

aerobic

placental

anaerobic

foraminifera

photosynthetic

Answer:

Diff: 1

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

Precambrian

Paleozoic

Mesozoic

Cenozoic

none of above

Answer:

Diff: 1

10)

The ______means "the Sun in the making."

solar disk

presun

nebular Sun

sol

protosun

Answer:

Diff: 1

11)

Mammals became the dominant land animals during the ______era.

Pleistocene

Cenozoic

Cretaceous

Mesozoic

Paleozoic

Answer:

Diff: 1

12)

The ______period was a time of major extinctions, including 75 percent of amphibian families.

Jurassic

Mississippian

Permian

Pennsylvanian

Devonian

Answer:

Diff: 1

13)

The beginning of the Cambrian period marks an important event in animal evolution — the appearance of organisms with ______.

wings

cells

hard parts

vertebrae

none of the above

Answer:

Diff: 1

14)

The era of "ancient life" is the ______era.

Cenozoic

Precambrian

Neolithic

Mesozoic

none of these

Answer:

Diff: 1

15)

Due to a virtual absence of land plants and certain animals, fossil fuels are notably absent in ______rocks.

Precambrian

Paleozoic

Mesozoic

Cenozoic

Paleozoic and Mesozoic

Answer:

Diff: 1

16)

The major source of free oxygen in the atmosphere is from ______.

molten rock

water

green plants

silicate minerals

glaciers

Answer:

Diff: 1

17)

The age of Earth is about ______.

2 billion years

4.6 million years

16 million years

4.5 billion years

195 million years

Answer:

Diff: 1

18)

The Precambrian rock record indicates that much of Earth's first free oxygen combined with ______dissolved in water.