The Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras
Practice Test
1.
The Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest of the United States are the result of __________.
a.
extensional forces that caused the Basin and Range Province
b.
an oceanic plate that was subducted under a continental plate
c.
a continental plate that moved over the East Pacific Rise
d.
two contintental plates that collided
2.
According to the tables, which is the oldest organism?
a.
Cypridea
b.
Aeger
c.
Crateraster
d.
Pleurotomaria
3.
The second orogeny in western North America was characterized by __________.
a.
low-angle thrust faults and folds
b.
vertical uplifts
c.
igneous intrusions
d.
folding
4.
The breakup of Pangaea resulted in __________.
a.
the formation of a supercontinent
b.
the formation of the Appalachian Mountains
c.
the formation of the Pacific Ocean
d.
the formation of the Atlantic Ocean
5.
What is the Mesozoic commonly referred to?
a.
the Permo-Triassic Extinction age
b.
the Age of Reptiles
c.
the Age of Humans
d.
the Age of the First Mammals
6.
Which periods are in the Mesozoic Era?
a.
the Jurassic, Triassic, and Ordovician Periods
b.
the Cretaceous, Tertiary, and Ordovician Periods
c.
the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods
d.
the Triassic, Permian, Ordovician, and Cretaceous Periods
7.
During the Mesozoic Era, the sea level __________.
a.
continuously rose
b.
rose in the Triassic and Jurassic but dropped in the Cretaceous
c.
dropped at the end of the Triassic but rose throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous
d.
constantly rose and flooded North America
8.
What is a sauropod dinosaur?
a.
a herbivorous dinosaur
b.
a quadrupedal dinosaur
c.
all of the above
d.
one type of saurischian dinosaur
9.
How did the Himalaya mountains form?
a.
a continent-to-continent collision
b.
hot spot activity
c.
uplifted normal fault blocks
d.
an oceanic plate that was subducted under a continental plate
10.
According to the map, which area was least likely to feel the effect of glaciation during the most recent Ice Ages?
a.
Texas
b.
the Northeast
c.
the Great Lakes region
d.
Canada
11.
According to the figures, which is the only organism that lived through the Cenozoic Era?
a.
Mytilus
b.
Aeger
c.
Crateraster
d.
Pleurotomaria
12.
What did all ornithischian dinosaurs have in common?
a.
They were large.
b.
They were carnivores.
c.
They were bipedal.
d.
All were herbivores.
13.
Use the figures to place the following organisms in order from least recent to most recent.
a.
Gonioteuthis, Aeger, Crateraster
b.
Ager, Gonioteuthis, Crateraster
c.
Aeger, Crateraster, Gonioteuthis
d.
Crateraster, Aeger, Gonioteuthis
14.
What is the modern fauna?
a.
all of the above
b.
marine organisms such as bony fishes, aquatic reptiles, sharks, and aquatic mammals
c.
marine organisms such as crabs, lobsters, snails, and clams
d.
marine organisms that evolved during the Mesozoic Era
15.
Hominids and hominoids are primates. What characteristic defines the difference between the two?
a.
Hominids have smaller brains.
b.
Hominoids have greater manual dexterity.
c.
Hominids are bipedal.
d.
Hominoids have smaller canine teeth.
16.
When was the northern hemisphere ice age?
a.
the late Pleistocene only
b.
the late Pliocene through the Pleistocene
c.
the Holocene only
d.
the Miocene and early Pleistocene
17.
What type of flowering plant appeared during the Eocene?
a.
grasses
b.
cycads
c.
angiosperms
d.
conifers
18.
The last major orogeny in western North America was characterized by __________.
a.
vertical uplifts
b.
low-angle faults and folds
c.
igneous intrusions
d.
folding
19.
What is a pterosaur?
a.
a swimming reptile that resembles a modern dolphin
b.
a modern-day turtle that evolved in the Mesozic Era
c.
a flying reptile that had light, hollow bones like modern birds
d.
a mammal that lived in the Mesozoic grasslands
20.
The oldest orogeny in western North America was characterized by __________.
a.
igneous intrusions
b.
thrust faulting
c.
thrust faulting and igneous intrusions
d.
folding
