The Paleozoic Era
Practice Test
1.
A _________ is the unaltered remains of a once-living organism.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
trace fossil
b.
fossil with permineralization
c.
fossil with original preservation
d.
mold of a fossil
2.
How are microcontinents fused together?
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
by molten rock
b.
the erosion of mountains
c.
by seams called faults
d.
by seams called orogens
3.
What characterizes an index fossil?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
widely distributed geographically
b.
easily recognized
c.
all of these are correct
d.
abundant
4.
The oldest rocks on Earth are __________.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
3.5 billion years old
b.
1 to 2 billion years old
c.
3.96 to 3.8 billion years old
d.
1.6 to 1.8 million years old
5.
Which vertical sequence is evidence of a transgression?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
limestone-basalt-shale
b.
limestone-shale-sandstone
c.
sandstone-shale-limestone
d.
sandstone-limestone-sandstone
6.
A vertical sequence of limestone-shale-sandstone is evidence of __________.
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
a transgression
b.
an orogenic event
c.
a passive margin
d.
a regression
7.
Why don't Archean and Proterozoic rocks have iron oxides?
SC.D.1.4.4
a.
there wasn't any free oxygen in the atmosphere
b.
there wasn't any iron in rocks of that age
c.
there was too much iron to be oxidized
d.
there weren't any stromatolites at that time
8.
When did the first modern oceanographic expedition occur?
a.
early 1800s
b.
late 1800s
c.
early 1950s
d.
1500s
9.
A __________ is a repeating sequence of sedimentary facies that record change in sea level.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
delta
b.
glacial till
c.
clastic wedge
d.
cyclothem
10.
What kind of margins was Laurentia surrounded by during the Cambrian Period?
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
passive margins
b.
transform margins
c.
active margins
d.
orogenic margins
11.
How were asteroids and meteorites a heat source for Precambrian Earth?
SC.D.1.4.1
a.
Their gravitational contraction generated energy.
b.
Their impact on Earth generated energy.
c.
Their bombardment of Earth caused them to sink to the core.
d.
Their radioactive decay of isotopes generated energy.
12.
What type of technology is used to map the ocean floor?
a.
UV radiation
b.
sonar
c.
GPS
d.
submarines
13.
What did organisms of Earth's first 4 billion years have in common?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
They were multi-celled organisms.
b.
They were single-celled organisms.
c.
They breathed oxygen.
d.
They were photosynthetic.
14.
What is one possible reason for the mass extinction during the late Devonian?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
global cooling
b.
sea-level rise
c.
tectonics
d.
global warming
15.
What minimum length of time is used to make normals for an area?
SC.D.1.4.1
a.
30 years
b.
10 years
c.
1 year
d.
30 months
16.
According to the map, which areas of North America were most affected by the formation of the Canadian Shield?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
the Southwest
b.
Alaska
c.
the Midwest
d.
the Pacific Coast
17.
According to the map, which climates are found near the poles?
SC.D.1.4.1
a.
semiarid and arid
b.
tundra and ice caps
c.
tropical wet and tropical dry
d.
highlands and uplands
18.
Which type of cell shown in the figure existed first?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
A
b.
both came into existence at the same time
c.
B
d.
it is impossible to tell
19.
What was the original composition of Earth's atmosphere?
SC.D.1.4.4
a.
water vapor and methane
b.
ammonia and hydrogen
c.
nitrogen and carbon dioxide
d.
hydrogen and helium
20.
When did plants start to colonize land?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
Early Cambrian
b.
Late Holocene
c.
Late Devonian
d.
Late Ordovician
