The Paleozoic Era
Practice Test
1.
The energy and nutrients necessary for the origin of life can be found near __________.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
trenches
b.
magma chambers
c.
transform faults
d.
hydrothermal vents
2.
What type of technology is used to map the ocean floor?
a.
GPS
b.
UV radiation
c.
sonar
d.
submarines
3.
What was the most important development of plants during the Devonian?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
roots
b.
photosynthesis
c.
seeds
d.
food
4.
Why is the age of a zircon grain older than the age of the sandstone that it was found in?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
because of the principle of included fragments
b.
It is much less stable than the sandstone.
c.
It is much more stable than the sandstone.
d.
because of the principle of superposition
5.
What type of deposit is the Pennsylvanian Period known for?
SC.G.2.4.1
a.
shale
b.
coal
c.
copper
d.
conglomerate
6.
Why is the beginning of the Cambrian called the Cambrian explosion?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
because there was a significant increase in the diversity of life
b.
because there were only active margins
c.
because there were still a significant number of meteor impacts
d.
because of the intense volcanic activity
7.
What zone lies between 23.5[degrees sign] and 66.5 [degrees sign] north and south of the equator?
SC.D.1.4.1
a.
temperate zones
b.
tropics
c.
tropic of Cancer
d.
polar zones
8.
What region are meteorological normals correctly describing?
SC.D.1.4.1
a.
All the area within a 50 mile radius of where the meteorologic data were collected.
b.
The entire state where the meteorologic data were collected.
c.
Only the specific place where the meteorologic data were collected.
d.
Only the specific climate zone where the meteorologic data were collected.
9.
What characterizes an index fossil?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
abundant
b.
all of these are correct
c.
widely distributed geographically
d.
easily recognized
10.
In what tectonic event did Avalonia collide with Laurasia?
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
Caledonian Orogeny
b.
Taconic Orogeny
c.
Acadian Orogeny
d.
Larimide Orogeny
11.
What continent existed around 1.8 billion years ago that now forms the core of modern North America?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
Rodinia
b.
Pangaea
c.
Laurentia
d.
North America
12.
What supercontinent is shown in the figure?
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
Gondwana
b.
Rodinia
c.
Laurentia
d.
Pangaea
13.
The oldest rocks on Earth are __________.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
3.96 to 3.8 billion years old
b.
1.6 to 1.8 million years old
c.
3.5 billion years old
d.
1 to 2 billion years old
14.
A _________ is the unaltered remains of a once-living organism.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
trace fossil
b.
mold of a fossil
c.
fossil with permineralization
d.
fossil with original preservation
15.
The __________ of an area is its ancient geographic setting.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
paleoecology
b.
geology
c.
paleogeography
d.
morphology
16.
Fossils of __________ from late Proterozoic rocks are found in all parts of the world.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
the Burgess Shale fauna
b.
corals
c.
the Ediacaran fauna
d.
trilobites
17.
What process is primarily responsible for the formation of Earth's oceans?
SC.D.1.4.4
a.
sea-floor spreading
b.
outgassing
c.
evolution
d.
plate tectonics
18.
What was the original composition of Earth's atmosphere?
SC.D.1.4.4
a.
ammonia and hydrogen
b.
nitrogen and carbon dioxide
c.
water vapor and methane
d.
hydrogen and helium
19.
What evidence supports the hypothesis that Earth is 4.6 billion years?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
the age of meteorites
b.
all of the above answers are correct
c.
the age of zircon grains in granitic crustal rocks
d.
the age of rocks from the Moon
20.
When did the first modern oceanographic expedition occur?
a.
early 1950s
b.
late 1800s
c.
1500s
d.
early 1800s
