The Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras
Practice Test
1.
The second orogeny in western North America was characterized by __________.
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
igneous intrusions
b.
low-angle thrust faults and folds
c.
vertical uplifts
d.
folding
2.
The Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest of the United States are the result of __________.
SC.D.1.4
a.
two contintental plates that collided
b.
extensional forces that caused the Basin and Range Province
c.
a continental plate that moved over the East Pacific Rise
d.
an oceanic plate that was subducted under a continental plate
3.
"Hominids and hominoids are primates. What characteristic defines the difference between the two?
SC.D.1.4.4
SC.F.2.4.3
a.
Hominoids have smaller canine teeth.
b.
Hominoids have greater manual dexterity.
c.
Hominids have smaller brains.
d.
Hominids are bipedal.
4.
What is a sauropod dinosaur?
SC.D.1.4.4
a.
a quadrupedal dinosaur
b.
all of the above
c.
one type of saurischian dinosaur
d.
a herbivorous dinosaur
5.
The oldest orogeny in western North America was characterized by __________.
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
folding
b.
igneous intrusions
c.
thrust faulting
d.
thrust faulting and igneous intrusions
6.
What caused Pangaea to break apart?
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
compressional forces that pushed Pangaea to the north
b.
a heat source beneath the continental crust
c.
lithospheric compression and thrust faulting
d.
an upwelling on the western side of Pangaea
7.
During the Mesozoic Era, the sea level __________.
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
dropped at the end of the Triassic but rose throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous
b.
rose in the Triassic and Jurassic but dropped in the Cretaceous
c.
continuously rose
d.
constantly rose and flooded North America
8.
What did all ornithischian dinosaurs have in common?
SC.D.1.4.4
a.
All were herbivores.
b.
They were bipedal.
c.
They were carnivores.
d.
They were large.
9.
How did the Himalaya mountains form?
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
a continent-to-continent collision
b.
uplifted normal fault blocks
c.
hot spot activity
d.
an oceanic plate that was subducted under a continental plate
10.
What is the Mesozoic commonly referred to?
SC.D.1.4.4
a.
the Permo-Triassic Extinction age
b.
the Age of the First Mammals
c.
the Age of Reptiles
d.
the Age of Humans
11.
What is a pterosaur?
SC.D.1.4.4
a.
a flying reptile that had light, hollow bones like modern birds
b.
a mammal that lived in the Mesozoic grasslands
c.
a swimming reptile that resembles a modern dolphin
d.
a modern-day turtle that evolved in the Mesozic Era
12.
How do scientists distinguish between mammals and reptile fossils?
SC.D.1.4.4
a.
the presence or absence of a wishbone
b.
by the shape of the teeth, number of ear bones, and the number of lower jawbones
c.
by their hip-bones and the shape of their teeth
d.
the ear bone structure only
13.
When was the northern hemisphere ice age?
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
the Miocene and early Pleistocene
b.
the Holocene only
c.
the late Pleistocene only
d.
the late Pliocene through the Pleistocene
14.
The last major orogeny in western North America was characterized by __________.
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
igneous intrusions
b.
vertical uplifts
c.
low-angle faults and folds
d.
folding
