Earth's History and Geological Phenomena Quiz

What was Pangaea?

• A supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras

• The first ocean on Earth

• A theory that explains the movement of the Earth's continents

• A type of dinosaur

What is the theory of plate tectonics?

• The study of Earth's atmosphere

• The theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle

• The process by which mountains are formed

• The study of ancient climates

What can ice cores tell us about Earth's past?

• The age of the Earth

• The types of animals that lived millions of years ago

• Past temperatures and atmospheric composition

• The location of ancient civilizations

What are fossils?

• Rocks that can float on water

• The remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock

• Crystals that form inside volcanic rocks

• A type of mineral used in electronics

What happens at convergent plate boundaries?

• Plates move away from each other

• Plates slide past each other

• Plates move towards each other and can collide or subduct

• Plates remain stationary

What is the law of superposition?

• The theory that Earth is the center of the universe

• A law stating that younger layers of rock are deposited on top of older layers

• The process by which sedimentary rocks are formed

• A method for determining the exact age of fossils

Which of the following is NOT a method used to study Earth's history?

• Radiometric dating

• Analyzing ice cores

• Observing the phases of the Moon

• Studying fossils

How do scientists use fossils to understand Earth's past?

• By determining the age of the Earth

• To understand the chemical composition of ancient atmospheres

• To learn about past life forms and the environments they lived in

• To predict future geological events