Earth's History and Geologic Time Scale Quiz

What is the longest division of the Geologic Time Scale?

• Periods

• Eras

• Eons

• Epochs

Which eon marks the start of the Cambrian Period to the present day?

• Archean Eon

• Phanerozoic Eon

• Proterozoic Eon

• Mesozoic Eon

What event marks the end of an Era?

• Ice Age

• Formation of new continents

• Mass Extinction

• Appearance of new species

Which era is known for the dominance of reptiles, including dinosaurs?

• Cenozoic Era

• Mesozoic Era

• Paleozoic Era

• Precambrian Era

What is the Law of Superposition?

• Rocks are deposited in a random order

• Each rock layer is older than the one above it

• Rocks are deposited in a circular pattern

• Each rock layer is younger than the one above it

What are fossils?

• Living organisms

• Preserved remains or traces of past organisms

• Types of rocks

• Minerals found in rocks

What is the main characteristic of index fossils?

• They are the oldest fossils

• They are found only in one location

• They are unique and found over a wide area

• They are the largest fossils

What is the main cause of a strike-slip fault?

• Horizontal movement of land

• Vertical movement of land

• Volcanic activity

• Erosion

What do ice cores indicate?

• The movement of tectonic plates

• The composition of the Earth's core

• How Earth's climate changed over time

• The age of the Earth

What is the main method used in radioactive dating?

• Observing the color of rock layers

• Comparing fossils to living organisms

• Estimating the age of rocks based on carbon-14 decay

• Measuring the size of fossils