Paleozoic Era
The name “Paleozoic” refers to which type of life?
Ancient life
Which group of reptiles were the dominant life form during the Mesozoic era?
Dinosaurs
Which epoch of the Cenozoic era, beginning 10000 years ago, are we currently in?
Holocene
Pieces of evidence of past life, preserved in rock and used to build the geologic time scale are called?
Fossils
The Permian-Triassic extinction event, occurring approximately 252 million years ago, resulted in the extinction of over 90% of which type of organisms?
Marine organisms
Occurring approximately 66 million years ago, and eliminating 75% of Earth’s living species, which mass extinction event marks the end of the Mesozoic era?
The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction or KT Boundary is fine as well
What kind of geological event marks the boundary between the Pleistocene epoch and the current epoch?
The end of the most recent glaciation
Large wooly mammoths preserved in permafrost in Siberia and Alaska, as well as insects preserved in amber are examples of which type of fossil?
Original remains
The southward movement of which supercontinent caused sea levels to rise and fall over millions of years, contributing to the Ordovician Extinction?
Gondwana
In which body of water did the meteorite that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs land, causing a massive tsunami?
The Gulf of Mexico
Which epoch saw the warmest temperatures out of the Cenozoic era, allowing tropical species, such as alligators and palm trees, to inhabit the arctic circle?
Eocene
A distinguishable fossil, abundant and widespread over a large geographic area that occurs in only a few layers of the Earth can also be referred to as…
An index fossil
In which period did organisms such as amphibian-like vertebrates, primitive conifers and ferns colonize the land?
Devonian
The first flowering plants, such as Archaefructus, the world’s oldest flower, started to appear in which period of the Mesozoic era?
Cretaceous
The Holocene extinction, which is currently occurring due to the actions of humans over the past 10000 years, is resulting in a significant loss of biodiversity. What is another common name for this extinction event?
The Anthropocene Extinction
What are impressions left in rock by animals, such as trails, footprints, tracks, burrows as well as bite marks on fossils of trilobites?
Trace fossils
The first period of the Paleozoic era, that being the Cambrian period, is characterized by the appearance of which organism?
Trilobites
Which period of the Mezozoic era had a warm climate, no ice on the poles, a dry continental interior and alternating wet/dry and cold/hot seasons?
Triassic
During the Oligocene Epoch, there was a significant increase in volcanic activity in North America and Europe, causing the creation of which famous national park?
Yellowstone
Which index fossil, belonging to a formerly widespread species of jawless fish, is considered to be one of the most useful fossils in the world, due to the insights it revealed about the geologic time scale?
Conodont elements