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Questions and Answers
What is the primary source of information about the history of life on Earth?
What is the primary source of information about the history of life on Earth?
Which of the following is not a division of the Geologic Time Scale?
Which of the following is not a division of the Geologic Time Scale?
What is the current Geologic Eon that we are in?
What is the current Geologic Eon that we are in?
Which geologic time period is characterized by the formation of the oldest fossils?
Which geologic time period is characterized by the formation of the oldest fossils?
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Which geologic time period is characterized by the formation of bacteria and blue-green algae?
Which geologic time period is characterized by the formation of bacteria and blue-green algae?
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What is the approximate age of the Earth according to the Geologic Time Scale?
What is the approximate age of the Earth according to the Geologic Time Scale?
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During which era did the 'Cambrian Explosion' occur?
During which era did the 'Cambrian Explosion' occur?
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Which era is known as the 'Era of Dinosaurs'?
Which era is known as the 'Era of Dinosaurs'?
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Which period saw the first appearance of coral in the oceans and vascular plants on land?
Which period saw the first appearance of coral in the oceans and vascular plants on land?
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In which period did many invertebrates emerge and the first amphibians evolve to colonize land?
In which period did many invertebrates emerge and the first amphibians evolve to colonize land?
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Which period marked the beginning of the Mesozoic Era?
Which period marked the beginning of the Mesozoic Era?
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Which era started more than 540 million years ago and included a great evolutionary radiation of marine life?
Which era started more than 540 million years ago and included a great evolutionary radiation of marine life?
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What is the name of the supercontinent that started to separate into Laurasia and Gondwanaland during the Triassic Period?
What is the name of the supercontinent that started to separate into Laurasia and Gondwanaland during the Triassic Period?
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During which period did dinosaurs reach their peak in size and distribution?
During which period did dinosaurs reach their peak in size and distribution?
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Which of the following statements about the Tertiary Period is true?
Which of the following statements about the Tertiary Period is true?
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What is the smallest division of the geologic time scale?
What is the smallest division of the geologic time scale?
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During which period did flowering plants first appear?
During which period did flowering plants first appear?
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What event occurred during the Quaternary Period?
What event occurred during the Quaternary Period?
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Study Notes
Geologic Time Scale
- A record of life forms and geological events in Earth's history, dividing the history of the Earth based on lifeforms that have existed during specific times since the planet's creation.
Fossil Record
- The primary source of information about the history of life on Earth, consisting of remnant, impression, or trace of an animal or plant of a past geologic age preserved in Earth's crust.
Eon
- The largest division of the geologic time scale, spanning half a billion to nearly 2 billion years.
- There are three eons: Precambrian, Phanerozoic, and Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic.
Precambrian Eon
- Spanned from 4.5 billion years ago to about 541 million years ago, making up about 88% of the Earth's history.
- Divided into three eras: Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic.
Hadean Era
- Formation of the Earth.
Archean Era
- Formation of the oldest fossil.
Proterozoic Era
- Formation of bacteria and blue-green algae.
Phanerozoic Eon
- The current geologic eon, characterized by abundant animal and plant life.
- Divided into three eras: Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic.
Era
- A division of geologic time scale, spanning tens to hundreds of million years.
- There are three eras: Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic.
Period
- A division of geologic history, spanning no more than 100 million years.
Paleozoic Era
- Known as the "ancient or old life", started more than 540 million years ago.
- Characterized by the emergence of invertebrates.
- Divided into six periods: Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian.
Cambrian Period
- The era began with a spectacular burst of new life, known as the Cambrian Explosion.
Ordovician Period
- A great evolutionary radiation of marine life.
Silurian Period
- Coral appeared, fish continued to evolve, and vascular plants appeared on land.
Devonian Period
- The first seed plants evolved, fish with lobe fins evolved, and plants and animals adapted to dry conditions.
Carboniferous Period
- Widespread forests of huge plants left massive deposits of carbon that eventually turned to coal, and the first amphibians evolved to colonize land.
Permian Period
- All major land masses collided to form a supercontinent called Pangaea, and plants and animals evolved adaptations to dryness.
Mesozoic Era
- Known as the "Middle Life", started more than 280 million years ago.
- Characterized by the dominance of reptiles, especially dinosaurs.
Triassic Period
- The first dinosaurs branched off from reptiles and colonized the land, air, and water.
Jurassic Period
- Known as the "Golden Age of Dinosaurs", earliest birds evolved from reptile ancestors, and flowering plants appeared for the first time.
Cretaceous Period
- Dinosaurs reached their peak in size and distribution, and earth's overall climate was warm, even at the poles with no ice.
Cenozoic Era
- Known as the "Recent Life", started 65 million years ago and continues up to the present.
- Characterized by the dominance of mammals.
Tertiary Period
- Earth's climate was generally warm and humid, mammals called primates evolved, including human ancestors, and modern rainforests and grasslands appeared.
Quaternary Period
- Earth's climate cooled, leading to a series of ice ages, creating land bridges between continents, allowing land animals to move to new areas.
Epoch
- The smallest division of the geologic time scale.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the history of life on Earth in this General Biology 2 quiz focusing on the geologic time scale, major groups of organisms, and key dates in Earth's history. Learn about the record of life forms and geological events that shaped the planet.
