How might human activity influence the future of the geologic time scale?

Climate change and species extinction may define a new epoch

What role does plate tectonics play in the geologic time scale?

It has caused mass extinctions and continental drift

The periods of the Mesozoic Era include?

Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous

The periods of the Cenozoic Era include?

Quaternary, Neogene, and Paleogene

What is the geologic time scale?

A timeline recording Earth’s history based on major events and fossils

How are geologic periods named?

After the geographic region where the rocks were first studied

What defines the boundaries between different eras in the geologic time scale?

Major extinction events and significant changes in life form

Why is the Phanerozoic eon different from the previous eons?

It includes all known fossils and complex life forms

Why do scientists divide Earth’s history into eons, eras, periods, and epochs?

To group time based on significant changes in Earth and life forms

If a mass extinction event occurred today, how might it affect the geologic time scale?

It could mark the boundary between the Holocene and a new epoch

What are the four eons of Earth’s history?

Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, Phanerozoic

How does the study of fossils help scientists understand the geologic time scale?

Fossils indicate which time period a rock layer belongs to

Why do we know more about the Phanerozoic eon than earlier eons?

It has the most fossils and complex life forms

How do scientists determine the boundaries between periods and epochs?

By studying rock layers and fossil changes

Why do mass extinctions mark the end of some geologic eras?

They represent times of major environmental and biological change

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SES4U: U5 - Geologic Time Review

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Questions 27

Answers

1
How might human activity influence the future of the geologic time scale?
Humans have no impact on geologic time
The geologic time scale is complete and will not change
Human activity will create a new era
Climate change and species extinction may define a new epoch
2
What epoch are we currently in?
Holocene
Quaternary
Phanerozoic
Cenozoic
3
How many eons make up Earth's history?
6
4
2
8
4
The longest unit of geologic time?
Epoch
Era
Period
Eon
5
What role does plate tectonics play in the geologic time scale?
It has no effect on geologic history
It determines the length of eons
It has caused mass extinctions and continental drift
It is only important in studying earthquakes
6
Precambrian is composed of the following eons?
Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic
Hadean, Paleozoic, Mesozoic
Jurassic, Triassic, Cretaceous
Paleozoic, Cenozoic, Mesozoic
7
The periods of the Mesozoic Era include?
Permian and Carboniferous
Quaternary, Neogene, and Paleogene
Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian
Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous
8
What percentage of Earth’s history is made up of the Precambrian time?
99%
90%
50%
10%
9
The periods of the Cenozoic Era include?
Cambrian and Silurian
Quaternary, Neogene, and Paleogene
Holocene and Pleistocene
Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous
10
What eon are we currently in?
Quaternary
Phanerozoic
Holocene
Cenozoic
11
The greatest to smallest segment of geologic time is?
Eon, period, epoch, era
Epoch, era, eon, period
Era, eon, epoch, period
Eon, era, period, epoch
12
Makes up 90% of geologic time?
Cenozoic
Mesozoic
Paleozoic
Precambrian
13
What do geologists use to help divide history of Earth into units of time?
Fault lines occurring in rock layers
Composition of rocks
Varying rock layers
Fossils within rocks
14
What is the geologic time scale?
A system used to measure Earth’s gravitational force
A way to predict future earthquakes
A timeline recording Earth’s history based on major events and fossils
A method used to measure the weight of rocks
15
How are geologic periods named?
After the geographic region where the rocks were first studied
Based on their length
After the scientists who discovered them
After the fossils found in them
16
What defines the boundaries between different eras in the geologic time scale?
Shifts in Earth’s magnetic field
The rise and fall of sea levels
Major extinction events and significant changes in life form
The formation of new continents
17
Why is the Phanerozoic eon different from the previous eons?
It includes all known fossils and complex life forms
It is the shortest eon
It only includes single-celled organisms
It represents the first appearance of the Earth’s atmosphere
18
Why do scientists divide Earth’s history into eons, eras, periods, and epochs?
To separate fossil types from rock types
To create a strict timeline that never changes
To group time based on significant changes in Earth and life forms
To determine Earth’s exact age
19
If a mass extinction event occurred today, how might it affect the geologic time scale?
It would create a new Precambrian period
It could mark the boundary between the Holocene and a new epoch
It would lead to the formation of a new eon
It would erase the current time divisions
20
What are the four eons of Earth’s history?
Precambrian, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, Holocene
Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, Jurassic
Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, Phanerozoic
Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian
21
How does the study of fossils help scientists understand the geologic time scale?
Fossils show that Earth has always had the same life forms
Fossils allow scientists to measure the speed of plate tectonics
Fossils indicate which time period a rock layer belongs to
Fossils provide exact numerical ages
22
Why do we know more about the Phanerozoic eon than earlier eons?
It had the fewest extinction events
It includes the formation of Earth’s first oceans
It lasted the longest
It has the most fossils and complex life forms
23
What period are we currently in?
Quaternary
Holocene
Cenozoic
Phanerozoic
24
What era are we currently in?
Cenozoic
Holocene
Phanerozoic
Quaternary
25
How do scientists determine the boundaries between periods and epochs?
By measuring the depth of the ocean
By studying rock layers and fossil changes
By using tree rings
By analyzing the Sun’s activity
26
Why do mass extinctions mark the end of some geologic eras?
They indicate new continents forming
They only happen every 10 million years
They represent times of major environmental and biological change
They occur randomly with no major effects
27
Who is the father of Geology?
David Blaine
Drake
John Hutton
James Hutton

SES4U: U5 - Geologic Time Review Flashcards | StudBud