The Solid Earth - Chapter 9: Geologic Time Scale

Question 1

Name the Eons from oldest to youngest

Answer 1

(note: Precambrian describe first three)
Hadean
Archaen
Proterozoic
Phanerozoic

Question 2

Name the eras of the phanerozoic eon oldest to newest

Answer 2

Paleozoic
Mesozoic
Cenozoic

Question 3

Name the periods of the paleozoic era from oldest to youngest

Answer 3

Cambrian
Ordovician
Silurian
Devonian
Carboniferous (Missippian - Pennsylvanian)
Permian

Question 4

Name the periods of the Mesozoic Era

Answer 4

Triassic
Jurassic
Cretaceous

Question 5

Name the periods of the Cenozoic

Answer 5

Tertiary

Quarternary

Question 6

These represent the greatest expanses of time

Answer 6

eons

Question 7

The eon that began about 570 million years ago

Answer 7

Phanerozoic

Question 8

Why is Phanerozoic a word that means visible life?

Answer 8

The rocks and deposits of the Phanerozoic eon contain an abundance of fossils that document major evolutionary trends

Question 9

What is the Phanerozoic eon divided into?

Answer 9

eras

Question 10

What is the nickname for Paleozoic?

Answer 10

ancient life

Question 11

What is the nickname for Mesozoic?

Answer 11

middle life

Question 12

What is the nickname for Cenozoic?

Answer 12

recent life

Question 13

Eras are bounded by profound worldwide changes in _____

Answer 13

life forms

Question 14

Each era is subdivided into time units known as ____

Answer 14

periods

Question 15

T/F: Each period is characterized by a somewhat less profound change in life forms

Answer 15

True

Question 16

What is the smallest unit on the chart?

Answer 16

Epoch

Question 17

Define the precambrian

Answer 17

The vast expanse of time that exists for 4 billion years without life