Biology · Geography

Fossils and Geological Eras

1,078 Questions

Fossils and geological eras provide a window into the history of the Earth. This topic covers prehistoric life, mass extinctions, and the geological time scale. It is an important part of the general science syllabus for many aptitude tests.

Geological time scaleTypes of fossilsPrehistoric lifeAncient climates

Fossils and Geological Eras Questions

Multiple choice biology origin and evolution of life fossilization geological time scale, extinctions and fossils concepts of evolution

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given:
The first true hominids in the fossil record have been placed in the genus

  1. Aegyptopithecus

  2. Australopithecus

  3. Dryopithecus

  4. Homo
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Aegyptopithecus was an early primate that existed around 30 mya and it is widely believed to be ancestral to monkeys (cercopithecoids), as well as to humans and apes (hominoids). About 15 mya, primates called Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus were existing. They were hairy and walked like gorillas and chimpanzees. Ramapithecus was more man-like while Dryopithecus was more ape-like. 

Australopithecus afarensis is one of the longest-lived, widely believed and best-known early human species. Found between 3.85 and 2.95 million years ago in Eastern Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania), this species survived for more than 900,000 years.
 Hence, the correct answer is 'Australopithecus'.

Multiple choice geography earthquakes and volcanoes volcanism types and features of earthquakes and volcanoes movement of the earth's plates
Approximately 140 million years ago, Indian plate broke away from the ancient
supercontinent known as  _______.

  1. Pangaea

  2. Gondwanaland

  3. Both A & B

  4. Angarland
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Indian Plate was part of the supercontinent Gondwanaland. It began to break away and drift northward approximately 140 million years ago.

Multiple choice origin of universe universe and organic evolution biology

State whether the following statements are true or false .
Horowitz showed that the earliest organisms were probably heterotrophs.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Beadle, Tatum and Horowitz showed that the earliest organisms were probably heterotrophs.

So, the statement is True.
the correct statement is 'Horowitz showed that the earliest organisms were probably heterotrophs.'

Multiple choice chemistry water: a natural resource where do we get water from? why conserve water uses of water

The amount of water on earth today compared with the amount of water on earth at the time it was formed about 5 billion years ago is :

  1. The same amount

  2. About 80 per cent of the original amount

  3. About 50 per cent of what is was originally

  4. Cant say
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The amount of water on earth today compared with the amount of water on earth at the time it was formed about $5$ billion years ago is about $50$ per cent of what it was originally.

Multiple choice biology concept of life theories of the origin of life origin of life the origin of cells and cell division

The sequence of origin of life may be

  1. Inorganic materials $\rightarrow$ Organic materials $\rightarrow$ Colloidal aggregate $\rightarrow$ Eobiont $\rightarrow$ Cell
  2. Organic materials $\rightarrow$ Inorganice materials $\rightarrow$ Colloidal aggregate $\rightarrow$ Eobiont $\rightarrow$ Cell
  3. Inorganic materials $\rightarrow$ Organic materials $\rightarrow$ Eobiont $\rightarrow$ Cell $\rightarrow$ Collodial aggregate
  4. Organic materials $\rightarrow$ Inorganic materials $\rightarrow$ Eobiont $\rightarrow$ Cell $\rightarrow$ Colloidal aggregate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Scientists have proved that organic materials are formed from the inorganic materials. The organic matter along with water have formed colloidal aggregate which later resulted in Eobiont and then cells.
So, the correct option is 'Inorganic materials $\rightarrow$ Organic materials  $\rightarrow$ Colloidal aggregate  $\rightarrow$ Eobiont  $\rightarrow$ Cell'
Multiple choice biology concept of life theories of the origin of life origin of life the origin of cells and cell division

Reptiles like mammals originated in ______________.

  1. Jurassic

  2. Cretaseus

  3. Triassic

  4. Permian
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Answer is option D i.e. "Triassic"
The Triassic Period was the first period of the Mesozoic Era and occurred between 251 million and 199 million years ago. During the Triassic period, mammal-like reptiles called therapsids co-existed with ancestors to dinosaurs, crocodiles, mammals, pterosaurs, turtles, frogs, and lizards.

Timeline of the era can be shortly explained as: 
  • Jurassic - 200 million to 145 million years ago - first birds, first mammals.
  • Cretaseus - 145 million to 66 million years ago - first flowering plant, extinction of dinosaurs.
  • Triassic Period - 251 million and 199 million years ago - mammal-like reptiles.
  • Permian period - 299 to 251 million years ago - Fern plants, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates.
Multiple choice biology concept of life theories of the origin of life origin of life the origin of cells and cell division

When did life originate on earth?

  1. 2 billion years ago

  2. 3.5 billion years ago

  3. 1 billion years ago

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The origin of life on earth a scientific problem which is not yet solved. There are plenty of ideas but few clear facts.

It is generally agreed that all life today evolved by common from a single primitive lifeform. It is not known how this early form came about, but scientists think it was a natural process which took place perhaps 3,900 million years ago. 

So, the correct answer is "3.5 billion years ago".

Multiple choice biology concept of life theories of the origin of life origin of life the origin of cells and cell division

Prctobiogenesis occurred :

  1. 1.2 billion years ago

  2. 2.0 billion years ago

  3. 2.5 billion years ago

  4. More than 3.5 billion years ago
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Biopoiesis (not 'Prctobiogenesis' - appears to be a typo) occurred more than 3.5 billion years ago, coinciding with the oldest known fossil evidence of life in rocks dated to approximately 3.5-3.8 billion years old. This places the origin of life in the Archean Eon.

Multiple choice biology concept of life theories of the origin of life origin of life the origin of cells and cell division

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given .
Which of the following statements is true?

  1. It took so long for prokaryote evolution because the primitive atmosphere screened out the ultraviolet radiation from the Sun

  2. Primitive atmosphere was an oxidising one and todays is a reducing one, making photosynthesis possible

  3. Reducing primitive atmosphere contributed to the origin of life, and the oxidising one of today would hinder it

  4. Primitive atmosphere contains 20% oxygen, just like it is today
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The early atmosphere of earth was made of nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases before life began. When the photosynthesizing organisms multiplied then the carbon dioxide was replaced by oxygen. So, the correct option is "reducing primitive atmosphere contributed to the origin of life, and the oxidizing one of today would hinder it".

Multiple choice biology concept of life theories of the origin of life origin of life the origin of cells and cell division

During which of the following intervals did life originate on the Earth?

  1. Mesozoic era

  2. Proterozoic eon

  3. Cambrian period

  4. Archean eon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
  • The Archean (or Archaean) eon is an interval of geologic time of about 1.4 billion years, beginning with the formation of Earth's crust and the oldest Earth rocks 3,960-3,800 million years ago (mya) and continuing until its boundary at 2,500 mya, with the Proterozoic eon. 
  • The origin of life has been traced to the Archean eon, with fossils of prokaryotes.
  •  During the Archean eon, prokaryotes spread over much of Earth's surface, often in mats comprising myriads of collaborating bacteria differentiated by the type of biochemistry each performed. 
  • During the Archean eon some prokaryotes developed the molecular structures for achieving photosynthesis, which permitted them initially to use sunlight for capturing hydrogen from the atmosphere and later to use it for capturing carbon from atmospheric carbon dioxide with the release of oxygen, thus helping to prepare an environment that could support eukaryotic cells and multicellular forms of life.
So the correct option is 'Archean eon'.

Multiple choice biology selection and evolution theory of natural selection natural selection evidence for evolution

Which of the following does not provide most evident proof of evolution? 

  1. Fossils

  2. Morphology

  3. Embryo

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
A. Fossils are the remains of plants and animals or their traces which are preserved by natural causes.
B. Morphology is the study of shape or structure of a particular thing.
C. Embryo is the juvenile stage of development of an organism.
D. Vestigial organs are the organs which once performed important functions in the body, but got reduced during the course of evolution and became rudimentary or non functional.
Most evident proof of evolution is provided by fossils and not by morphology, embryo or vestigial organs.
So, the correct answers are 'Morphology, Embryo, Vestigial organs'.
Multiple choice biology selection and evolution theory of natural selection natural selection evidence for evolution

The direct evidence of evolution are

  1. Pheomea

  2. Stegodon

  3. Moeritherium

  4. African elephant
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Moeritherium is extinct mammals. They are one of the first group of mammals that were present in the prehistoric era. They are also said to be distant relatives of modern-day elephants. Some of their features show remarkable similarities to modern-day elephants. So, they are said to direct evidence of the evolution of modern elephants and animals, 

So, option C "Moeritherium".

Multiple choice biology selection and evolution theory of natural selection natural selection evidence for evolution

How many years ago and in which environment life originate on the earth?

  1. 3.5 million years and reducing environment

  2. 3.5 billion years and reducing environment

  3. 4.5 million years and reducing environment

  4. 4.5 billion years and reducing environment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
The scientists have found that simple unicellular organisms (resembling modern Cyanobacteria) were present on this earth about 3600 million years ago. It is believed therefore that life must have originated on this earth about 3.5 billion years ago.
It must be clear that the earth's atmosphere at that time was quite different from as it exists today. The earth's atmosphere at that time was reducing, and oxidizing (as it is today). The primitive atmosphere of earth had hydrogen, nitrogen, water vapours, carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia abundance. Oxygen was not available in free state in sufficient quantities.