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

Which of the options best explains the existence of bacteria as the oldest organisms on the Earth?

  1. They are very small in size.

  2. They are not easily visible.

  3. They can survive harshest climates.

  4. They have a very strong structure.

  5. They have many special features, which protect them.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, bacteria is one of t he simplest and oldest organisms on earth. Its simple body design makes it survive the harshest climates.

Multiple choice

In which one of the following geological periods did the first bird appear?

  1. Permian

  2. Triassic

  3. Jurassic

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

The first known bird, Archaeopteryx, appeared during the Jurassic period (approximately 150 million years ago). This transitional fossil shows both reptilian and avian characteristics, providing evidence for the evolution of birds from theropod dinosaurs. The Permian and Triassic periods predate birds, while the Cretaceous period saw further bird diversification.

Multiple choice

The term living fossil refers to a

  1. lifelike fossil well preserved in amber

  2. fossil formed from a living animal

  3. living animal which is about to be fossilised

  4. living organisms showing some primitive characteristics
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A living fossil refers to an extant organism that has remained relatively unchanged over long geological periods and retains primitive characteristics of its ancestral group. Examples include coelacanths, horseshoe crabs, and ginkgo trees. These species appear similar to fossils from millions of years ago, hence the term. It does not refer to fossils themselves or animals about to become fossils.

Multiple choice

The golden age of reptiles is

  1. mesozoic era

  2. palaeozoic era

  3. coenozoic era

  4. cosmozoic era
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Mesozoic Era (approximately 252-66 million years ago) is known as the Age of Reptiles, dominated by dinosaurs on land, pterosaurs in the air, and marine reptiles in the oceans. The Paleozoic Era preceded it and saw the rise of early reptiles. The Cenozoic Era is the Age of Mammals that followed. Cosmozoic is not a valid geological era.

Multiple choice

Which of the following birds provided the palaeontology evidences?

  1. Dodo

  2. Darwin's finches

  3. Archaeopteryx

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Palaeontology evidences are provided by Archaeopteryx. The earliest known bird in the fossil record is Archaeopteryx which means 'ancient wing'. It exhibited both reptilian and avian characters.

Multiple choice

Fossil remains of Archaeopteryx indicate that

  1. it was flying reptile from Triassic

  2. it was a mammal that looked like a reptile from Permian

  3. reptiles gave rise to birds during Jurassic

  4. reptiles gave rise to birds during Permian
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Archaeopteryx fossils from the Jurassic period (approximately 150 million years ago) show a transitional form with both reptilian features (teeth, long bony tail, claws) and avian features (feathers, wishbone). This provided crucial evidence that birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs during the Jurassic. It was not a Triassic reptile, not a mammal, and did not appear in the Permian period.

Multiple choice

During which geological period did the earth become oxygen rich?

  1. Orosirian period

  2. Ediacaran period

  3. Devonian period

  4. Ordovician period
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Great Oxygenation Event occurred during the Paleoproterozoic era, specifically the Orosirian period (approximately 2.4-2.0 billion years ago). Cyanobacteria began producing oxygen through photosynthesis, dramatically changing Earth's atmosphere. The Ediacaran period saw the first complex multicellular life. The Devonian is known as the Age of Fish. The Ordovician saw early marine diversification but occurred after oxygen levels were already established.

Multiple choice

Match the following:

 
Types of fossils Discription
a. Trilobites 1. They were the invertebrate animals that lived in sea about 180 million years ago.
b. Dinosaurs 2. They were carnivorous or herbivorous reptiles that were common between 65 to 250 million years ago.
c. Ammonites 3. They were marine arthropods that were common between 400 to 600 million years ago.

  1. a - 3, b - 1, c - 2

  2. a - 2, b - 1, c - 3

  3. a - 1, b - 2, c - 3

  4. a - 3, b - 2, c - 1

  5. a - 2, b - 3, c - 1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. Trilobites were marine arthropods that were common between 400 to 600 million years ago. Dinosaurs were carnivorous or herbivorous reptiles that were common between 65 to 250 million years ago. Ammonites were the invertebrate animals that lived in sea about 180 million years ago.

Multiple choice

Coal is formed over millions of years by

  1. degradation of plant and animal waste products

  2. weathering of rocks

  3. action of heat on rocks

  4. decomposition of plants
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Coal is a decomposition product of plants buried millions of years ago due to some natural phenomenon.