Download Geology 105 Final Review: Permo-Triassic Extinction, Mesozoic Marine Revolution, and More and more Exams Geology in PDF only on Docsity!
Geology 105 Final Review CofC 2025
Real exam.
Which of the following is not a widely-accepted explanation for the Permo-Triassic Extinction? A) Eruption of the Siberian Traps B) Ocean acidification, anoxia, and euxinia, C) asteroid/comet (bolide) impact, or D) extreme greenhouse effect and atmospheric heating
C) Asteroid/comet (bolide) impact
Which of the following best characterizes changes in climate during the Permian? A) Aridification, B) Humidification, C) Expansion of swamps, D) Global cooling
A) Aridification
What is the significance of the "coal gap"? A) marks the sudden appearance of coal in the Triassic when the plants all died B) marks a global reduction in plant biomass after the extinction C) neither the Permian or Triassic have much coal D) the coal gap isn't real
B) Marks a global reduction in plant biomass after the extinction
The Permo-Triassic extinction is the most severe mass extinction. How many in total are preserved in the fossil record? A) 2 B) 3 C) 4 D) 5
D) 5
Which change in terrestrial (nonmarine) sedimentation parallels the coal gap? A) change from reef to coquina limestone B) change from varved shale to fossiliferous shale C) change from meandering stream to braided stream deposits D) change from evaporites to aeolian sandstones
C) Change from meandering stream to braided stream deposits
The Mesozoic Marine Revolution is thought to be driven by a diversification of marine predators capable of feeding on hard shelled invertebrates. What group of prey animals suffered greatly during the revolution? A) bivalves (clams, oysters) B) cephalopods (ammonoids, nautiloids) C) brachiopods D) crustaceans
C) Brachiopods
Following on from question 1 - which sorts of adaptations were common amongst invertebrates as a response to this new predation pressure? A) thinner shells B) increased mobility and burrowing C) attachment to substrate D) filter feeding
B) Increased mobility and burrowing
Which of the following groups of marine reptiles closely resembled a dolphin in body shape and rapid swimming style? A) ichthyosaurs B) plesiosaurs C) dinosaurs D) placodonts
A) Ichthyosaurs
Mollusks and marine reptiles are two groups that radiated rapidly and dominated Mesozoic seas after the revolution began. Which of the following is the third major group? A) penguins B) bony fish (teleosts) C) brachiopods D) coral
B) Bony fish (teleosts)
Which of the following anatomical features defines the Dinosauria? A) backwards pointing hips (pubis/ischium) B) forwards pointing pubis bone C) ring-shaped hip socket D) hollow bones
C) Ring-shaped hip socket
Which of the following is a synapsid group that shares a close relationship with mammals? A) Phytosaurs B) Tritylodontids C) Archosaurs D) Crocodylia
B) Tritylodontids
Mammals evolved from Cynodont synapids; a number of distinctive anatomical features defines the Mammalia (including you). Which of the following is not one of them? A) Two sets of teeth B) diverse skin glands C) two windows behind the eye socket D) middle ear bones/single bone in lower jaw
C) Two windows behind the eye socket
In which geological period did the Atlantic begin to form (e.g. Pangea began to rift)? A) Permian B) Triassic C) Jurassic D) Cretaceous
C) Jurassic
Which volcanic event is thought to be the most likely cause of the Triassic-Jurassic extinction? A) Siberian Traps B) Deccan Traps C) Central Atlantic Magmatic Province D) Columbia River Flood Basalts
C) Central Atlantic Magmatic Province
Which of the following group names best describes birds/dinosaurs + mammals + crocodilians + lizards/snakes + turtles? A) Vertebrata B) Tetrapoda C) Amniotes D) Diapsida
C) Amniotes
What is the difference between weather and climate? A) they are measured differently B) weather is local and climate is global C) both can be defined regionally (or globally) but are different time scales D) weather changes rapidly and climate change is always slow
C) Both can be defined regionally (or globally) but are different time scales will NOT be on test
The change in the isotope 18O is perhaps the most important proxy for paleoclimate. Given that 16O tends to be locked up in ice sheets during glacial periods, which is true? A) 16O-enriched seawater dominant in cold periods B) 18O-enriched seawater dominant in cold periods C) both isotopes are equal during cold periods D) 18O-enriched seawater dominant in warm periods
B) O-18 enriched seawater dominant in cold periods
Which of the following is not a good source of isotopic data? A) conglomerate B) coral C) ice D) varved mudrocks
A) Conglomerate
Which of the following orbital characteristics is responsible for seasonality on earth? A) eccentricity B) axial tilt C) precession D) obliquity
B) Axial tilt
Which of these does NOT contribute to sea level rise? A) continental ice sheets B) mountain glaciers C) sea ice D) global warming is a hoax invented by China
C) Sea ice
What group of plants became widespread during the Cretaceous? A) Gymnosperms B) Angiosperms C) lycopods D) grasses
B) Angiosperms
What rock type is the Cretaceous named for? A) coral limestone B) cretaliite C) chalk D) coal
C) Chalk
What was the major reef-building organism during the Cretaceous? A) heteromorph ammonites B) foraminifera C) rudist clams D) stromatolites
C) Rudist clams
Which of the following is NOT an ornithischian? A) duckbill dinosaurs (Hadrosauridae) B) horned dinosaurs (Ceratopsia) C) long-necked dinosaurs (Sauropods) D) armored dinosaurs (Thyreophora)
C) Long-necked dinosaurs (Sauropods)
Mosasaurs are most closely related to which modern group of animals? A) Lizards & snakes (Squamates) B) turtles C) crocodiles D) whales & dolphins
A) Lizards and Snakes
There was a dramatic reorganization of marine predators after the K/Pg extinction as a response to the loss of marine reptile predators. Which of the following did not happen? A) penguins evolved and radiated B) the first truly gigantic sharks evolved C) sharks radiated after the extinction D) bony fish radiated and sharks became less common
C) Sharks radiated after the extinction
Virtually all Mesozoic mammals were smaller than 10 pounds and rapidly increased in maximum body size after the K/Pg extinction. Which answer best explains why? A) because they were prey animals B) they were nocturnal C) competition with dinosaurs D) they were burrowers
C) Competition with Dinosaurs
Molecular divergence dating using the DNA of modern mammals suggests that modern groups arose long before the K/Pg extinction. What does the fossil evidence indicate? A) fossil evidence is in agreement with molecular data B) fossils suggest a post-extinction radiation C) fossils suggest a gradual origination before and after the extinction D) mammal evolution did not seem to be affected by the extinction
B) Fossils suggest a post-extinction radiation or C) Fossils suggest a gradual origination before and after the extinction?
Which was the only group of marine amniotes that survived the K/Pg extinction? A) sharks B) lungfish C) marine crocodiles D) sea turtles
D) Sea turtles
Fossil penguins become diverse in the early-middle Paleocene, suggesting the possibility that they evolved before the K/Pg extinction. Which of the following would be the best place to look for Cretaceous penguins? A) Japan B) British Columbia C) South Africa D) Egypt
C) South Africa
During what epoch did many mammals adapt to grazing by developing longer teeth more resistant to wear? A) Oligocene B) Miocene C) Pliocene E) Pleistocene
B) Miocene
What environmental change drove the widespread adaptation of mammals to grazing (from a browsing ecology)? A) expansion of grasslands B) expansion of swamps C) expansion of broadleaf forests D) expansion of tundra
A) Expansion of grasslands
During what epoch did the Panamanian isthmus become uplifted, closing the Central American Seaway? A) Oligocene B) Miocene C) Pliocene E) Pleistocene
C) Pliocene
What was unusual about many Miocene groups of dolphins? A) they could not echolocate B) they were gigantic C) they had unusually long snouts D) they ate kelp
C) They had unusually long snouts
Which of the following is an animal commonly seen in the south that is a modern holdover of the Great American Interchange, originating in South America? A) wild boars B) American alligator C) llama D) armadillo
D) Armadillo
