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Eras and Periods Trivia Quiz

This is a short quiz on the eras and periods scientists use to describe the past history of the earth.

A multiple-choice quiz by GeniusBoy. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
GeniusBoy

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
48,343

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1150

Last 3 plays: PurpleComet (7/10), Kda717 (1/10), Guest 107 (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the oldest period? Hint

Cambrian

Pre-Cambrian

Ordovician

Quaternary

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Question 2 of 10

2. What era is it right now (A.D. 2001)? Hint

Cenozoic

Paleozoic

Mesozoic

Quaternary

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Question 3 of 10

3. The dinosaurs first began to dominate in what period?

Answer: (____ Park by Michael Crichton)

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Question 4 of 10

4. The greatest extinction the planet has ever known took place in which period, which ended 250 million years ago? Hint

Silurian

Cretaceous

Permian

Triassic

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which era, beginning 544 million years ago, saw an explosion of life on earth with its first period, the Cambrian? Hint

Cryptozoic

Cenozoic

Mesozoic

Paleozoic

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Question 6 of 10

6. The first amniotes appeared in which period? Hint

Devonian

Permian

Ordovician

Carboniferous

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Question 7 of 10

7. In which period, in the Paleozoic, did the first jawed fish appear? Hint

Triassic

Ordovician

Cambrian

Silurian

8. When the Cretaceous period ended 65 million years ago and the dinosaurs disappeared, mammals began to dominate the planet. During which period (right after the Cretaceous) did mammals begin to dominate? Hint

Quaternary

Devonian

Cenozoic

Tertiary

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Question 9 of 10

9. The dinosaurs and mammals both appear in the fossil record in which period, in the Mesozoic Era? Hint

Triassic

Cretaceous

Jurassic

Tertiary

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Lastly, what period are we living in? Hint

Quaternary

Cretaceous

Tertiary

Ordovician

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 15 2024 : PurpleComet: 7/10
Mar 19 2024 : Kda717: 1/10
Mar 07 2024 : Guest 107: 2/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the oldest period?

Answer: Pre-Cambrian

During this long period of the Earth's history the first bacteria and algae appeared.

2. What era is it right now (A.D. 2001)?

Answer: Cenozoic

This era began 65 million years ago with the extinction of the dinosaurs, which allowed mammals to dominate.

3. The dinosaurs first began to dominate in what period?

Answer: Jurassic

The first dinosaurs appeared in the Triassic but they really began to dominate the world in the Jurassic.

4. The greatest extinction the planet has ever known took place in which period, which ended 250 million years ago?

Answer: Permian

Almost all life on Earth came to an end at the end of the Permian period, a time known as the Permian extinction.

5. Which era, beginning 544 million years ago, saw an explosion of life on earth with its first period, the Cambrian?

Answer: Paleozoic

The Cambrian explosion saw life gain a toehold on earth that it's never lost.

6. The first amniotes appeared in which period?

Answer: Carboniferous

Before this time only amphibians (which had to lay their eggs in water) lived on the land. In the Carboniferous period the first tetrapods (four-legged animals, including pretty much everything living on land) that could lay eggs which were enclosed in a membrane called the amnion that keeps the embryo moist as it developes (so that the eggs could now be kept on land) appeared.

7. In which period, in the Paleozoic, did the first jawed fish appear?

Answer: Silurian

During the Ordovician (which immediately preceded the Silurian) only jawless fish existed.

Answer: Tertiary

Before this most mammals were nocturnal, mostly to avoid being eaten by the giant carnivores around at the end of the Cretaceous. Being nocturnal probably saved them from {extinction;} they were used to darkness and well equipped to deal with dropping temperatures caused by an asteroid hitting the Earth (if that is indeed what killed the dinosaurs).

9. The dinosaurs and mammals both appear in the fossil record in which period, in the Mesozoic Era?

Answer: Triassic

Our classes evolved at the same time.

10. Lastly, what period are we living in?

Answer: Quaternary

Source: Author GeniusBoy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor rossian before going online.
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