Go to: Midterm II | Final
Since it is a 400-level class, I assume that you have the prior background in first (and second) year Geology classes. Note that I have separated all Protistans related questions into a separate exam database (second quiz).
Geology (GLGY 491-UCAL) Midterm I General
Congratulations - you have completed Geology (GLGY 491-UCAL) Midterm I General.
You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.
Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%
Question 1 |
-underwent rapid burial
-internal structures were often preserved
-most fossils from Ediacaran period were fossilized through this process.
A | Carbonization |
B | Permineralization |
C | Permineralization |
D | Impressions |
Question 2 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 3 |
On the following diagram, what is highlighted in 2D?
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this without using any AIDS.

A | Devonian |
B | Neoproterozoic |
C | Ordovician |
D | Ediacaran |
E | Cretaceous |
Question 4 |
A | sclerocytes |
B | archaeocytes |
C | choanocytes |
D | pinacocytes |
Question 5 |
A | Interval Zones |
B | Morphological Zones |
C | Acme Zones |
D | Assemblage Zones |
Question 6 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 7 |
A | three |
B | two |
C | five |
D | four |
Question 8 |
A | Order and Family |
B | Genus and Species |
C | Class and Species |
D | Phylum and Family |
Question 9 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 10 |

A | Cruziana |
B | Trilobite |
C | Brachiopod |
D | Ammonite |
Question 11 |
A | Scierocytes |
B | Porocytes |
C | Amblyprocts |
D | Archaeocytes |
Question 12 |
A | test |
B | frustule |
C | opaline silica |
D | cells |
Question 13 |
A | characteristic fossil |
B | identity fossil |
C | trace fossils |
D | most abundant fossils |
E | index fossils |
Question 14 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 15 |
A | Permian |
B | Silurian |
C | Archean |
D | Devonian |
Question 16 |

A | Pentameral |
B | Not enough information is given. |
C | Bilateral |
D | Radial |
Question 17 |
A | Morphological |
B | Genetic |
C | Stratigraphic |
D | Chemical |
Question 18 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 19 |
A | PTD |
B | Evolutionary Occurrence |
C | LAD |
D | Acme Zone |
Question 20 |
What are the Eons represented by 1A and 1B respectively on the following diagram?
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this without using any AIDS.

A | Proterozoic and Archean |
B | Cenozoic and Mesozoic |
C | Phanerozoic and Precambrian |
D | Cenozoic and Paleozoic |
Question 21 |
A | classes |
B | orders |
C | phyla |
D | genera |
E | families |
Question 22 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 23 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 24 |
A | three |
B | one |
C | two |
D | infinite |
Question 25 |
A | Neogene |
B | Carboniferous |
C | Paleozoic |
D | Neoproterozoic |
Question 26 |
A | Phylum |
B | Kingdom |
C | Order |
D | Superclass |
Question 27 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 28 |
A | They have well specialized organs. |
B | SpongeBob SquarePants can NOT be classified into Phylum Proifera. |
C | They are planktonic organisms. |
D | They lived attached to the substratum with the aid of root-like structures. |
Question 29 |
A | amblyproct |
B | platyproct |
C | stenoproct |
D | euryproct |
Question 30 |
A | Carboniferous |
B | Mesozoic |
C | Paleozoic |
D | Cenozoic |
E | Precambrian |
Question 31 |
On the following diagram, around what time 5A ended?
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this without using any AIDS.

A | 252.17 Ma |
B | 4030 Ma |
C | 66.0 Ma |
D | 4560 Ma |
Question 32 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 33 |
What is 3L on the following diagram?
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this without using any AIDS.

A | Pennsylvanian |
B | Ordovician |
C | Jurassic |
D | Devonian |
Question 34 |
A | growth stages. |
B | genetic structures |
C | living environments |
D | genetic variation |
Question 35 |
A | young. |
B | mature. |
C | under development. |
D | old. |
Question 36 |
A | Leucon |
B | Sycon |
C | Hyperdemia |
D | Rhagon |
E | Ascon |
Question 37 |
A | Subtribe |
B | Tribe |
C | Suborder |
D | Subspecies |
E | Subfamily |
Question 38 |
A | Cretaceous |
B | Holocene |
C | Ediacaran |
D | Eoarchean |
Question 39 |
A | Ordovician to Permian |
B | Ordovician-Devonian |
C | Cretaceous to Neogene |
D | Cambrian to Mississippian |
Question 40 |
This particular Period is known for high volumes of coal formations. It is first appears on Geological records around 358.9 Ma. What is the Period and it's location on the following diagram?
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this without using any AIDS.

A | Carboniferous; 3B |
B | Jurassic; 3E |
C | Carboniferous; 3H |
D | Jurassic; 3D |
Question 41 |
A | Canonization |
B | Impregnation |
C | Recrystallization |
D | Moldic fossilization |
Question 42 |
A | Quaternary Hint: This is the period and NOT the era. |
B | Holocene Hint: This is the Epoch and NOT the era. |
C | Cenozoic |
D | Miocence |
Question 43 |
A | echinoids. |
B | bivalves. |
C | trilobite. |
D | humans. |
Question 44 |
A | Phylum Brachiopoda |
B | Phylum Cnidaria |
C | Phylum Porifera |
D | Phylum Helmichordata |
Question 45 |
- the frustule is composed of organic silica
- radial symmetry
- found in sediment samples throughout Jurassic to Holocene
- is a microfossil
This sample most like be a...
A | not enough data to distinguish. |
B | diatom. |
C | tasmanitid. |
D | slilicoflagellate. |
E | coccolithophorid. |
Question 46 |
A | mammals. |
B | dinosaurs. |
C | insects. |
D | coprolites (poops). |
Question 47 |
A | 66 millions of years ago |
B | 0.0117 millions of years ago |
C | 541 millions of years ago |
D | 13 millions of years ago |
Question 48 |
A | 2500 Ma |
B | 541 Ma |
C | 4560 Ma |
D | 4030 Ma |
Question 49 |
A | Moldic fossilization |
B | Congealment |
C | Impregnation |
D | Fossilization in Amber |
Question 50 |
A | Modification |
B | Molting |
C | Accretion |
D | Addition |
Question 51 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 52 |
A | I. Permian II. Devonian |
B | I. Permian II. Neogene |
Question 53 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 54 |
A | 252.17 Ma |
B | 66.0 Ma |
C | 541 Ma |
D | 0.011710 Ma |
Question 55 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 56 |
A | Continuous genetic variability occurs in species with large morphological differences between sexes. |
B | Discontinuous genetic variability is more frequent than continuous genetic variability. |
C | Discontinuous genetic variability is less frequent than continuous genetic variability. |
D | Echinoids great are examples discontinuous genetic variability. |
Question 57 |
A | Improved Linnaean hierarchy |
B | Modern Linnaean hierarchy |
C | Original Linnaean hierarchy |
Question 58 |
A | Lower Silurian |
B | Early Lower Permian |
C | Middle Ordovician |
D | Early middle Cambrian |
Question 59 |
A | ecologic. |
B | reefs. |
C | platonic. |
D | biocherms. |
Question 60 |
A | Class Germaphobia |
B | Class Demospongea |
C | Class Calcarea |
D | Class Hexactinellida |
Question 61 |
There are only two sub-Periods (subdivisions) on this diagram. They are represented by 3J and 3K. What are they?
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this without using any AIDS.

A | 3J - Silurian 3K - Devonian |
B | 3J - Pennsylvanian 3K - Mississippian |
C | 3J - Mississippian 3K - Pennsylvanian |
D | 3J - Devonian 3K - Silurian |
Question 62 |
A | taxa. |
B | taxonomy. |
C | evolutionary biology. |
D | biostratigraphy. |
Question 63 |
Choose the odd one out based on the process of fossilization. (Choose the best option!)
InsectsDiatoms
Bivalves
Coccolithophorids
Sponges
Gastropods
A | Bivalves |
B | Gastropods |
C | Insects |
D | Diatoms |
Question 64 |
A | Genetic Trajectory |
B | Morphological Trajectory |
C | Nongenetic Trajectory |
D | Ontogeneric Trajectory |
Question 65 |
A | Addition |
B | Accretion |
C | Modification |
D | Molting |
Question 66 |
A | ecological conditions. |
B | sexual dimorphism. |
C | sudden changes in genetic variation. |
D | differentiation between growth stages. |
Question 67 |
A | Behavioral studies (trace fossils) |
B | Chemical compositional studies |
C | Morphological studies |
D | Genetic studies |
Question 68 |

A | 5 |
B | 1 |
C | 7 |
D | 2 |
Question 69 |
A | 8,000 years |
B | 11,700 years |
C | 22,000 years |
D | 50,000 years |
E | 6000 years |
Question 70 |
A | Cretaceous - Paleogene |
B | Devonian - Silurian |
C | Permian - Triassic |
D | Carboniferous - Permian |
E | Devonian - Carboniferous |
Question 71 |
A | Cnidaria |
B | Cristata |
C | Animalia |
D | Hexagonaria |
Question 72 |
A | Sclerocytes |
B | Pinacocytes |
C | Archaeocytes |
D | Choanocytes |
Question 73 |
A | Spherical |
B | Radial |
C | Circular |
D | Pentameral |
Question 74 |
A | Pentremites |
B | Inoceramus |
C | Lingula |
D | Archaeocyathid |
Question 75 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 76 |
A | Mississippian |
B | Jurassic |
C | Triassic |
D | Devonian |
Question 77 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 78 |
A | I. anisometric II. isometric |
B | I. non-symmetrical II. symmetrical |
C | I. symmetrical II. non-symmetrical |
D | I. isometric II. anisometric |
Question 79 |
A | Abundance in organic matter in some parts of the stratigraphic windows. |
B | The trace fossils left by the organism during certain growth periods. |
C | Fossils of the organism were found without the exoskeleton. Hint: Impossible due to soft body dissolution. |
D | The lack of exoskeletons in some parts of the stratigraphic windows. |
Question 80 |
A | Abundance of specific organisms in a given time window. |
B | The first appearance of an organism/group. |
C | Sudden fluctuation in morphological features of an organism/group. |
D | The last appearance of an organism/group. |
Question 81 |
A | Grouping of kingdoms which have the height precedence in taxonomy. |
B | Diagnosable cluster within which there is a pattern of ancestry. |
C | Populations that naturally breed together and provide viable offspring. |
D | Set of organisms with similar physical characteristics. |
Question 82 |
A | Biradial symmetry |
B | Spherical symmetry |
C | Bilateral symmetry |
D | Radial symmetry |
Question 83 |
A | Impregnation |
B | Congealment |
C | Carbonization |
D | Impressions |
Question 84 |

A | basal ring |
B | central cavity |
C | feet |
D | holdfast |
Question 85 |
On the following diagram, what is highlighted in 3C?
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this without using any AIDS.

A | Permian |
B | Paleogene |
C | Cretaceous |
D | Quaternary |
← |
List |
→ |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 |
| 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 |
| 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 |
| 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 |
| 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 |
| 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 |
| 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 |
| 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 |
| 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 |
| End |
You may download this exam as a PDF file here.
Geology (GLGY 491-UCAL) Midterm I Protistans
Congratulations - you have completed Geology (GLGY 491-UCAL) Midterm I Protistans.
You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.
Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%
Question 1 |
Find the odd one out.
SilicoflagellatesDiatoms
Radiolarians
Coccolithophorids
Tasmanitids
A | Radiolarians |
B | Diatoms |
C | Tasmanitids |
D | Coccolithophorids |
E | Silicoflagellates |
Question 2 |
A | Late Triassic |
B | Ordovician |
C | Ediacaran |
D | Holocene |
Question 3 |
A | no symmetry; primitive. |
B | bilateral |
C | co-axial |
D | radial |
Question 4 |
Find the odd one out.
SilicoflagellatesDiatoms
Radiolarians
Coccolithophorids
Sponges
Foraminifera
A | Coccolithophorids |
B | Radiolarian |
C | Sponges |
D | Silicoflagellates |
Question 5 |

A | Aperture |
B | Sagittal ring |
C | Cephalon |
D | Basal ring |
Question 6 |
A | False; it is four bars. |
B | True |
C | False; it is six bars. |
Question 7 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 8 |

A | Forminifera |
B | Coccolithophorids |
C | Spumellaria |
D | Diatom |
Question 9 |
A | Spines |
B | Basal ring |
C | Apical ring |
D | Bars |
Question 10 |

A | Spumellaria |
B | Forminifera |
C | Coccolithophorids |
D | Nassellaria |
Question 11 |

A | X |
B | Y |
C | W |
D | Z |
Question 12 |
A | in organic shale |
B | organic reefs and clastic rocks |
C | chalks and calcareous oozes |
D | coccolithoids |
Question 13 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 14 |
A | byspines |
B | cortical spines |
C | polar spines |
D | central spines |
Question 15 |
A | Upper Devonian |
B | Lower Jurassic |
C | Middle Cambrian |
D | Upper Silurian |
Question 16 |

A | medullar shell |
B | microsphere |
C | cortical shell |
D | basal ring |
Question 17 |

A | Cephalon |
B | Aperture |
C | Thorax |
D | Abdomen |
Question 18 |
A | Anything above 40% |
B | Anything above 5% |
C | Anything above 1% |
D | Anything above 10% |
Question 19 |
A | Epicingulum |
B | Epitheca |
C | Epiproferia |
D | Hypotheca |
Question 20 |
A | Silicoflagellates |
B | Tasmanitids |
C | Diatoms |
D | Radiolarians |
Question 21 |
A | Nitrogen |
B | Silicon |
C | Carbon |
D | Oxygen |
Question 22 |
A | Middle Jurassic |
B | Upper Cambrian |
C | Lower Cretaceous |
D | Upper Devonian |
Question 23 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 24 |
A | Albaillaria |
B | Foraminifera |
C | Spumellaria |
D | Sponges |
Question 25 |
A | Charles Robert Darwin |
B | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
C | Ernst Haeckel |
D | Dr. Marius (Dan) Georgescu |
Question 26 |
A | Diatoms |
B | Nassellaria |
C | Silicoflagellates |
D | Tasmanitids |
Question 27 |

A | Aperture |
B | Abdomen |
C | Thorax |
D | Cephalon |
Question 28 |
A | Active |
B | At young stage, passive. At adult stage active. |
C | At young stage, active. At adult stage passive. |
D | Passive; like people high on weed. |
Question 29 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 30 |
A | inorganic reefs |
B | chalks and calcareous oozes |
C | oil shales |
D | clay |
Question 31 |
A | Coccolithophorids |
B | Profiera |
C | Archaeocyatha |
D | Diatoms |
Question 32 |

A | Outer most part in green. |
B | Central part in blue. |
C | Middle part in red. |
D | Black lines indicating the spines. |
Question 33 |
A | Jurassic to Holocene (recent) |
B | Cambrian to Holocene (recent) |
C | Ediacaran to Cretaceous |
D | Jurassic to Cretaceous |
Question 34 |
A | They are closely related to Radiolarians. |
B | They started to dissolve well above the CCD of the water column. |
C | They are typically benthic form of organisms. |
D | They have animal-type metabolism. |
E | They started to dissolve well below the CCD of the water column. |
Question 35 |

A | microsphere |
B | medullar shell |
C | cortical shell |
D | basal ring |
Question 36 |
A | Apical ring |
B | Basal ring |
C | Spines (larger) |
D | Bars |
Question 37 |
A | False because the availability of other micro-organisms for food supply that dictates the distribution. |
B | True |
C | False because it is the temperature of the upper water column. |
D | False because it is the abundance of oxygen and light. |
Question 38 |

A | Z |
B | W |
C | X |
D | Y |
Question 39 |
A | 300 - 900 microns. |
B | 50 - 900 microns. |
C | 1000 - 5000 microns. |
D | 20 - 200 microns. |
Question 40 |
A | Epitheca |
B | Epicingulum |
C | Epiproferia |
D | Hypotheca |
Question 41 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 42 |
A | Jurassic to Holocene (recent) |
B | Cambrian to Miocene |
C | Paleozoic to Holocene (recent) |
D | Cretaceous to Holocene (recent) |
Question 43 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 44 |
A | None; all of them have plant-like metabolism |
B | Diatoms |
C | Silicoflagellates |
D | Foraminifera |
← |
List |
→ |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | End |
You may download this exam as a PDF file here.
Credits: Based on the excellent class notes provided by, Dr. Marius (Dan) Georgescu during Fall 2013.
FAQ | Report an Error
Hierarchy of Life
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
Click here for specific biological taxonomical divisions.
Geologic Time Scale
Mobile Users: Best view in landscape mode when mobile version is active.
| EON | ERA | PERIOD | EPOCH | AGE (Ma) | ||
-zoic |
Cenozoic (Cz) |
Quaternary (Q) | Holocene | 0.011710 | ||
| Pleistocene (Ps) | 2.588 | |||||
| Neogene (N) | Pliocene (PO) | 5.332 | ||||
| Miocene (MI) | 23.03 | |||||
| Paleogene (PE) | Oligocene(OG) | 33.9 | ||||
| Eocene (EO) | 56 | |||||
| Paleocene (Pε) | 66.0 | |||||
| Mesozoic (MZ) |
Cretaceous (K) | 145 | ||||
| Jurassic (J) | 201.3 | |||||
| Triassic (Tr) | 252.17 | |||||
| Paleozoic (Pz) |
Permian (P) | 298.9 | ||||
| Carboni- -ferous (C) |
Pennsylvanian (|P) | 323.2 | ||||
| Mississippian (M) | 358.9 | |||||
| Devonian (D) | 419.2 | |||||
| Silurian (S) | 443.8 | |||||
| Ordovician (O) | 485.4 | |||||
| Cambrian (∈) | 541 | |||||
| Pre∈ | Pro- -terozoic (Ρ) |
Neo (Z) | 635 | |||
| 850 | ||||||
| Meso (Y) | 1000 Ma | 1600 | ||||
| Paleo (X) | 2500 | |||||
| Archean (A) | 2800 | |||||
| 3200 | ||||||
| 3600 | ||||||
| 4030 | ||||||
| Hadean (ρA) | ~ 4560 | |||||
* Symbols are based on reference USGS reference table.
Image version of the above table for those who are still using stone age computers like Fred Flintstone.
