Activity 3: Geologic Time Gap Fill
Directions: Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct term from the word bank.
Word bank: Eras, 289-290, Mesozoic, Hadean, Cenozoic, Fossil, Cretaceous, Archean
1. Precambrian Time only consists of three ____.
2. Paleozoic era lasted for ____ million years.
3. ____ era is often called the Age of Dinosaurs.
4. The last period of the Mesozoic era is the ____.
5. The present is the ____ to the past.
Answer (2)
Let's look at each sentence and use the correct terms from the word bank to complete them:
Precambrian Time only consists of three Eras .
The Precambrian Time includes the Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic eras. It covers the vast majority of Earth's history, up to the start of the Paleozoic Era.
Paleozoic era lasted for 289-290 million years.
The Paleozoic Era ran from about 541 million years ago to about 252 million years ago, making it last approximately 289 million years.
Mesozoic era is often called the Age of Dinosaurs.
The Mesozoic Era, which includes the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, is known for the dominance of dinosaurs and lasted from 252 to about 66 million years ago.
The last period of the Mesozoic era is the Cretaceous .
The Cretaceous Period is the final period of the Mesozoic Era, ending about 66 million years ago with the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs.
The present is the Cenozoic to the past.
The Cenozoic Era is the current geological era, starting about 66 million years ago after the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period, and is often called the Age of Mammals.
In summary, the sentences can be completed with the terms: 1. Eras, 2. 289-290, 3. Mesozoic, 4. Cretaceous, 5. Cenozoic. These concepts relate to significant periods in Earth's geological history, particularly concerning the evolution of life. Understanding these eras provides insight into how life has changed over millions of years.
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