NDSU GEOL 106 EXAM 4 UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What process led to the breakup of the continents that formed Pangea? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Rifting
Which sedimentary environments existed in the western part of North America during the early
part of the Mesozoic Era, the Triassic Period? - CORRECT ANSWER - Lakes, stream
valleys, dunes
What are the four orogenies that affected western North America during the Mesozoic Era? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Sonoman, Nevadan, Sevier, Laramide
During what period of the Mesozoic Era did an epicontinental sea form across North America
from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cretaceous
What sedimentary rocks found in the Williston Basin were deposited in the epicontinental sea
and host fossils of marine animals? - CORRECT ANSWER - Pierre and Niobrara
Formations
Why are the Nevadan, Sevier, and Laramide Orogenies referred to as the Cordilleran Mobile
belt? - CORRECT ANSWER - They formed mountains that shifted eastern during the
Mesozoic Era
How are the Sevier and Laramide Orogenies distinguished in the geologic record? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The severe involved folding and faulting of sedimentary rocks near the Earth
surface, but the Laramie involved folding and faulting of deeper crystalline rocks
The most notable rock type for Cretaceous marine sedimentary rocks are: - CORRECT
ANSWER - Chalks
, The Late Cretaceous seaway of North America were not deep enough to support large
vertebrates, like mosasaurs. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
What contributed to the considerable petroleum deposits of the Pierre? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Lots of accumulated dead algae
Both ammonites and Nautilus (the extant nautiloid) will have a nacre layer because both are
molluscs. - CORRECT ANSWER - True
After it's initial formation, the Western Interior Seaway experienced it's most significant decline
in geographic extent in the: - CORRECT ANSWER - latest Cretaceous
Early marine birds are known from the Sundance Seaway - CORRECT ANSWER - True
Which of the following dinosaur groups is most similar in body form to birds? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Theropods
Which of the following bone structures distinguishes mammals from reptiles in the fossil record?
- CORRECT ANSWER - Jaw and differentiated teeth
Which of the following groups of plants appeared in the early Cretaceous, became dominant
during the middle Cretaceous, and can produce flowers or fruit? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Angiosperms
What is the first bird identified in the fossil record of the Mesozoic Era? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Archeopteryx
What is a gastrolith? - CORRECT ANSWER - A rock used by birds and dinosaurs for
digestion
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What process led to the breakup of the continents that formed Pangea? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Rifting
Which sedimentary environments existed in the western part of North America during the early
part of the Mesozoic Era, the Triassic Period? - CORRECT ANSWER - Lakes, stream
valleys, dunes
What are the four orogenies that affected western North America during the Mesozoic Era? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Sonoman, Nevadan, Sevier, Laramide
During what period of the Mesozoic Era did an epicontinental sea form across North America
from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cretaceous
What sedimentary rocks found in the Williston Basin were deposited in the epicontinental sea
and host fossils of marine animals? - CORRECT ANSWER - Pierre and Niobrara
Formations
Why are the Nevadan, Sevier, and Laramide Orogenies referred to as the Cordilleran Mobile
belt? - CORRECT ANSWER - They formed mountains that shifted eastern during the
Mesozoic Era
How are the Sevier and Laramide Orogenies distinguished in the geologic record? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The severe involved folding and faulting of sedimentary rocks near the Earth
surface, but the Laramie involved folding and faulting of deeper crystalline rocks
The most notable rock type for Cretaceous marine sedimentary rocks are: - CORRECT
ANSWER - Chalks
, The Late Cretaceous seaway of North America were not deep enough to support large
vertebrates, like mosasaurs. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
What contributed to the considerable petroleum deposits of the Pierre? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Lots of accumulated dead algae
Both ammonites and Nautilus (the extant nautiloid) will have a nacre layer because both are
molluscs. - CORRECT ANSWER - True
After it's initial formation, the Western Interior Seaway experienced it's most significant decline
in geographic extent in the: - CORRECT ANSWER - latest Cretaceous
Early marine birds are known from the Sundance Seaway - CORRECT ANSWER - True
Which of the following dinosaur groups is most similar in body form to birds? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Theropods
Which of the following bone structures distinguishes mammals from reptiles in the fossil record?
- CORRECT ANSWER - Jaw and differentiated teeth
Which of the following groups of plants appeared in the early Cretaceous, became dominant
during the middle Cretaceous, and can produce flowers or fruit? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Angiosperms
What is the first bird identified in the fossil record of the Mesozoic Era? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Archeopteryx
What is a gastrolith? - CORRECT ANSWER - A rock used by birds and dinosaurs for
digestion
