Some important MCQs with explanations related to Palaeontology for the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) 12th Exam -1

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1. What is paleontology?

a) The study of rocks
b) The study of fossils
c) The study of minerals
d) The study of earthquakes

Answer: b) The study of fossils
Explanation:
Paleontology is the scientific study of life in the geological past through the examination of fossils, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

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2. Which type of rock is most likely to contain fossils?

a) Igneous rocks
b) Sedimentary rocks
c) Metamorphic rocks
d) Volcanic rocks

Answer: b) Sedimentary rocks
Explanation:
Fossils are typically found in sedimentary rocks because these rocks form from the accumulation of sediments, which can bury and preserve remains of organisms.

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3. What is the process by which an organism becomes a fossil?

a) Crystallization
b) Fossilization
c) Erosion
d) Lithification

Answer: b) Fossilization
Explanation:
Fossilization is the process through which organic remains are preserved in the geological record, often involving mineralization or impressions.

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4. Which of the following is an index fossil?

a) Trilobite
b) Ammonite
c) Dinosaur bones
d) Tree leaves

Answer: b) Ammonite
Explanation:
Ammonites are excellent index fossils because they were widespread, evolved rapidly, and are easily recognizable, making them useful for dating rock layers.

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5. What is the study of fossilized pollen and spores called?

a) Paleobotany
b) Palynology
c) Micropaleontology
d) Archaeology

Answer: b) Palynology
Explanation:
Palynology focuses on the study of pollen, spores, and other microscopic organic particles, which are useful in understanding past climates and ecosystems.

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6. Which era is known as the "Age of Reptiles"?

a) Paleozoic
b) Mesozoic
c) Cenozoic
d) Precambrian

Answer: b) Mesozoic
Explanation:
The Mesozoic Era is called the "Age of Reptiles" due to the dominance of reptiles, including dinosaurs, during this time.

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7. What type of fossil preserves the activity of an organism, such as footprints or burrows?

a) Body fossil
b) Trace fossil
c) Mineralized fossil
d) Amber fossil

Answer: b) Trace fossil
Explanation:
Trace fossils record the activities of organisms, such as footprints, burrows, or feeding marks, rather than the physical remains.


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8. What is a living fossil?

a) An organism that has been turned into a fossil
b) A species that has remained unchanged for millions of years
c) A fossil that contains living cells
d) A fossil that is still forming

Answer: b) A species that has remained unchanged for millions of years
Explanation:
Living fossils, such as the coelacanth or horseshoe crab, are species that have survived for millions of years with little evolutionary change.

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9. Which method is commonly used to determine the age of fossils?

a) Radiocarbon dating
b) Optical dating
c) Thermoluminescence
d) Dendrochronology

Answer: a) Radiocarbon dating
Explanation:
Radiocarbon dating is used to date fossils up to about 50,000 years old by measuring the decay of carbon-14 in organic material.

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10. During which geological period did trilobites flourish?

a) Cambrian
b) Jurassic
c) Cretaceous
d) Devonian

Answer: a) Cambrian
Explanation:
Trilobites were abundant and diversified during the Cambrian Period, making them key fossils for studying early marine life.

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11. What is amber in paleontology?

a) A type of fossilized rock
b) Fossilized resin from ancient trees
c) A mineral containing fossils
d) Fossilized bones of dinosaurs

Answer: b) Fossilized resin from ancient trees
Explanation:
Amber is fossilized tree resin that often contains preserved insects or other small organisms, providing unique insights into ancient ecosystems.

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12. Which of the following is an example of a transitional fossil?

a) Archaeopteryx
b) T. rex
c) Trilobite
d) Ammonite

Answer: a) Archaeopteryx
Explanation:
Archaeopteryx is a transitional fossil that shows features of both dinosaurs and modern birds, providing evidence of evolutionary links.

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13. What is the primary significance of fossils in geology?

a) Determining the composition of rocks
b) Understanding the Earth's past environments and life forms
c) Measuring seismic activity
d) Identifying mineral deposits

Answer: b) Understanding the Earth's past environments and life forms
Explanation:
Fossils provide vital information about past climates, environments, and the evolution of life on Earth.
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14. What is a petrified fossil?

a) A fossil that is burned
b) A fossil preserved in amber
c) A fossil where organic material is replaced by minerals
d) A fossil preserved in ice

Answer: c) A fossil where organic material is replaced by minerals
Explanation:
Petrified fossils form when minerals replace the organic material of an organism, preserving its structure in stone.

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15. Which event marked the end of the Mesozoic Era?

a) The Cambrian Explosion
b) The Permian Mass Extinction
c) The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction
d) The Ice Age

Answer: c) The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction
Explanation:
The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction event, about 66 million years ago, led to the extinction of the dinosaurs and marked the end of the Mesozoic Era.

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