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Multiple Choice
If a fossil is determined to be 65 million years old, during which geological period did the organism most likely live?
A
Permian
B
Jurassic
C
Triassic
D
Cretaceous
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the geological time scale, which divides Earth's history into eons, eras, periods, and epochs. Familiarize yourself with the Mesozoic Era, which includes the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.
Step 2: Recall that the Cretaceous period is the last period of the Mesozoic Era and spans approximately 145 to 66 million years ago. This is the time frame during which dinosaurs thrived before the mass extinction event.
Step 3: Compare the fossil's age (65 million years old) to the time frames of the listed geological periods. The Permian period predates the Mesozoic Era, occurring approximately 299 to 252 million years ago. The Jurassic period occurred earlier in the Mesozoic Era, spanning 201 to 145 million years ago. The Triassic period occurred even earlier, spanning 252 to 201 million years ago.
Step 4: Recognize that the fossil's age of 65 million years places it within the Cretaceous period, which ended approximately 66 million years ago. This aligns with the timeline of the organism's existence.
Step 5: Conclude that the organism most likely lived during the Cretaceous period based on the fossil's age and the geological time scale.