In terms of geological time scale, the quaternary period consists of two epochs. They are :
- A.Pleistocene and Pliocene
- B.Holocene and Pleistocene
- C.Pleistocene and Miocene
- D.Holocene and Eocene
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Holocene and Pleistocene. The Quaternary, the latest period of the Cenozoic era, is divided into the Pleistocene and the Holocene epochs.
The Quaternary began about 2.58 million years ago. The Pleistocene, the older epoch, was the age of repeated ice ages, when great ice sheets spread over the northern continents and early humans moved across the world. The Holocene began about 11,700 years ago, at the end of the last glacial period; agriculture, settled villages and all of recorded history belong to it. Together these two epochs cover the whole time in which modern humans have lived.
A is wrong: the Pliocene is the last epoch of the Neogene period, just before the Quaternary.
C is wrong: the Miocene is also a Neogene epoch, older than the Pliocene.
D is wrong: the Eocene belongs to the Palaeogene period, more than 33 million years ago.
Exam tip: Cenozoic epochs in order are Palaeocene, Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene and Holocene.
Practice Questions
View all2011 Census has divided the working population of India into four major categories. Which one of the following is NOT one of them ?
- A.Cultivators
- B.Domestic workers
- C.Household industrial workers
- D.Agricultural Labourers
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Census 2011 sorted workers into four economic categories: cultivators, agricultural labourers, household industry workers and other workers; domestic workers is not one of them.
Read the full explanation →Which one among the following countries is NOT a part of the Arabian Peninsula ?
- A.Kuwait
- B.Oman
- C.Libya
- D.Yemen
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Libya lies in North Africa, west of Egypt, and is separated from the Arabian Peninsula by Egypt and the Red Sea.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is a cold ocean current ?
- A.Brazilian Current
- B.Gulf Stream
- C.North Equatorial Current
- D.California Current
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It flows south along the west coast of North America, carrying cold water from higher latitudes towards the equator. As a rule, currents moving from the poles towards the equator are cold, and those moving from the equator towards the poles are warm.
Read the full explanation →Rani told her friends that last year she did boating in four different lakes, namely, Loktak, Barapani, Kolleru and Pulicat. Which of the following States did she visit?
- A.Manipur, Meghalaya, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
- B.Manipur, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
- C.Mizoram, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
- D.Mizoram, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
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Loktak is in Manipur, Barapani in Meghalaya, Kolleru in Andhra Pradesh, and Pulicat on the Andhra Pradesh–Tamil Nadu border. Loktak is the largest freshwater lake in north-east India, famous for its floating islands of vegetation called phumdis; Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in the world, lies on it.
Read the full explanation →Consider the following statements on 'Fog' : 1. Fog is simply a cloud that forms close to the ground. 2. Radiation fog is associated with radiation cooling of the land at night. 3. Advection fog forms when moisture is blown over a cold surface and is chilled by contact. Which of the statements given above are correct ?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
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All three statements are correct descriptions of fog and its two main types. Fog forms when air near the ground cools to its dew point and its water vapour condenses on tiny dust and smoke particles, so it is in effect a cloud at or near ground level.
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