ASBOG Practice Exam

Which epoch is the youngest in the Cenozoic era?

1. Tertiary

2. Quaternary

3. Holocene

4. Pleistocene

The correct answer is: Holocene

The Holocene epoch is recognized as the youngest epoch in the Cenozoic era, beginning approximately 11,700 years ago and continuing to the present day. This epoch follows the Pleistocene epoch, which is characterized by repeated glacial cycles and significant evolutionary developments in flora and fauna, culminating in the rise of human civilizations. In the context of geological time, the Cenozoic era is divided into several epochs, with the Tertiary and Quaternary being larger divisions. The Tertiary includes both the Paleogene and Neogene periods, while the Quaternary is divided into the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. This means that the Holocene is the most recent succession of geological time within the Quaternary, making it the youngest epoch of the Cenozoic era. Understanding the chronological framework of these epochs is essential for studying geologic and environmental changes, as well as the evolution of life on Earth over the past several million years. The Holocene is particularly significant for its association with the development of human culture and the impact of humans on the Earth’s systems, marking it as a key period in both geological and anthropological studies.