ACTIVITY 2-TIMELINE
A timeline provides a geological or biological time scale of Earth. On the following page is a
timeline that stretches back nearly 5 billion years ago in Earth's history. The following are key
points to know when interpreting the timeline:
BP: before present
Bya: billion years ago
Mya: million years ago.
Answer the following questions based on the timeline (see next page).
1. Based on the timeline, during what period did animal life on land emerge?
2. During which period did the first flowering plants emerge?
3. During what period did primates emerge?
4. The phrase "Age of often refers to a time when a particular group of organisms underwent
great diversification, were abundant, or dominated.
a. Which period is most likely referred to as the Age of the Dinosaurs?
b. Which period is most likely referred to as the Age of Fish?