MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

How should geological periods be capitalized in a sentence?

1. Neolithic age

2. Cenozoic Era

3. Cenozoic era

4. Late Pleistocene times

The correct answer is: Cenozoic Era

The correct answer demonstrates adherence to conventions regarding the capitalization of geological periods and eras. In this case, "Cenozoic Era" follows the standard rule of capitalizing both the term "Cenozoic," which refers to a specific time period, and "Era," which is part of the official title of that geological period. Proper nouns and formal names are typically capitalized to indicate their significance and specificity. In contrast, other options either do not capitalize "era," as seen in "Cenozoic era," or miscapitalize the terms, as in “Neolithic age” and "Late Pleistocene times," where the words "age" and "times" should not be capitalized. This distinction is essential for clarity and correctness in scientific writing and helps convey precision when discussing geological timeframes.