Final answer:
The divisions on the geologic time scale are representative of key events in Earth's history as reflected in the rock record, such as mass extinctions, shifts in climate, or the emergence of new life forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
A division on the geologic time scale typically represents a distinctive event in the rock record (Option E). The geologic time scale organizes the history of Earth into eras and periods based on significant shifts in Earth's climate, ecosystems, and life forms, which are recorded in the rock record. This might include the first appearance of certain types of organisms, mass extinctions, or shifts in the planet's atmosphere. For example, the division between the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras is marked by the mass extinction event that led to the demise of the dinosaurs and many other life forms approximately 66 million years ago.
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