Tectonic Plate Theory Guided Lesson

Multiple Choice

The year Wegener first had the idea for continental drift

• 1975

• 1950

• 1888

• 1912

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between continental drift and plate tectonics?

• The theory of plate tectonics was developed before the theory of continental drift.

• Plate tectonics disproved the theory of continental drift.

• Plate tectonics helped explain how continental drift occurred.

• The theory of plate tectonics developed independently from the theory of continental drift.

Multiple Choice

The large coal fields found in Pennsylvania provide evidence that the climate of the northeastern United States was much warmer during the Carboniferous Period.  This change in climate over time is best explained by the

• movements of tectonic plates

• effects of seasons

• changes in the environment caused by humans

• evolution of life

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was NOT used in support of the continental drift hypothesis?

• matching fossils
• Ancient climates
• paleomagnetism
• Matching rocks

Multiple Choice

Why was Wegener's theory not accepted?

• He had no proof of how they were moving
• He had no evidence
• He was married
• He was not a Scientist

Multiple Choice

Look at the image.

What can be inferred from this fossil evidence?

• Lystrosaurus eggs were probably transported by birds to different land areas in the Southern Hemisphere.

• Even though the Lystrosaurus was a land species, it was capable of swimming great distances across the open ocean.

• Millions of years ago, South America, Africa, India, and Antarctica were much further apart from each other than they are now.

• Millions of years ago, South America, Africa, India, and Antarctica were once joined together in a much larger landmass.

Multiple Choice

How does the age of the seafloor sediments change with increasing distance from the ocean ridge?

• age decreases
• age stays the same
• age increases
• age varies without a pattern

Multiple Choice

One piece of evidence that supports the Theory of Plate Tectonics is found in the observation of rocks on either side of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, shown in the picture provided. Plate Tectonic theory is supported because as you move out form the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the rocks -

• have higher iron content.

• become thicker and thicker.

• are increasingly older.

• are made of smaller particles.

Multiple Choice

The process of ___________ continually adds new crust to the ocean floor along both sides of the mid-ocean ridge.

• plate tectonics

• seafloor spreading

• continental drift

• convection

Multiple Choice

How is it possible for new crust to be formed without increasing the surface area of the Earth?

• Crust is destroyed at the same time it is created
• New crust is underwater where it sinks
• New crust breaks more easily than old crust

Multiple Choice

Sea-floor spreading begins at the

• Deep ocean trench

• Mid-ocean ridge

• Continent's edge

Multiple Choice

The OLDEST seafloor is located? 

• Closest to the mid-ocean ridge
• Farthest from the mid-ocean ridge

Multiple Choice

Why does oceanic crust sink below the continental crust during subduction

• oceanic crust is less dense

• oceanic crust is more dense

• oceanic crust is older

• oceanic crust is warmer

Multiple Choice

The image shows a diagram of the ocean floor near a mid-ocean ridge. Where would the oldest rock be found?

• L
• M
• N
• O

Multiple Choice

An important Earth process is the phenomenon known as seafloor spreading. It begins as a rift that forms when an area of Earth's crust becomes hotter and less dense, resulting in the appearance of cracks. As the rift opens wider, new crust forms between the separating fragments. However, despite the creation of new crust due to the seafloor spreading, Earth's diameter remains about the same. What can you conclude from this?

• There are also areas on Earth's surface where crust is destroyed.

• Seafloor spreading occurs at a very slow rate.

• New crust is usually eroded as quickly as it is created.

• When the seafloor becomes wider, continents become narrower.

Multiple Choice

. In 1915, German scientist Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift. Wegener found that continents were slowly drifting around the surface of Earth. Later scientists were able to explain the processes that drive continental drift by looking at the phenomenon of —

• radio carbon dating

• global warming

• conduction in the atmosphere

• seafloor spreading

Multiple Choice

One of their main sources of data evidencing continental drift theory is a —

• group of samples of new oceanic crust from ocean basins

• set of seismology readings from deep sea trenches

• large group of similar plant and animal fossils

• set of surveys showing the distribution of island arcs

Multiple Choice

What is the weaker, hotter zone beneath the lithosphere that allows for motion of Earth's rigid outer shell?

• crust
• outer core
• astenosphere
• inner core

Multiple Choice

What type of evidence was NOT used by Alfred Wegener to support his continental drift hypothesis?

• evidence from ancient climates and plants

• evidence from landforms

• evidence from fossils

• evidence from human ancestry and DNA lineage

Multiple Choice

There have not been any earthquakes reported in the interior of the content of Africa. Why?

• The mountains in Africa do not cause pressure to build up in the lithosphere.

• The entire continent of Africa is located on a single continental tectonic plate.

• The landmass of Africa is too small to form earthquakes.

• The plate boundary inside Africa is too small to form earthquakes.

Multiple Choice

The map below shows the present day locations of South America and Africa. Remains of Mesosaurus, an extinct fresh water reptile have been found in similarly aged rock layers formed from lake sediments.

Which statement represents the most logical conclusion from this evidence?

• Mesosaurus migrated across frozen oceans from Africa to South America during an ice age.

• The continents of South America and Africa were once joined when the Mesosaurus lived.

• The continents of South America and Africa once had underground waterways where the Mesosaurus travelled from continent to continent.

• The continents of South America and Africa had very different climates from each other which caused the Mesosaurus to migrate from season to season.

Multiple Choice

Which below is a possible cause of tectonic plate motion?

• ocean tides

• the sun

• convection currents

• current weather patterns

Multiple Choice

The YOUNGEST rocks on the seafloor are located?

• Closest to the mid-ocean ridge

• Farthest from the mid-ocean ridge

Multiple Choice

How long did it take the continents to move from Pangaea into their current position?

• Hundreds of years

• Thousands of years

• Millions of years