ES-4.2B-Continental-Drift-The-Evidence-Behind-Wegeners-Theory

Multiple Choice

Bellringer

What is Pangaea?

• The name of a German Scientist
• the name of the supercontinent that existed millions of years ago
• another name for continental drift
• the name of an ancient fossil

Multiple Choice

Why was the discovery of identical fossil organisms on different continents significant for Wegener's theory of continental drift?

• It suggested that continents were once joined together

• It proved that all continents have the same climate

• It showed that oceans have always separated continents

• It indicated that fossils can travel across oceans

Open Ended

How does fossil evidence, such as that of Mesosaurus and Glossopteris, support the idea that continents were once connected?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was NOT a proposed mechanism by opponents of continental drift to explain identical fossil organisms separated by oceans?

• Rafting on natural vegetation

• Transoceanic land bridges

• Island stepping stones

• Plate tectonics

Open Ended

Explain how the distribution of Glossopteris fossils supports the theory of continental drift.

Multiple Choice

Which types of geologic evidence did Wegener use to support the idea that continents were once joined?

• Matching rock types across continents

• Continuous mountain belts

• Similar fossil organisms

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

According to Wegener's solution to the climate paradox, what happens when continents are reassembled into Pangaea?

• Areas with glacial evidence cluster around the South Pole

• Tropical coal deposits are found at the poles

• The continents remain in their current positions

• Climate zones become more inconsistent

Multiple Choice

Which of the following pieces of evidence supported Wegener's theory of continental drift?

• Matching fossils found on different continents

• Similarities in mountain chains across continents

• Simultaneous glaciation and tropical swamps explained by Pangaea

• All of the above