8th - U3 - Lesson 2 - The Theory of Plate Tectonics

Which process is best explained by the theory of plate tectonics?

• changes in air pressure

• earthquakes

• food chains and webs

• life cycle of plants

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

There are long mountain belts that divide the sea floor and generate new sea floor as magma rises and erupts onto Earth's surface. What are these mountain belts known as?

• magnetic poles

• mid-ocean ridges

• ocean trenches

• subduction zones

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Which of the following discoveries is evidence supporting the idea of continental drift?

• the discovery of matching plant and animal fossils found on different continents

• the discovery that most earthquakes are near plate boundaries

• the discovery that rock age increases as distance from mid ocean ridges increases

• the discovery of sea-floor rock patterns due to magnetic reversals.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

In the early 1900's, a hypothesis was introduced that proposed a single large landmass broke into smaller landmasses and formed the continents, which drifted into their present locations. What is the name of this hypothesis?

• Hypothesis of Continental Drift

• Hypothesis of Continental Shift

• Hypothesis of Plate Movement

• Hypothesis of Plate Tectonics

Which physical layer of Earth does a tectonic plate ride on top of?

• asthenosphere

• outer core

• lithosphere

• inner core

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Where have great amounts of volcanic activity been found to be concentrated?

• along shorelines

• near magnetic poles

• near plate boundaries

• at high elevations

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

The evidence supporting continental drift supports plate tectonics, because plate tectonic is a modified, expanded version of continental drift hypothesis. In the mid 1900's, additional evidence was found that led to the development of the theory of plate tectonics. Which is an example of this additional evidence?

• Coal deposits in areas that are not tropical

• sea-floor processes

• matching animal fossils found on different continents

• matching plant fossils found on different continents

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which explanation best summarizes the hypothesis shown in this figure?

• The present continents will gradually move to form a single landmass called Pangaea.

• The continents were once a large landmass named Pangaea, which broke apart and gradually drifted to the present day locations of the continents.

• The continents were once a large landmass, but the north and south magnetic poles pulled the continents apart toward the poles.

• The continents were once a large landmass, but the ocean levels rose, and these oceans separate today's continents.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Which of the following statements is evidence for the theory of plate tectonics but does not suggest that the continents were once connected?

• matching rock layers on separate continents

• similar land features on separated, present-day continents

• the interlocking of present day coastlines, such as Africa and South America

• thin layer of sediment covering ocean floor, indicating that it was relatively young.

Which of the following statements provided early evidence supporting the hypothesis of continental drift?

• interlocking shapes of present-day coastlines of continents

• mid-ocean ridges generating new sea floor

• matching magnetic patterns on the sea floor

• dating of rocks showing increase in age as distance from mid-ocean ridge increases

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5