Earth Science Test 6 Prep

Why do earthquakes usually occur at plate boundaries?

• The rock on the edges of tectonic plates is soft and gives in easily to various pressures.

• Rock in environments near tectonic plate boundaries experience great stress.

• The boundaries between tectonic plates have been seismically active for millions of years.

• Rock in environments near tectonic plate boundaries experience little stress.

What happens when two oceanic plates collide?

• The denser plate fractures.

• The less dense plate fractures.

• The less dense plate subducts.

• The denser plate subducts.

What direction are the plates moving in relation to each other at point C?

• towards each other

• away from each other

• sideways to each other

• one up, the other down

During a major earthquake, buildings:

• always remain standing.

• do not move.

• may sway or collapse.

• are never damaged.

Tectonic plates can include:

• only asthenosphere.

• only oceanic crust.

• only continental crust.

• both oceanic and continental crust.

Why does rock begin to sink at A and E?

• It has warmed and is more dense.

• It has cooled and is more dense.

• It has cooled and is less dense.

• It has warmed and is less dense.

The Himalaya Mountains were formed in a collision at a:

• divergent boundary.

• convergent boundary.

• transform boundary.

• fracture zone.

An example of a transform boundary is the:

• San Andreas Fault in California.

• Nazca plate on the west coast of South America.

• Eurasian plate at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

• island arc of Japan.

The theory that explains why and how continents move is called:

• Continental Drift Theory.

• Paleomagnetism.

• Plate Tectonics Theory.

• Seafloor Spreading Theory.

What are the two sources of energy heating Earth’s mantle?

• sunlight and radiation from space

• motion and other forms of kinetic energy

• cosmic rays and gravitational energy

• radioactive decay and heat from Earth’s interior