Evidence of Plate Tectonics

1. Which of the following types of evidence best supports the theory of plate tectonics?

• A. precise measurements of the thickness of continental crust

• B. precise measurements of the thickness of oceanic crust

• C. precise measurements of the relative motions of pieces of Earth’s lithosphere

• D. precise measurements of the relative motions of Earth’s inner and outer cores

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

2. Why did people not believe in Wegener’s theory about continental drift?

• A. There was a competing theory at the time that was more believable

• B. There was no data showing the continents ever moved

• C. The scientists did not know the force responsible for moving the continent

• D. The scientist presenting the data was unreliable

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

3. Which of the following discoveries would provide the best evidence that Earth's continents had once been part of a large landmass that has since broken apart?

• A. fossils of different species of organisms found

• B. fossils of the same species of organism found

• C. fossils of organisms that lived during the same time period found

• D. fossils of organisms that lived hundreds of millions of years apart found

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

4. How is plate tectonics supported by the apparent fit of the continental coastlines?

• A. The continents appear to have once been joined together and to have since drifted apart.

• B. The continents appear to have once been joined to oceanic crust and to have since been lifted above sea level.

• C. The continents appear to have once been joined to additional continents that have since been destroyed.

• D. Plate tectonics is not supported by the apparent fit of the continental coastlines.

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

5. According to plate tectonics, which of the following is true?

• A. Continents never move but the plates underneath them do

• B. Earthquakes happen in the middle of continents

• C. The continents used to all be connected in one continent

• D. The youngest rock is found at the tops of mountains

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5