Unit 3 Test Part 1: Multiple Choice

What causes an earthquake to happen?

• Rocks deform slowly as a result of physical stress

• Rocks along a fault move suddenly and release energy

• Large amounts of rock suddenly shift downward when large holes form underground

• Energy is transferred to rock layers from convection currents in the oceans and the atmosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

During the year 2003, the number of earthquakes that occurred was higher than usual. The map below shows the locations of some of these earthquakes. Why do the dots on the map tend to form a long curving line along the western edge of the Pacific Ocean.

• This part of the ocean has a high rate of hurricanes and typhoons.

• That part of the ocean is directly above the boundaries between tectonic plates.

• An increase in the number of tsunamis in the Pacific led to an increase in the number of earthquakes.

• There is pressure on the sea floor there due to the weight of water of the Pacific Ocean.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

The graph below shows how seismic waves travel through Earth. What can you infer about the material below 2900 km?

• The material is iron.

• The material is rock.

• The material is solid.

• The material is liquid.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Seismic waves travel faster through rigid rock than through flexible rock. How would you expect seismic wave speeds to change from the asthenosphere to the mesosphere?

• Overall, both P waves and S waves would increase in speed.

• Overall, both P and S waves would decrease in speed.

• P waves would decrease in speed and S waves would disappear.

• P waves would increase in speed and S waves would decrease in speed.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

The diagram shows the layers of Earth's interior. Which physical layers contain material from the mantle?

• crust, lithosphere, asthenosphere

• crust, asthenosphere, mesosphere

• mesosphere, inner core, inner core

• lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Which type of stress is most likely to occur at convergent plate boundaries.

• faulting

• tension

• shear stress

• compression

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

The diagram below shows a type of mountain range that can form at divergent plate boundaries. What type of mountains are shown in the diagram?

• island volcanic arc

• folded mountains

• fault-block mountains

• continental volcanic arc

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Look at the process shown in the illustration. What is the name of the hypothesis that is shown by this process?

• continental drift

• magnetic reversals

• plate tectonics

• subduction

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

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 Africa

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

The Atlas Mountains in Africa are part of the same mountain chain as the Appalachian Mountains in North America, indicating that they were once connected. How does this evidence relate to the theory of plate tectonics?

• This evidence shows that the two continents have similar landforms.

• This evidence shows that the mountains contain fossil evidence.

• This evidence shows that sea-floor spreading occurs, and magnetic reversal patterns exist on the sea floor.

• This evidence shows that they were once a single mountain range when the continents were connected and were later separated as the continents drifted apart.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5