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The movement of the tectonic plates is caused by

• the rotation of the Earth.

• convection currents in the Asthenosphere

• the gravity of the iron-nickel core.

• the Moho discontinuity.

In some areas of the world, like California and Japan, earthquakes are a common occurrence. How can this best be explained?

• The strong ocean currents are undermining both areas causing earthquakes.

• Both areas are located near the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the unstable sand causes earthquakes.

• Both areas are subjected to strong ocean wind and waves that causes earthquakes.

• Both areas are on the boundary of active plates, the motion of the plates causes earthquakes.

There are three types of plate boundaries. Which choice is NOT a type of plate boundary?

• convergent
• thrust
• divergent
• transform

Observe this diagram of a plate boundary. One statement BEST describes what is happening. It is that

• the oceanic crust is melting.

• the denser ceanic crust is subducting under the less dense oceanic crust

• volcanic islands are forming.

• the tectonic plates are moving away from each other.

The map in the picture shows tectonic plate boundaries. This map would be useful in predicting the location of future

• droughts

• hurricanes

• earthquakes

• tornadoes

What geological forces might be responsible for this range of mountains?

• diverging tectonic plates
• erosion of the land by the ocean
• converging tectonic plates
• deposition of sediments by the ocean
  

Earthquake epicenters (center of where the earthquakes started) were mapped for a 35 year period in the diagram above. The black dots indicate these epicenters. The black dots appear along what feature on Earth?

• hot spots

• plate boundaries

• rift zones

• sea floor spreading

Where are earthquakes MOST LIKELY to occur?

• close to the equator

• close to the center of tectonic plates

• at divergent or convergent plate boundaries

• at transform plate boundaries

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by a shift in two plates that pushed one section of the sea floor under another section of the sea floor by 5 meters. What type of boundary is this?

• divergent

• convergent

• transform

• metamorphic

The Atlantic Ocean gets about 3-5 ______ wider each year.

• centimeters
• kilometers
• miles
• meters