Social Studies - Land, Air, and Water

What forces shape the land?

• earthquakes and tsunamis

• volcanoes and hurricanes

• earthquakes and volcanoes

• nothing at all

Shapes of the land and types of land are called

• hills

• plateaus

• mountains

• landforms

What is the name of the supercontinent called?

• Pangaea

• Antarctica

• Mexico

• The Land Before Time

How do geographers explain the continents separating?

• A theory called plate tectonics.

• A theory of the dinosaurs moving the plates.

• A theory of a huge asteroid slamming into Earth.

• The continents did not separate. They were always like they are now.

When plates push against one another, the crust cracks and splinters from the pressure. What are the cracks called?

• crust

• faults

• volcanoes

• core

A process that breaks rocks down into tiny pieces is _______________.

• erosion

• atmosphere

• weathering

• winds

What thick layer of special gases is the Earth surrounded by?

• carbon dioxide

• atmosphere

• oxygen

• hydrogen and water

Where does fresh water come from?

• the oceans

• the atmosphere

• lakes, rivers, rain, and groundwater

• There isn't any fresh water on Earth.

Why are there earthquakes and volcanoes?

• Wind and water create tsunamis which cause earthquakes and volcanoes.

• Tremendous pressure and heat build up and plates push against one another causing volcanoes and earthquakes.

• Weathering wears away at the Earth's surface and causes earthquakes and volcanoes.

Once weathering has taken place, small pieces or rocks may be carried to new places. What is this process called?

• blowing winds

• waves from the oceans

• erosion

• weathering