Plate Motion UNIT Review 2023

Based on the information in the map, which fossils provide the best evidence for past tectonic plate arrangement?

• fossil 4

• fossil 1

• fossil 2

• fossil 3

• fossil 5

Select the arrows that should go in box A and box B from the drop-down below to complete the map to show the most likely directions of plate movement.

Which location on the map is a ridge most likely to be found at?

• Location 1

• Location 2

• Location 3

• Location 4

Which statements are TRUE about the size of earth's plates?

• No plates are larger than a football field.

• Some plates include oceanic and continental crust.

• Some plates are as large as a continent.

• Some plates are as large as an ocean.

• No plate is larger than a mountain range.

Scientists find a new mid-ocean ridge forming along an underwater mountain range. What can scientists assume based on this finding?

• The plates are converging in this area.

• Crust is being pushed back down to the mantle here.

• New ocean floors have stopped being produced at the ridge.

• The crust near the ridge is newer than the crust farther from the ridge.

Look at the land masses on the map. What can the scientists conclude?

• The land masses were once connected.

• These were two different types of giant birds, even if their fossils look identical.

• The fossils date to different time periods and appear in separate regions.

• The giant bird migrated to South America, since the bones were later found in Nigeria.

Which of the following is the most likely reason that the land masses have changed over time?

• Tectonic processes caused the movement of Earth's plates and seafloor spreading 145 million years ago and continues to move today.

• Large plates of Earth's surface greatly moved 145 million years ago but do not move in the present day.

• Earth's plates have moved as far apart as possible, therefore they will not move any more.

• Erosion and weathering over long periods of time have caused these large plates to drift apart.

Many scientists claim that the present day continents will continue to drift apart. Which evidence best support their claim? Select three correct answers.

• Scientists know that the continents have come together and spread apart at least three times in the Earth's history and this pattern will continue.

• Hurricane Lane hit land in Hawaii on August 22, 2018.

• Areas along the San Andreas Fault experience earthquakes on a regular basis.

• Louisiana's coastline is disappearing at a rate of 75 km2 a year.

• A volcano erupted approximately 35 years ago at Mount Saint Helens.

What happens at Divergent Plate Boundaries?

• Plates move towards each other

• Both plates move in the same direction to the West

• Both plates move in the same direction the East

• Plates move away from each other

How can we explain finding mesosaurus fossils on South America and Africa?

• They swam

• South America and Africa are on two different plates on a divergent plate boundary

• South America and Africa are on two different plates on a convergent plate boundary

• The grew up in two different areas