Unit 4 Common Assessment

Which of the following is true regading the Earth's mantle?

• It is made mostly of liquid metal that allows it to flow.

• Its material moves due to convection currents.

• It is the densest of all of Earth's layers.

• It is the hottest of all the Earth's layers.

Scientists map the interior of the Earth using seismic waves. Seismic waves do not travel through liquid. Which part of the interior would seismic waves not be able to penetrate?

• lithosphere

• inner core

• outer core

• mantle

Tectonic plates that make up Earth's crust move because of _____ in Earth's mantle.

• conduction currents

• convection currents

• gravity

• magnetic forces

Which statement BEST describes one difference between Earth's mantle and crust?

• The mantle is less dense than the crust.

• The mantle is hot compared to the crust.

• The mantle is cool compared to the crust.

• The mantle is thin compared to the crust.

According to the theory of plate tectonics, where do activities such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur?

• along plate boundaries

• in the centers of plates

• above the surfaces of plates

• in the outer regions of plates

Paul's favorite television show is a nature program called Volcano Hunters. Each week, a team of geologists travels to a different volcano to try to film an eruption. Where would the team most likely find an active volcano?

• near the North or South poles

• where Earth's crust is the thickest

• where two tectonic plates meet

• anywhere along the equator

What drives the movement of Earth's tectonic plates?

• the movement of air currents pushing on the plates

• the convection of magma under the plates pulling them

• the movement of Earth on its axis pulling on the plates

• the convection of ocean currents above the plates pushing them

What is the outermost layer of the Earth?

• crust

• mantle

• inner core

• outercore

What do cracks in an eggshell represent?

• mountain ranges in the Northern Hemisphere

• holes in the ozone layer of the atmosphere

• fault lines made by moving tectonic plates

• the boundaries between land and ocean

What is the layer between the crust and outer core?

• crust

• mantle

• lithosphere

• hydrosphere