Plate Tectonics Mastery Quiz

What is the theory of plate tectonics?

• The study of weather patterns over time

• The theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle

• The belief that Earth is gradually expanding

• The study of the composition of minerals within Earth's crust

Which boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other?

• Convergent boundary

• Divergent boundary

• Transform boundary

• Subduction zone

What geological feature is commonly formed at a convergent boundary?

• Mid-ocean ridges

• Volcanic islands

• Mountain ranges

• Earthquake zones

What is subduction?

• The process by which one tectonic plate moves under another tectonic plate

• The creation of new crust at divergent boundaries

• The sliding of two plates past each other horizontally

• The uplift of crust to form mountains

Which type of plate boundary is the San Andreas Fault an example of?

• Convergent boundary

• Divergent boundary

• Transform boundary

• Subduction zone

What drives the movement of tectonic plates?

• Solar energy

• Gravitational forces from the moon

• Convection currents in the mantle

• Magnetic fields within Earth's core

What is Pangea?

• A supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras

• The deepest part of the ocean

• A theory that explains the extinction of dinosaurs

• A type of rock formed at divergent boundaries

Which of the following is a direct result of plate tectonics?

• The water cycle

• The formation of the atmosphere

• Earthquakes

• The carbon cycle

How do scientists study and understand plate tectonics?

• By observing the stars and planets

• Through archaeological digs

• Using satellite technology and seismographic data

• By measuring the temperature of the sun

What is the lithosphere?

• The liquid outer core of the Earth

• The hot, convecting mantle

• The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle

• The layer of Earth made up entirely of molten rock