Earthquakes and Volcanoes

The sediments found in a riverbed are most likely a result of which action on nearby rock?

• heat

• faulting

• pressure

• weathering

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The Hawaiian Islands are of volcanic origin. Many scientists thought that each island had an individual magma plume or hot spot that erupted and formed the islands. Other scientists speculated that these islands were the result of a single hot spot. Which of these statements best supports the single hot spot hypothesis?

• The Pacific tectonic plate is too small to have multiple hot spots.

• The hot spot was large enough to form all the islands at the same time.

• The volcanoes at hot spots have only one eruption which lasts for hundreds of years.

• The locations of the volcanoes match the movement of the Pacific tectonic plate over a hot spot.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Which of these was used by Alfred Wegener as evidence that Earth’s continental landmasses had drifted apart over time?

• the age of the continents

• the shape of the continents

• the thickness of the continents

• the composition of the continents

The diagram shows two converging oceanic plates. As Plate 1 subducts under Plate 2, what will most likely begin to form at Point 3?

• mid-ocean ridge

• strike-slip fault

• volcanic island

• rift zone

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

When scientists proposed the theory of continental drift, there were many skeptics. Which discovery confirmed that the continents move on plates?

• deep-sea currents

• earthquake formation

• spreading of the sea floor

• sedimentary rocks

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Extreme conditions make Antarctica difficult for vegetative growth. Most of the plants that grow in Antarctica are simple plants, such as mosses. However, scientists found many fossils of broad-leaved plants that are now extinct. Which statement explains why extinct broad-leaved plants have been found in Antarctica?

• Polar regions of Earth provided enough water to support plant life.

• Tsunamis carried rocks containing plant fossils to Antarctica over time.

• Antarctica was once joined with other continents farther from the South Pole

• Earth’s South Pole was located where the equator is today millions of years ago.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which statement best describes why fossils of the same land-dwelling species have been discovered in both South America and Africa?

• These organisms migrated to these two continents.

• These organisms were separated by the formation of new mountain ranges.

• These organisms became extinct due to climate changes on these continents.

• These organisms once lived on one large landmass that later split into two continents.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Which event most likely takes place as the result of crustal movement along transform boundaries?

• earthquakes

• volcanic activity

• mountain building

• trenches

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Which event most likely caused the formation of folded mountain ranges on Earth?

• tectonic plates pulling apart

• tectonic plates pushing together

• tectonic plates sliding past each other

• tectonic plates breaking into small pieces

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

What most likely led to the formation of the North American continent?

• Earthquakes broke large pieces off the edge of another continent.

• Two tectonic plates sank into the ocean, allowing new continents to form.

• Hurricanes caused floods that divided one continent in half.

• Two tectonic plates separated and moved away from each other.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2