C3 7.8C, 8.9 B,C Human Impact and Plate Tectonics

Scientists recently discovered that rocks collected from the Franklin Mountains in West Texas and rocks collected from mountains in eastern Antarctica were exactly the same age. Further research showed that the rocks were chemically and geologically the same and came from the same magma source. This discovery provides evidence of —

• coastal erosion

• plate tectonics

• ocean currents

• glacial melting

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In 1915, German scientist Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift. Wegener found that continents were slowly drifting around the surface of Earth. Later scientists were able to explain the processes that drive continental drift by looking at the phenomenon of —

• radiocarbon dating.

• global warming.

• the origin of life.

• seafloor spreading

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After the scientific community accepted Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift, many geologists conducted research that furthered the development of the theory of plate tectonics. Geologists became able to better understand how Earth's plates interacted by —

• recognizing that there are different types of boundaries between plates.

• determining that all plates are created by volcanoes and destroyed by earthquakes.

• recognizing that there are only three plates on Earth.

• determining that there are no plate boundary zones.

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Geologists who study past life forms are called paleontologists. They have contributed to the development of the theory of plate tectonics by recovering fossils that suggest continental drift occurred. The relevant fossils belong to organisms that lived —

• far apart and had similar shapes and genetic patterns.

• close together and had different shapes and genetic patterns.

• at different times and did not have similar shapes or genetic patterns.

• in the same area and had different shapes and genetic patterns.

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Farmers can best reduce negative effects on the water quality of nearby streams and lakes by planting crops that —

• produce less oxygen

• produce less carbon dioxide

• need less fertilizer

• need less solar energy

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A student’s model of an area near a city depicts many activities that affect the quality of the water in the area. How does the agricultural activity most likely affect the surface water of the area?

• Excess crop fertilizer is carried by runoff into the river, causing excess growth of water plants.

• Excess crop material accumulates on the riverbanks, slowing the movement of the river water.

• Crops reduce erosion, increasing the amount of soil entering the river.

• Crops absorb pure water from soil, causing the remaining water to contain more salt.

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The model shows an area near a lake. Community leaders are planning new laws to help protect the lake from pollution. One proposed law will make it illegal to dump trash on the shore of the lake, but the law still allows trash to be placed in the area labeled 'Flow-through wetland.' Which statement about the proposed law is supported by the model?

• The proposed law will protect the lake because plant roots between the wetland and the lake will stop pollution from entering the lake.

• The proposed law will not protect the lake because animals that live in or near the lake will add pollution to the lake.

• The proposed law will not protect the lake because groundwater will carry pollution from the wetland directly into the lake.

• The proposed law will protect the lake because the high elevation of the water table will block pollution from entering the lake.

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How do the industrial, agricultural, and residential activities of humans most likely affect the groundwater in the area?

• The activities prevent most of the water from evaporating into the atmosphere.

• Pollutants from the activities percolate through the soil and enter the water table.

• The activities replace the groundwater used.

• All of the above

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