Battle of the Brains- Moving and Shaking

Part A

In paragraph 4, how does the author’s use of crumples, buckles, crashed, and mash-up impact the reader’s understanding of convergent boundaries?

• A. by helping the reader understand how to locate the convergent boundaries

• B. by helping the reader to imagine the violent movement associated with convergent boundaries

• C. by providing the reader with a comparison between convergent and divergent boundaries

• D. by illustrating for the reader the differences between convergent boundaries and transform boundaries

Part B

Which two additional phrases in the section titled Convergent Boundaries provide further support for the answer to Part A?

• A. “. . . landmasses collide . . .” (paragraph 4)

• B. “. . . slowly giving rise . . .” (paragraph 4)

• C. “. . . a plate of ocean dives . . .” (paragraph 5)

• D. “. . . forms mountain ranges.” (paragraph 5)

• E. “. . . spewed out . . .” (paragraph 5)

Part A

Read the sentence from paragraph 2.

Churning currents in the molten rocks below propel them along like a jumble of conveyor belts in disrepair.

How does this sentence contribute to the reader’s understanding of the topic of the article?

• A. by describing the geologic features that can form along each of the three types of tectonic boundaries

• B. by providing an analogy connecting the concept of moving tectonic plates to a concrete image

• C. by signaling a shift in the structure of the article to a chronological narrative

• D. by connecting the introduction of the article to the central idea that the lithosphere is unique to planet Earth

Part B

Which three phrases provide examples that further develop the topic of the article in Part A?

• A. “. . . the minors are no less important . . . .” (paragraph 1)

• B. “. . . the crust crumples and buckles . . . .” (paragraph 4)

• C. “As the mash-up continues . . .” (paragraph 4)

• D. “. . . the highest point on Earth . . .” (paragraph 4)

• E. “. . . the halting motion . . .” (paragraph 9)

Part B

How does paragraph 9 contribute to the structure in Part A?

• A. by introducing transform boundaries as a new main topic

• B. by elaborating on one of the subtypes of boundaries created by tectonic plates

• C. by suggesting a solution to the problem of tectonic plates that move in a jerky motion

• D. by providing reasons why geologic activity is necessary for Earth’s future development

Part A

Which best describes the overall structure of the article?

• A. an introduction to the main topic followed by discussions of various sub-topics related to the main topic

• B. a statement of a central argument followed by explanation of ideas that support the central argument

• C. a description of a problem followed by possible solutions to the problem

• D. an explanation of various features related to the topic followed by the causes of the features

Part A

Which sentence from the article is based on a reasoned judgment?

• A. “Six of the majors are named for the continents embedded within them, such as the North American, African, and Antarctic plates.” (paragraph 1)

• B. “Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth, may be a tiny bit taller tomorrow than it is today.” (paragraph 4)

• C. “At ocean-ocean convergences, one plate usually dives beneath the other, forming deep trenches like the Mariana Trench in the North Pacific Ocean, the deepest point on Earth.” (paragraph 6)

• D. “These boundaries don’t produce spectacular features like mountains or oceans, but the halting motion often triggers large earthquakes, such as the 1906 one that devastated San Francisco.” (paragraph 9)

Part B

On which piece of evidence is the reasoned judgment in Part A based?

• A. scientific theories based on geologic events in the past

• B. scientists’ opinions about geologic events

• C. descriptions of similar geologic events in the past

• D. predictions about geologic events made by scientists several centuries ago

8. PART B

9. Which TWO sentences support the answer to Part A?

• A. "The tiny Juan de Fuca plate is largely responsible for the volcanoes that dot the Pacific Northwest of the United States." (Paragraph 1)

• B. "Churning currents in the molten rocks below propel them along like a jumble of conveyor belts in disrepair." (Paragraph 2)

• C. "Most geologic activity stems from the interplay where the plates meet or divide." (Paragraph 2)

• D. "The movement of the plates creates three types of tectonic boundaries: convergent, where plates move into one another; divergent, where plates move apart; and transform, where plates move sideways in relation to each other." (Paragraph 3)

• E. "Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth, may be a tiny bit taller tomorrow than it is today." (Paragraph 4)

Part A

Which sentence states a central idea of “Plate Tectonics: Moving and Shaking”?

• A. The most dramatic geologic activity on Earth happens at tectonic boundaries.

• B. The highest mountain system on Earth, the Himalaya, was created by the movement of tectonic plates.

• C. All of the world’s oceans are connected by one mid-ocean ridge system.

• D. The grinding of plates at a transform boundary may cause violent earthquakes.