8.1 Review

What is the main idea behind plate tectonics?

• Earth's lithosphere is stationary
• Plates are moving away from each other
• Plates are stationary
• Earth's lithosphere is broken into plates that move on the asthenosphere

Which of the following was NOT an observation used by Alfred Wegener to support his continental drift theory?

• Fossil remains of the Mesosaurus
• Climate change evidence
• Human-made structures on continents
• Similarities in the shapes of continents

What was one of the main objections to Alfred Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift?

• Lack of evidence in the fossil record
• No similarities in rock formations
• Inability to explain how continents moved
• Rapid movement of continents

How did the theory of plate tectonics differ from Alfred Wegener's continental drift hypothesis?

• It proposed that continents floated on water
• It suggested the continents have always been in their current positions
• It explained that continents move independently of the plates
• It stated that continents are embedded in the lithospheric plates

What do mid-ocean ridges represent?

• Boundaries where lithospheric plates are moving apart
• Boundaries where lithospheric plates are colliding
• Boundaries where lithospheric plates are sliding past each other
• Boundaries where lithospheric plates are stationary

What does the theory of plate tectonics help explain?

• Migration patterns of birds
• Formation of sand dunes
• Origins of the Moon
• Why earthquakes and volcanoes occur in certain locations

Where do earthquakes and volcanic activity primarily occur?

• In deserts
• Along plate boundaries
• In rainforests
• In urban areas

What is the main factor that causes fractures and earthquakes along plate boundaries?

• Strong winds
• Sandstorms
• Tornadoes
• Built-up strain

What does the pattern of magnetic reversals on either side of a mid-ocean ridge indicate?

• Presence of ancient civilizations
• Volcanic eruptions
• Movement of lithospheric plates
• Lack of geological activity

How do geologists study magnetic reversals on the ocean floor?

• By analyzing the composition of igneous rocks
• By observing the formation of mid-ocean ridges
• By studying the alignment of crystals in solidified rock
• All of the above