Plate Tectonics: Moving and Shaking

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?

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

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

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

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

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

• the minors are no less important

• the crust crumples and buckles

• As the mash-up continues

• the highest point on Earth

• the halting motion

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

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

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

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

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

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

• landmasses collide

• a plate of ocean dives

• forms mountain ranges.

• spewed out

• slowly giving rise

Which best describes the overall structure of the article?

• an introduction to the main topic followed by discussions of various subtopics related to the main topic

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

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

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

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

• by introducing transform boundaries as a new main topic

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

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

• by providing reasons why geologic activity is necessary for Earth's future development

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

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

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

• "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)

• "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)

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

• scientific theories based on geologic events in the past

• scientists' opinions about geologic events

• descriptions of similar geologic events in the past

• predictions about geologic events made by scientists several centuries ago

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

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

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

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

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

Which TWO sentences support the answer to Part A?

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

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

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

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

• 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)