Continental Drift

In 1915, the German scientist Alfred Wegener published multiple pieces of evidence that the continents are not motionless and stationary, but instead moving slowly over time, in a book called “The Origins of Continents and Oceans”. He proposed that the continents were all joined together million of years ago in a supercontinent he called Pangaea, meaning “all Earth”. What is the name of this theory?

• plate tectonics

• superposition

• relativity

• continental drift

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The cross-section below shows a series of rock layers that have been found in South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica. Alfred Wegener's analysis of the similarities of these layers led to the conclusion that

• continental plates float on top of a molten mantle

• in undisturbed rock sequences, the oldest fossils will be on the bottom

• these five landmasses were once joined in a single landmass

• magnetic anomalies are preserved in rocks formed at mid-oceanic ridges

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Which statement best supports the theory of continental drift?

• Basaltic rock is found to be progressively younger at increasing distances from a mid-ocean ridge.

• Marine fossils are often found in deep-well drill cores.

• The present continents appear to fit together as pieces of a larger landmass.

• Areas of shallow-water seas tend to accumulate sediment, which gradually sinks.

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Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift was not well accepted because he could not say what force could be big enough for the continents to move. Current theories explain this movement with

• subduction zones at continental margins

• hot spots forming under continents

• magnetic reversals of the north and south poles

• convection currents in the mantle

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The theory of continental drift suggests that the

• continents moved due to changes in the Earth's orbital velocity

• continents moved due to the Coriolis effect caused by the Earth's rotation

• present-day continents of South America and Africa are moving toward each other

• present-day continents of South America and Africa once fit together like puzzle parts

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The map below indicates the possible locations of some of the Earth’s continents in the past. Which evidence best supports the idea that the landmasses on Earth were once in these positions?

• North America and India have matching mountain chains.

• Madagascar and India have similar shapes.

• Matching rock layers can be found in Africa and South America.

• Bedrock in Australia and Greenland have glacier scratches.

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The map below shows the current positions of South America and Africa. Points A and B represent areas on the two continents where scientists have discovered fossils of the same animal species. How does the Theory of Plate Tectonics explain the location of these fossils?

• The continents were once joined together.

• The animals were able to swim from one continent to the other.

• Humans transported the animals from point A to point B.

• The animals developed independently on both continents.

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Living corals are found in warm, shallow seas. Coral fossils have been found in the sedimentary rocks of Alaska. These findings suggest that

• Alaska once had a tropical marine environment

• Alaska's cold climate fossilized the coral

• coral usually develops in cold climates

• ocean currents carried the coral to Alaska

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Monte Bolca is located high in the mountains of northern Italy. The site is one of the world's largest deposits of coral reef fish fossils. There are fossils of more than 160 fish species dating back 49 million years. These fossils provide evidence of the environment in which the coral fish lived and died. Which statement is consistent with this evidence and explains how ancient coral reef fossils can be found high in the mountains far from any sea?

• A huge tidal wave pushed marine life up into the mountains.

• Prehistoric man carried fish into the mountains from the sea.

• Fish were thrown into the mountains by a tremendous volcanic explosion.

• Land that was uplifted to form the mountains was once covered by the sea.

The large coal fields found in Pennsylvania provide evidence that the climate of the northeastern United States was much warmer during the Carboniferous Period. This change in climate over time is best explained by the

• movements of tectonic plates

• effects of seasons

• changes in the environment caused by humans

• evolution of life

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