Multiple Choice Topic Test on Plate Tectonics

Who is credited with the theory of continental drift?

• Alfred Wegener

• Harry Hess

• Charles Darwin

• Isaac Newton

Answer explanation

Alfred Wegener is credited with the theory of continental drift.

The asthenosphere is part of which layer?

• Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Inner Core

Answer explanation

The asthenosphere is part of the Mantle layer, which is located beneath the Earth's crust. It is a semi-fluid layer that allows tectonic plates to move.

What was the name of the supercontinent that existed about 300 million years ago?

• Laurasia

• Gondwana

• Pangaea

• Rodinia

Answer explanation

Pangaea was the name of the supercontinent that existed about 300 million years ago.

What is the main composition of the Earth's inner core?

• Silica

• Iron and nickel

• Magnesium

• Oxygen

Answer explanation

The main composition of the Earth's inner core is iron and nickel, not silica, magnesium, or oxygen.

What forms at a divergent boundary under the ocean?

• Mountain ranges

• Mid-ocean ridges

• Deep trenches

• Island arcs

Answer explanation

At a divergent boundary under the ocean, mid-ocean ridges form as tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and create new oceanic crust.

Which layer of the Earth is the hottest?

• Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Inner Core

Answer explanation

The hottest layer of the Earth is the Inner Core.

The scale that measures the magnitude of an earthquake is called:

• Richter scale

• Mercalli scale

• Seismic Intensity Scale

• Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)

Answer explanation

The scale that measures the magnitude of an earthquake is called the Richter scale.

The movement of continents over geological time is best explained by:

• The greenhouse effect

• Plate tectonics

• Ocean currents

• Volcanic activity

Answer explanation

The movement of continents over geological time is best explained by plate tectonics, which involves the shifting of large sections of the Earth's lithosphere.

The lithosphere includes:

• The crust and upper mantle

• The crust only

• The mantle only

• The outer core and inner core

Answer explanation

The lithosphere includes the crust and upper mantle, making the correct choice the crust and upper mantle.

Which type of evidence supports the idea of continental drift?

• Climate data

• Matching geological formations

• Ocean currents

• Astronomical observations

Answer explanation

Matching geological formations provide evidence for continental drift by showing similarities in rock layers and structures across continents.