Plate Tectonics Practice Review

A lake is surrounded by hills covered with trees and shrubs. Which statement correctly describes how a change to the plants in this area will affect this environment?

• Adding plants to the hillsides will increase sedimentation in the lake.

• Adding plants to the edge of the lake will increase erosion by the lake.

• Removing plants from the hillsides will increase erosion on the hills.

• Removing plants from the edge of the lake will increase sedimentation on the hills.

Answer explanation

Removing plants from the hillsides reduces root structure that stabilizes soil, leading to increased erosion. This erosion can result in more sediment entering the lake, but the correct statement focuses on the hills themselves.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following can cause erosion?

• falling leaves

• flowing water

• growing grass

• rising temperatures

Answer explanation

Erosion is primarily caused by natural forces that move soil and rock. Flowing water is a significant agent of erosion, as it can carry away particles and reshape landscapes. The other options do not directly cause erosion.

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Which process is most responsible for the formation of the Grand Canyon?

• scouring by continental glaciers

• erosion by wind and water

• eruptions by explosive volcanoes

• cracking of Earth's crust by earthquakes

Answer explanation

The Grand Canyon was primarily formed by erosion caused by the Colorado River, along with wind and water, which carved out the rock layers over millions of years. Other processes like glaciers or volcanic eruptions played minimal roles.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The landform below is a sea arch. What is responsible for shaping this arch?

• A. plate tectonics

• B. earthquakes

• C. deposition

• D. erosion

Answer explanation

The sea arch is formed primarily through erosion, where waves continuously wear away the rock, creating openings and eventually shaping the arch. Thus, the correct answer is D. erosion.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Moving water was the most important factor in forming which of these?

• A. the Grand Canyon

• B. San Andreas Fault

• C. the Rocky Mountains

• D. Mount St. Helens Volcano

Answer explanation

Moving water carved the Grand Canyon over millions of years through erosion, making it the most significant factor in its formation. The other options involve geological processes unrelated to water erosion.

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Which best describes the changes occurring to the Earth's surface over time?

• A. New mountains are being formed as old mountains are gradually worn down.

• B. Mountains are gradually being worn down, but no new ones are formed.

• C. More mountains are gradually formed as the oceans recede.

• D. New mountains are only formed under the oceans.

Answer explanation

Choice B is correct because while mountains do erode over time, the process of mountain formation is not currently occurring at the same rate, leading to a gradual wearing down without new mountains being formed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

It is harder to read the wording on very old tombstones than it is to read the wording on newer ones. This difference is most likely a result of:

• A. dirt filling in the letters;

• B. modern tombstones being made of artificial materials;

• C. weathering of the stone;

• D. slow crystallization of the stone.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is C. Weathering of the stone affects older tombstones more significantly, leading to erosion and loss of detail, making the inscriptions harder to read compared to newer, less weathered stones.

Which activity can cause the formation of mountains?

• A. weathering

• B. tectonic plate collisions

• C. earthquakes

• D. water erosion

Answer explanation

Mountains are primarily formed by tectonic plate collisions, where the Earth's plates push against each other, causing the crust to fold and rise. Other options like weathering and erosion do not create mountains.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The topsoil covering an area of land was washed away by rain. The land was most likely—

• A. steep, without vegetation

• B. steep, with vegetation

• C. flat, without vegetation

• D. flat, with vegetation

Answer explanation

The land was most likely flat and without vegetation, as steep areas with vegetation typically retain topsoil better. Flat, bare land is more susceptible to erosion from rain, leading to the loss of topsoil.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Wind, moving water, and moving ice pick up and move soil and other materials in a process known as

• A. erupting.

• B. erosion.

• C. faulting.

• D. fossilization.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is B. erosion. Erosion is the process by which wind, moving water, and moving ice transport soil and materials from one location to another, shaping the landscape over time.

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