Continental Drift Quiz

Which of the following would NOT support the theory of continental drift?

• a. Similar fossils found on continents separated by oceans

• b. The discovery of mid-ocean ridges and sea-floor spreading

• c. Evidence of glacial deposits in tropical regions

• d. Identical plant species found on opposite sides of oceans

If Wegener's theory of continental drift had been widely accepted during his time, how might it have changed the scientific understanding of Earth's history?

• a. It would have led to the discovery of Earth's magnetic field

• b. It would have encouraged studies on plate tectonics much earlier

• c. It would have made oceanography more popular

• d. It would have focused research on volcanic activity exclusively

Why was Wegener's theory of continental drift considered controversial at the time?

• a. He did not have the technology to map the ocean floor

• b. There was no known mechanism to explain how continents could move

• c. His evidence was based on outdated scientific methods

• d. Most geologists believed in a fixed Earth for religious reasons

What could have happened if Wegener had not presented fossil evidence as part of his continental drift theory?

• a. His theory would likely have been more accepted

• b. His theory would have been completely dismissed

• c. His theory would have been stronger due to focus on physical features

• d. Fossil evidence would not have been considered important

Which modern discovery provided support for Wegener's ideas, but in a different form than he envisioned?

• a. Seafloor spreading

• b. The discovery of ancient meteorites

• c. The formation of mid-ocean ridges

• d. The identification of divergent plate boundaries

How would the discovery of plate tectonics have impacted Wegener's theory if he were alive today?

• a. It would have confirmed his ideas but explained the mechanism

• b. It would have discredited his entire theory

• c. It would have made no difference to his theory

• d. It would have been irrelevant to his findings

In which way would Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift explain the presence of similar rock formations on different continents?

• a. The continents split apart and the rocks spread across both regions

• b. The rocks were formed from the same volcanoes millions of years ago

• c. The rock formations were once part of the same landmass that drifted apart

• d. The rocks were independently formed under similar conditions

How does the presence of fossils from tropical plants in now-cold regions support Wegener's theory?

• a. It suggests that these plants evolved separately in different regions

• b. It implies that the Earth's climate has remained the same

• c. It indicates that these regions were once located closer to the equator

• d. It shows that these plants could survive in extreme temperatures

If the continents drift at a rate of a few centimeters per year, how long would it take for them to drift by 1000 kilometers?

• a. About 1 million years

• b. About 1 million days

• c. About 10 million years

• d. About 10,000 years

Why was the concept of continental drift difficult for many scientists to accept, even though evidence was accumulating?

• a. It contradicted the theory of Earth's static, unchanging nature

• b. It was too similar to the idea of a flat Earth

• c. It lacked technological evidence, such as GPS measurements

• d. It relied on fossil evidence that was easily disputed