Grade 6 Semester 1 Checkpoint 2

Michael and Jose are studying plate tectonics. They learned that plates usually move a few centimeters every year. They learned that the movement of heated material in Earth's interior causes the plates to move. Which of the following statements best describes the events leading to the plate movement?

• Surface events driven by energy from the sun.

• Subsurface events driven by energy from the sun.

• Surface events driven by energy from Earth’s core.

• Subsurface events driven by energy from Earth’s core.

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Hot rock slowly moves within Earth’s mantle. This movement of hot rock rising and cool rock sinking in the mantle carries heat from Earth’s core toward the crust. What is this heat transfer process called?

• Conduction

• Convection

• Radiation

• Plate tectonic

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Geologists study the Earth’s geosphere to better explain fast and slow changes to Earth’s surface. One of the features a geologist would study are mountains.

Which of the following methods or tools would be the most useful to a geologist constructing an explanation of mountain building?

• Geologists collect data on the decreasing heights of mountain ranges each year.

• Geologists construct topographic (shape/height/depth) maps of mountain ranges.

• Geologists use models to show what happens to the Earth when mountains are formed.

• Geologists study the effects of weathering and erosion in mountain ranges over one year.

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Matthew was learning about the layers of Earth in his science class. When he learned that under Earth’s crust is an enormous amount of hot molten rock, he wondered why volcanoes do not occur everywhere more frequently. If hot rock rises, why don’t volcanic eruptions happen everywhere?

• Hot molten rock that rises through the mantle is not the source of magma that flows from a volcano.

• Hot molten rock does not cause volcanoes because the hot molten rock sinks while the cooler rock rises.

• Hot molten rock that rises through the mantle continues rising and erupts through the crust at cracks in Earth’s crust called transform boundaries.

• Hot molten rock that rises through the mantle continues rising and erupts through the surface at cracks in Earth’s crust called divergent and convergent boundaries.

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The diagram shows a convergent boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving towards each other. The diagram shows the oceanic plate sinking beneath the continental plate, and melting rock being squeezed up toward the surface. Which statement best describes the potential results of tectonic plates moving towards each other at a convergent boundary?

• A volcano is the only possible result.

• Volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountain building could result.

• Mountain building could occur, but volcanoes would not be a result.

• Volcanoes could occur, but mountain building would not be a result

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Imagine that far away in the universe in an undiscovered location, there is a planet very similar to Earth. However, the core of this planet is not very hot, and its mantle is composed of uniformly cool rock. The planet, like Earth, experiences surface temperature differences that influence the movement of materials within its spheres. However, a planet with a cool core and mantle should experience different levels of activity on its surface. How would the interior composition of this planet most likely influence activity seen on this planet’s surface?

• This planet would still experience movement of geologic features, such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountain building.

• If the mantle did not have cool rock sinking and hot rock rising, there would be even more volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and mountain building.

• If the mantle did not have cool rock sinking and hot rock rising, there would not be hot magma rising to the surface as volcanic eruptions, but tectonic plates would still move past each other causing earthquakes and mountain buildings.

• If the mantle did not have cool rock sinking and hot rock rising, there would not be hot magma rising to the surface as volcanic eruptions, and the flow responsible for moving the tectonic plates would not occur, so the plates would probably remain in one location.

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Ariel is studying plate tectonics, specifically subduction zones. A well-known subduction zone is the Cascadia Subduction Zone along the west coast of North America. The interaction between the Juan de Fuca Plate and the North American Plate has the potential for significant seismic events, including large earthquakes. Which of the following accurately describes the geological processes associated with subduction zones?

• The sliding of two plates horizontally past each other results in severe earthquakes.

• The separation of two tectonic plates leads to the eruption of volcanoes and the creation of small islands.

• The sinking of one tectonic plate beneath another causing earthquakes, volcanoes, and ocean trenches.

• The collision of two tectonic plates leads to the uplift of mountain ranges and no other geological processes

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The diagram shows a cross section of Earth’s layers. Arrows show the direction of the flow of rock in the outer layers of Earth. Movement of rock in Earth’s crust can occur because of heat flow, as hot rock rises and cool rock sinks. Which of the following is the best description of how movement in the mantle allows continents to move apart, causing seafloor spreading?

• As convection currents in the mantle move plates on the crust in opposite directions, magma from the mantle rises through the crust and cools to create new oceanic crust.

• As convection currents in the mantle move plates on the crust toward each other, magma from the mantle rises through the crust and heats to create new oceanic crust.

• As conduction in the mantle occurs, plates on the crust move in opposite directions, magma from the core rises through the crust and cools to create new continental crust.

• As conduction in the mantle occurs, plates on the crust move in toward each other, magma from the core sinks through the crust and heats to create new continental crust.

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The diagram shows a cross section of Earth’s layers. Arrows show the direction of the flow of rock in the outer layers of Earth. Movement of rock in Earth’s crust can occur because of heat flow, as hot rock rises and cool rock sinks. Which of the following correctly describes the method of heat transfer that occurs between the layers of the Earth?

• Heat transfers from the outer core to the mantle by radiation, then from the mantle to the crust by radiation.

• Heat transfers from the outer core to the mantle by conduction, then through the mantle toward the crust by convection.

• Heat transfers from the inner core to the outer core by radiation, then from the outer core through the mantle by radiation.

• Heat transfers from the crust down through the mantle by radiation, then from the outer core to the inner core by convection.

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The map shows the locations of tectonic plates around the globe. Earthquakes can cause major changes to Earth’s surface to occur very quickly. Based on the principles of how tectonic plates cause earthquakes, in which of the following places on Earth is an earthquake most likely to occur?

• in Antarctica

• in the center of the Pacific Ocean

• in the center of the Eurasian Plate

• along the edges of the Philippine Plate and the Eurasian Plate

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