Plate Tectonics Practice Test

What was Pangea?

• A type of prehistoric animal that lived millions of years ago.

• A large mountain range that existed in ancient times.

• An ancient ocean that covered most of the Earth.

• A supercontinent that included all of Earth's landmasses before they separated.

What is the theory of continental drift?

• The idea that continents are made of water instead of rock.

• C) The theory that continents were once connected and slowly moved apart over time.

• The belief that continents formed from volcanoes.

• The idea that continents have always stayed in the same place.

What is evidence for the theory of continental drift?

• The theory of continental drift is based on the movement of ocean currents.
• Continental drift is supported by the discovery of new species.

• The alignment of mountain ranges across continents is purely coincidental.
• The presence of similar fossils and rock formations on continents now separated by oceans.

What is the Pacific Ring of Fire?

• A landlocked area in the Pacific Ocean with no volcanoes.
• A region in the Pacific Ocean known for having many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

• A region known for its abundant marine life and coral reefs.
• A calm area in the Pacific Ocean with no seismic activity.

What is the mid-ocean ridge?

• A type of ocean current that circulates warm water.
• A volcanic island formed by underwater eruptions.
• An underwater mountain range formed by tectonic plates moving apart.

• A deep-sea trench that collects ocean debris.

Why is older crust farther away from the mid-ocean ridge than newer crust?

• Newer crust is denser and sinks below older crust.
• Older crust is formed at the ocean floor and remains stationary.
• Older crust is created by volcanic activity near the shore.
• New crust forms at the ridge and pushes older crust away as tectonic plates move apart.

What is plate tectonics?

• The theory that Earth's crust is divided into plates that move on the mantle.

• The study of ocean currents and tides.
• A type of rock formation found in mountains.
• A method for predicting weather patterns.

Why do tectonic plates move?

• Because of convection currents in the Earth’s mantle that cause the plates to shift.

• Tectonic plates shift because of volcanic eruptions.
• Tectonic plates are pushed by ocean currents.
• Tectonic plates move due to the Earth's rotation.

What are Earth's three main layers?

• Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere
• Inner Core, Outer Core, Mantle
• Crust, Upper Mantle, Lower Mantle
• Mantle, core, and crust

What is convection? (as it applies to plate tectonics)

• The movement of heat through liquids and gases, causing warmer, less dense material to rise and cooler, denser material to sink.

• Convection is the cooling of the Earth's surface due to weather patterns.
• Convection refers to the movement of tectonic plates without heat transfer.
• Convection is the process of solid rock breaking apart.