Plate Tectonics Practice

As depth under Earth’s crust increases, what happens to the temperature and pressure of Earth’s layers?

• They both decrease.
• They both stay the same.
• They both increase.
• Temperature increases and pressure decreases.

What has the greatest effect on plate movement?

• density and convection
• size and convection
• density and composition
• temperature and composition

The deeper into the Earth you travel, the ______ the material becomes.

• more porous
• less porous
• less dense
• more dense

The deepest layer of the Earth that humans have drilled to is the ______.

• outer core
• asthenosphere
• mantle
• crust

In which of Earth’s layers are convection currents believed to be flowing? 

• lithosphere
• asthenosphere
• outer core
• oceanic crust

The process that continually adds crust to the ocean floor is called ______.

• sea-floor spreading
• continental drift
• trench making
• subduction

Which statement about Pangaea is TRUE?

• Pangaea was made of oceanic crust only.
• Pangaea was made of all the Earth’s tectonic plates.
• Pangaea contained continental crust only.
• Pangaea contained both continental and oceanic crust.

What have scientists used to gain information about Earth’s interior?

• satellite images from GPS
• seismic waves from earthquakes
• fossil evidence in the fossil record
• lava pillows found at the mid-ocean ridge

What landform is most likely to form when two continental plates collide?

• the rift valley
• a deep ocean trench
• the mid-ocean ridge
• a mountain range

Name the layers of the Earth from hottest to coolest.

• crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
• inner core, mantle, crust, outer core
• inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
• crust, inner core, outer core, mantle