Which statement best describes what Earth’s outer layer is like underneath the surface in the image?

• Underneath the soil, Earth’s outer layer is made of water.

• Underneath the soil, Earth’s outer layer is made of hard, solid rock. Underneath the ocean, Earth’s outer layer is made of sand.

• Underneath both the soil and the ocean, Earth’s outer layer is made of hard, solid rock.

• Underneath both the soil and the ocean, Earth’s outer layer is made of sand and water.

Dr. Raisa and her team of geologists have been studying GPS data that shows that two plates moved apart. Which diagram shows what happened between the two plates as they moved away from each other?

• Diagram A

• Diagram B

• Diagram C

• Diagram D

Fossil remains of Lystrosaurus have been discovered in India and South Africa. What could explain how these fossils got so far apart?

• India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.

• India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.

• India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.

• India and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates were sometimes pushed far apart by earthquakes, and soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates.

Fill in the blank: In Diagram B, the edges of the plates are caused to ____.

• break into pieces

• bend upward

• sink into the ocean

• create sand

Which diagram shows one plate going underneath the other plate and sinking into the soft rock below?

• Diagram A

• Diagram B

• Diagram C

• Diagram D

Fill in the blank: Diagram C shows one plate going underneath the other plate and sinking into the ____.

• ocean below

• soft rock below

• sand

• edge

Scientists often study cross sections to better understand what the inside of something looks like. If we took a cross section of a potted plant by cutting it vertically, what would the cross section look like?

• Diagram A

• Diagram B

• Diagram C

• Diagram D

Similar rock formations have been discovered in Brazil and South Africa. These rock formations were formed at the same time and are made of the same types of rocks. What could explain how these rocks got so far apart?

• Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates were sometimes pushed far apart by earthquakes, and soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates.

• Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.

• Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.

• Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.

A team of geologists wants to study hard, solid rock under the surface of Earth. The team is considering drilling down in Saudi Arabia (1) or in the Arabian Sea (2). Where will the geologists find hard, solid rock?

• neither under 1 nor 2, because there is sand and gravel under both places

• neither under 1 nor 2, because there is water under both places

• under 1 and 2, because Earth’s entire outer layer is made of hard, solid rock

• only under 1, because Earth’s outer layer is made of hard, solid rock under continents but not under the ocean

A team of engineers wants to study hard, solid rock under the surface of Earth. The team is considering drilling down in the Indian Ocean (1) and in Sri Lanka (2). Where will the team find hard, solid rock?

• under 1 and 2, because Earth’s entire outer layer is made of hard, solid rock

• only under 2, because Earth’s outer layer is made of hard, solid rock underneath continents but not under the ocean

• neither under 1 nor 2, because there is water underneath both places

• neither under 1 nor 2, because there is sand and gravel underneath both places