Plate Motion PRACTICE QUIZ

Which statement best describes what Earth’s outer layer is like underneath the surface materials, like those shown in the image.

• Under the land, there is hard, solid rock. Under the ocean, there is water.

• Underneath Earth's surface materials, the outer layer is made of hard, solid rock.

• Underneath Earth's surface materials, the outer layer is made of soft, solid rock.

• Underneath the soil there is soft, solid rock. Under the ocean there is sand.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Dr. Raisa and her team have been studying GPS data that shows that two plates moved together. Which diagram shows what happened between the two plates as they moved toward each other?

• A: Plates move together, reducing the size of the ocean

• B: Plates crash and push upward. The mantle adds on to both plates, increasing the height

• C. One layer moves under the other and is absorbed into the mantle, forming a trench

• D: A plate from underneath moves up and adds on to one plate, causing it to move toward the other plate

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Fossil remains of Lystrosaurus (an extinct four-legged animal) have been discovered in India and South Africa. When they were living, all the Lystrosaurus lived together on land, and they could not swim. However, now there is an ocean between the Lystrosaurus fossils. What could explain how these fossils got so far apart?

• 
  India and South Africa are on different plates. They moved apart as new plates from underneath got added in between

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

• There is a divergent boundary between Africa and India, causing them to separate over time as the mantle adds on to both plates

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

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

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

• neither under 1 nor 2, because there is soil and water under them

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

• only under 1 because the outer layer is hard rock under land, but sand under the ocean

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Dr. Patel and her team have been using GPS to track two plates that are moving away from each other. Which diagram shows what is happening at the place where the plates are moving apart?

• A: The plates are moving apart, increasing the size of the ocean in between

• B: The plates are moving apart and the mantle is coming up to fill the space and adding onto both plates

• C: As the plates move apart, another plate from underneath moves up to fill the space, adding on

• D: The plates are moving apart and loose sand and gravel are filling the space, adding onto both plates

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

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 on different plates. Over time, earthquakes have forced them apart.

• Brazil and South Africa are on different plates. The plates have slowly moved apart as soft, solid rock from underneath was added

• Brazil and South Africa are on different plates. The plates have floated away from one another over time

• Brazil and South Africa are on different plates. Over time, the plates have moved apart, creating a large trench.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Patterns on this map tell us that . . .

• volcanic activity and earthquakes can cause damage to buildings and hurt people

• earthquakes cause volcanic activity

• volcanic activity and earthquakes happened in random locations all over the map

• volcanic activity and earthquakes occur in similar locations

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

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.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Dr. Bailey and his team are studying two plates that are close to one another. However, these two plates used to be far apart. Which diagram shows what Dr. Bailey and his team would find between these plates?

• A: the plates are moving together, decreasing the size of the ocean

• B: the plates are moving together and pushing upward. The mantle adds on, increasing the mountain height

• C: the plates are moving together and one is sliding under the other. it is then absorbed by the mantle

• D: plates from underneath move up to fill the space. they add on to one of the plates, bringing them closer together

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3