Plate Movement (Theories)

Who proposed the Continental Drift Theory?

• Alfred Wegener

• Harry Hess

• Robert Dietz

• Charles Darwin

What layer of the earth serves as a heat source that initiates the formation of convection currents?

• crust

• mantle

• lithosphere

• core

Which of the following sequence correctly illustrates the progression of theories explaining why tectonic plates move?

• Seafloor Spreading → Continental Drift → Convection Currents →

  Earth’s Interior Layers → Plate Tectonics Theory

• Earth’s Interior Layers → Convection Currents → Seafloor Spreading → Continental Drift → Plate Tectonics Theory

• Continental Drift → Seafloor Spreading → Convection Currents → Earth’s Interior Layer → Plate Tectonics Theory

• Convection Currents → Earth’s Interior Layers → Continental Drift → Seafloor Spreading → Plate Tectonics Theory

Which of the following is a mechanical layer of the Earth?

• crust

• mantle

• lithosphere

• core

What is the name of the singular landmass that once existed some 250 million years ago?

• Eurasia

• Gondwanaland

• Laurasia

• Pangaea

Who proposed the theory of seafloor spreading?

I. Alfred Wegener

II. Harry Hess

III. Robert Dietz

• I only

• I and II only

• II and III only

• I, II and III

Why was the theory of continental drift not accepted by scientists despite of numerous evidences that support it?

• It was not able to provide an explanation why the continents move.

• The theory required advanced concepts inaccessible during the time.

• The scientist who proposed the theory did not have a good reputation.

• A majority of the presented evidence were found out to be fabrications.

How do oceans get wider according to the seafloor spreading theory? When magma comes out of the ocean ridge, it ____________________________________.

• pushes the old crust upwards increasing the thickness of the crust

• melts the old crust creating a heat source which boils away the ocean water

• melts the old crust creating a trench which causes the ocean to increase its water capacity

• pushes either side of ridge away from the ridge pushing the ocean floor apart while creating new crustal material

Materials in the mantle move via convection currents. Which of the following explains how a convection current is generated?

• The mantle is squeezed between the crust and the core. The heat generated from this enables convection currents to flow.

• Tectonic plates are moving. As they move, they produce friction which creates heat. This heat pushes the flow of convection currents.

• The core of the earth is much hotter than the mantle. The heat from the core flows towards the mantle fueling the convection currents.

• Heat from the sun is absorbed by the Earth’s internal layers. This constant flow of heat from the sun triggers the movement of mantle materials.

Which of the following was not used by Alfred Wegener as evidence for continental drift?

• Similar rock formations on different continents

• Fossil distribution across continents

• GPS measurements of plate movement

• The fit of continental coastlines