Environmental Science: Mesosaurus Fossil Mystery and Plate Tectonics

What was the initial hypothesis about how Mesosaurus fossils ended up on different continents?

• They were carried by birds.

• They were blown by the wind.

• They swam across oceans.

• They were transported by humans.

What did Alfred Wegener propose about the continents?

• They have always been in their current positions.

• They are fixed and do not move.

• They are shrinking over time.

• They were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea.

Which piece of evidence did Wegener use to support his hypothesis of continental drift?

• The presence of similar languages across continents.

• The consistent size of continents over time.

• The discovery of identical fossils on different continents.

• The uniform climate across the globe.

What tool did seismologists use to learn about Earth's structure?

• Barometer

• Seismograph

• Microscope

• Telescope

What did seismologists discover about Earth's layers?

• They are all the same density.

• They are composed of only one type of rock.

• They have distinct properties at different depths.

• They are all liquid.

What is the theory of plate tectonics?

• The concept that Earth's lithosphere is divided into moving plates.

• The belief that the Earth is flat.

• The idea that continents are stationary.

• The theory that the Earth is expanding.

How do tectonic plates move?

• They drift on the molten asthenosphere.

• They are stationary.

• They are pushed by ocean currents.

• They are moved by the wind.

What is the difference between a scientific theory and a hypothesis?

• A hypothesis is more important than a theory.

• A theory is always correct, while a hypothesis is not.

• A hypothesis is a guess, while a theory is based on evidence.

• A theory is a guess, while a hypothesis is proven.

Why can't continental drift be considered a true scientific theory on its own?

• It lacks any supporting evidence.

• It does not explain how continents move.

• It is not related to geology.

• It is a new concept.

What do geologists predict about the future movement of continents?

• They will drift apart indefinitely.

• They will remain in their current positions.

• They will sink into the ocean.

• They will eventually come back together.