Unit 3A Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift

Who proposed the theory that Earth's continents were once joined together and have drifted over time?

• Isaac Newton

• Alfred Wegener

• Albert Einstein

• Marie Curie

What was the name of the giant landmass where all continents were once joined?

• Gondwana

• Laurasia

• Pangea

• Rodinia

Which of the following was an early piece of evidence supporting the idea that continents were once connected?

• The discovery of deep ocean trenches

• The way present continents fit together like puzzle pieces

• The presence of active volcanoes in the middle of continents

• The movement of glaciers

Why was the theory of continental drift initially not accepted by the scientific community?

• There was no evidence to support it

• Wegener could not explain how the continents moved

• Other scientists had a better theory at the time

• The idea was too old-fashioned

What scientific theory, published in 1965, finally explained how continents move?

• Theory of Relativity

• Theory of Evolution

• Plate Tectonics

• Big Bang Theory

What drives the movement of Earth's tectonic plates?

• Ocean currents

• Wind patterns

• Convection currents in the mantle

• Gravitational pull from the moon

How does the magnetism of rocks near mid-ocean ridges provide evidence for plate movement?

• It shows that rocks are always magnetized in the same direction

• It reveals patterns of normal and reverse polarity that repeat on both sides of the ridge

• It indicates that rocks are older closer to the ridge

• It proves that the Earth's magnetic field never changes

Where are most of Earth's volcanoes and earthquakes found?

• Randomly scattered across continents

• Deep within the oceans

• Along the edges of tectonic plates

• Only in mountainous regions

How were the Himalayan Mountains formed?

• By volcanic eruptions

• By two tectonic plates pulling apart

• By the collision of two continental plates

• By erosion from wind and water

What geological process creates deep ocean trenches and volcanic island chains like the Japanese Islands?

• Sea-floor spreading

• Subduction, where one plate slides under another

• Continental rifting

• Erosion by ocean waves