The Rocky Mountains Are in the Wrong Place

How are most mountain ranges formed?

• Two tectonic plates slide past each other.

• Two tectonic plates pull apart from each other.

• Two tectonic plates smash together, pushing rock upwards.

• Volcanic eruptions continuously build up rock layers.

Which two mountain-building events were primarily responsible for forming the Rocky Mountains?

• The Pacific Orogeny and the Atlantic Orogeny.

• The Sevier Orogeny and the Laramide Orogeny.

• The North American Orogeny and the Continental Orogeny.

• The Alaskan Orogeny and the Mexican Orogeny.

What is the main idea behind the "Retroarc Thrusting" hypothesis for the formation of the Rocky Mountains?

• A detached section of the lower crust floated inland, causing mountains to rise.

• The North American plate pushed westward, causing the oceanic plate to get stuck and the continent to crumple.

• A combination of side-to-side and compression movements along a fault created the mountains.

• A young, hot oceanic plate slid flat beneath the continent, transferring stress far inland.

According to the "Flat-Slab Subduction" hypothesis, why did the subducting oceanic plate slide horizontally for a long distance under North America?

• The plate was old and cold, making it less buoyant.

• The plate was young and hot, making it more buoyant.

• The plate was moving very slowly, allowing it to spread out.

• The continental plate was unusually thin, allowing for horizontal movement.