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WorksheetsPlate Tectonics
Total questions: 75
Worksheet time: 38mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Which type of plate boundary would cause folded mountains to form?
a)
transform
b)
convergent
c)
divergent
d)
subduction
2.
The Great Rift Valley in Africa and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge were both created by this type of plate boundary.
a)
divergent
b)
convergent
c)
transform
d)
subduction
3.
What are the two types of crust?
a)
continental and oceanic
b)
ocean and basin
c)
lower and upper
d)
thick and thin
4.
What drives tectonic plate movement?
a)
gravity
b)
coriolis effect
c)
convection currents
d)
the earth's magnetic core
5.
Earthquakes and volcanoes are most likely found in which locations?
a)
at plate boundaries
b)
in oceans
c)
in the middle of continents
d)
in the middle of plates
6.
When one plate slides underneath another, it ____ and the magma _____.
a)
hardens; sinks
b)
melts; sinks
c)
hardens; rises
d)
melts; rises
7.
Transform boundaries are most likely to produce what phenomenon?
a)
volcanoes
b)
deep sea trenches
c)
underwater mountain ranges
d)
earthquakes
8.
When an oceanic plate and a continental plate collide, which one will subduct?
a)
oceanic
b)
continental
c)
neither
d)
both
9.
Two tectonic plates collide at a ___ plate boundary.
a)
convergent
b)
divergent
c)
transform
d)
transformer
10.
This landform can occur at a divergent plate boundary.
a)
trench
b)
mid-ocean ridge
c)
folded mountains
d)
fault
11.
According to Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift,
a)
Earth's surface is made up of seven major landmasses
b)
the continents DO NOT move
c)
Earth is slowly cooling and shrinking
d)
the continents were once joined together in a single landmass
12.
What is Pangaea?
a)
the name of a German scientist
b)
the name of the super-continent that existed millions of years ago
c)
another name for continental drift
d)
the name of an ancient fossil
13.
What type of evidence was NOT used by Alfred Wegener to support his continental drift hypothesis?
a)
evidence from landforms
b)
evidence from fossils
c)
evidence from human remains
d)
evidence from climate
14.
Most geologists rejected Alfred Wegener's idea of continental drift because...
a)
it did not agree with their current theory
b)
Wegener was interested in what Earth was like millions of years ago
c)
Wegener used several different types of evidence to support his hypothesis
d)
Wegener could not identify the force that moved the continents
15.
In Seafloor Spreading, molten material rises from the mantle and erupts or flows out
a)
along the edges of all the continents
b)
along mid-ocean ridges
c)
in the deep ocean trenches
d)
in the north and south poles
16.
How did scientists discover that rocks farther away from mid-ocean ridges were older than those near it?
a)
by observing eruptions of molten material on the seafloor
b)
by mapping rocks on the sea floor using sonar
c)
by determining the age or rock samples obtained by drilling on the seafloor
d)
by measuring how fast seafloor spreading occurs
17.
The geological theory that states that pieces of Earth's lithosphere are in constant, slow motion is the theory of
a)
subduction
b)
plate tectonics
c)
evolution
d)
seafloor spreading
18.
The process by which the ocean floor sinks beneath a deep ocean trench and back into the mantle is known as
a)
convection
b)
continental drift
c)
subduction
d)
conduction
19.
A place where two plates slide past each other, moving in opposite directions, is known as a
a)
transform boundary
b)
divergent boundary
c)
convergent boundary
d)
rift valley
20.
A rift valley forms at a
a)
convergent plate boundary
b)
divergent plate boundary
c)
transform boundary
d)
deep ocean trench
21.
A collision between two pieces of continental crust at a converging boundary produces a
a)
mid-ocean ridge
b)
deep ocean trench
c)
volcanic mountain range
d)
folded mountain range
22.
What discovery caused scientists to rethink Wegener's continental drift theory?
a)
discovery of earthquake activity in California
b)
discovery of the ring of fire in the Pacific Ocean
c)
discovery of seafloor spreading in the Atlantic Ocean
d)
discovery of deep trenches off the coast of South America
23.
What were magnetic stripes on the ocean floor used to prove?
a)
the seafloor was spreading outward from the mid-Atlantic ridge
b)
the seafloor was spreading inward toward the mid-Atlantic ridge
c)
the seafloor was effectively stationary
d)
natural magnetic rocks always form in the mantle of the Earth
24.
The youngest rocks on the seafloor are most likely found...
a)
closest to a mid-ocean ridge
b)
farthest from a mid-ocean ridge
c)
near the coastlines
d)
closest to a deep sea trench
25.
Scientists recently found coal deposits in eastern Antarctica. This discovery provides evidence of-
a)
coastal erosion
b)
plate tectonics
c)
ocean currents
d)
global warming
26.
This theory explains the moving of continents, but could not answer what made the land masses move.
a)
seafloor spreading
b)
evolution
c)
continental drift
d)
plate tectonics
27.
At a convergent boundary, how can you determine which plate will be subducted under the other?
a)
the denser plate is subducted under the less dense plate
b)
the younger plate is subducted under the older plate
c)
the plate nearest the poles is subducted under the plate nearer the equator
d)
the plate with greater magnetic properties will be subducted under the less magnetic plate
28.
The Alps are increasing in eleveation due to...
a)
seafloor spreading
b)
the action of earthquakes
c)
colliding tectonic plates
d)
transform faulting of a tectonic plate
29.
The Andes Mountains are a volcanic mountain range located on the western coast of South America. The plate boundary located in this region is most likely an area of-
a)
subduction because the plates are colliding
b)
folded mountains because the plates are colliding
c)
mid-ocean ridges because the plates are pulling apart
d)
ocean-floor spreading because the plates are spreading apart
30.
The Himalayas are formed because of what kind of plate movement?
a)
a continental plate being subducted under another
b)
two plates moving apart
c)
two continental plates colliding
d)
two plates sliding past one another
31.
The San Andreas Fault is a crack in the Earth's crust that runs the length of California. What plate boundary feature caused this?
a)
an inactive convergent boundary
b)
an active convergent boundary
c)
an active transform boundary
d)
a volcanic eruption
32.
Folded mountains form at which type of plate boundary?
a)
transform
b)
divergent
c)
subduction
d)
convergent
33.
What geologic feature is most likely to form at a divergent boundary?
a)
delta
b)
rift valley
c)
trench
d)
plateau
34.
Rising magma that results from subduction may produce...
a)
fossil layers
b)
volcanic island arcs
c)
deep-sea sediment
d)
seafloor spreading
35.
What do volcanic island arcs indicate about the plate tectonics in the region?
a)
a converging plate boundary
b)
a diverging plate boundary
c)
a transform plate boundary
d)
new seafloor being created
36.
What occurs when an oceanic plate is subducted under a continental plate?
a)
new oceanic plate is created
b)
continental crust is destroyed
c)
islands form
d)
oceanic crust is destroyed
37.
What geologic process formed the Himalayas?
a)
two continental plates converging
b)
an earthquake in a subduction zone
c)
a tectonic plate moving over a hot spot
d)
movement at a transform fault boundary
38.
Which of the following DOES NOT provide evidence that the continents were once joined together?
a)
fossils of the same reptiles found on different continents
b)
different continents having rocks of the same age and type
c)
coastlines of some continents matching up
d)
ancient maps left by early humans showing only one large continent
39.
What do scientists believe is the force behind plate movement?
a)
gravity
b)
inertia
c)
convection currents
d)
magnetic pole reversals
40.
Tectonic plate movements result in the formation of an mid-ocean ridge when...
a)
the ocean floor spreads
b)
there is heavy rainfall
c)
continental plates collide
d)
plates slide horizontally by each other
41.
What happens when an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate?
a)
the denser oceanic plate slides on top of the less dense continental plate
b)
the less dense oceanic plate slides under the denser continental plate
c)
the denser oceanic plate slides under the less dense continental plate
d)
the less dense oceanic plate slides past the denser continental plate
42.
What is the theory of continental drift?
a)
the belief that continents have always been located at their current locations
b)
the belief that continents have moved slowly apart to their current locations
c)
the belief that new seafloor is continually being created at spreading centers
d)
the belief that continents are slowly sinking into the asthenosphere
43.
A divergent boundary is a boundary between two plates that ____
a)
move toward each other
b)
undergo subduction
c)
move away from each other
d)
slide along each other
44.
What is the explanation for underwater mountain ranges?
a)
continental drift
b)
seafloor spreading
c)
converging oceanic plates
d)
shearing
45.
Who first proposed the theory of continental drift?
a)
John Tuzo Wilson
b)
Harry Hess
c)
Alfred Wegener
d)
Robert Dietz
46.
What is a magnetic field reversal?
a)
when Earth's magnetic field suddenly disappears for short periods of time
b)
when Earth's magnetic field is flipped so that the positions of magnetic north and magnetic south are interchanged
c)
when Earth's magnetic field suddenly runs east/west instead of south/north
d)
none of these
47.
If you used the theory of plate tectonics to predict the most likely place for the next volcanic eruption, you should predict that it is most likely to occur...
a)
along boundaries between colliding lithospheric plates
b)
where one has not happened in at least 10 million years
c)
in the interior of any continent
d)
where a continental lithospheric plate is being subducted beneath an oceanic lithospheric plate
48.
The theory of continental drift DID NOT adequately account for which of the following?
a)
why similar rock types were found on continents separated by oceans
b)
why similar fossils were found on continents separated by oceans
c)
why continents drifted across Earth's surface
d)
why the coastlines of some continents appeared to fit together
49.
What land form is created when an oceanic plate is subducted beneath a continental plate?
a)
mid-ocean ridge
b)
rift valley
c)
trench
d)
volcanic island arc
50.
What is a plate boundary where two plates pull apart?
a)
convergent boundary
b)
divergent boundary
c)
transform boundary
d)
insurgent boundary
51.
What is a plate boundary where two plates slide past each other?
a)
convergent boundary
b)
divergent boundary
c)
transform boundary
d)
transformers boundary
52.
What is a plate boundary where two plates collide into each other?
a)
convergent boundary
b)
divergent boundary
c)
transform boundary
d)
allegiant boundary
53.
A break or crack in the Earth's crust is called a...
a)
plate
b)
fault
c)
fold
d)
crack
54.
What occurs when two plates come together and the denser one is forced under back into the mantle?
a)
reduction
b)
conduction
c)
subduction
d)
convection
55.
What forms when an oceanic and continental plate converge?
a)
island arcs
b)
folded mountains
c)
volcanic mountains
d)
rift valleys
56.
What is associated with transform boundaries?
a)
mountains
b)
volcanoes
c)
earthquakes
d)
islands
57.
What forms when two continental plates diverge?
a)
mountain
b)
rift valley
c)
mid-ocean ridge
d)
deep-ocean trench
58.
What forms when two oceanic plates diverge?
a)
moutains
b)
rift valley
c)
mid-ocean ridge
d)
deep-ocean trench
59.
Which piece of evidence was not used by Wegener to support his theory of continental drift?
a)
South America and Africa coastlines
b)
coal beds in Antarctica
c)
plant and reptile fossils
d)
earthquake patterns
60.
Large pieces of Earth's lithosphere that move around are called?
a)
sections
b)
plates
c)
land masses
d)
faults
61.
This theory states that Earth's plates move on top of the mantle at a slow and constant rate due to convection currents
a)
plate tectonics
b)
continental drift
c)
seafloor spreading
d)
pangaea
62.
What forms when denser oceanic crust is pushed under less dense oceanic crust?
a)
mountains
b)
volcanic islands
c)
rift valleys
d)
mid-ocean ridges
63.
What are the deepest places on Earth formed by oceanic plate subduction?
a)
mid-ocean ridges
b)
rift valleys
c)
trenches
d)
mountain ranges
64.
Name this plate boundary.
a)
divergent
b)
convergent
c)
transform
d)
insurgent
65.
Name this plate boundary.
a)
divergent
b)
convergent
c)
transform
d)
transformers
66.
Name this plate boundary.
a)
divergent
b)
convergent
c)
transform
d)
allegiant
67.
The idea that molten rock within Earth rises along mid-ocean ridges is called...
a)
plate tectonics
b)
slab pull
c)
seafloor spreading
d)
continental drift
68.
200-300 million years ago, the continents were joined in a single land mass called...
a)
Pan America
b)
Pangaea
c)
Pan Acean
d)
'Murica
69.
Who developed the first all-encompassing, global tectonic theory that is used today as a predictive tool?
a)
Harry Hess
b)
Henry Hess
c)
John Tuzo Wilson
d)
Alfred Wegener
70.
Who is known as the "Father of Continental Drift"?
a)
Harry Hess
b)
Abraham Ortelius
c)
Alfred Wegner
d)
John Tuzo Wilson
71.
Who proposed the concept of seafloor spreading?
a)
Harry Hess
b)
John Tuzo Wilson
c)
Alfred Wegener
d)
Sydney Bristow
72.
What technology developed during WWII led us to discover mid-ocean ridges?
a)
Glomar Challenger
b)
SONAR
c)
RADAR
d)
Echolocation
73.
Name the three types of plate boundaries.
a)
convergent, divergent, transform
b)
convergent, divergent, transformers
c)
divergent, insurgent, allegient
d)
conduction, convection, radiation
74.
The San Andreas fault crosses through the United States. What type of plate boundary created this landform?
a)
Transform Boundary
b)
Convergent Boundary
c)
Divergent Boundary
d)
Subduction Boundary
75.
A mid-ocean ridge separates the Pacific plate and the Nazca plate off the western coast of South America. Which statement best describes the relative motions of the Pacific and Nazca plates?
a)
The Pacific and Nazca plates are both moving to the east.
b)
The Pacific and Nazca plates are both moving to the west.
c)
The Pacific plate is moving to the west, and the Nazca plate is moving to the east.
d)
The Pacific plate is moving to the east, and the Nazca plate is moving to the west.
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