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Plate Tectonics 1

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Why was the discovery of no rocks older than 2 billion years old on the ocean floor so important?
a)
This evidence proved that new seafloor features are constantly being added due to seafloor spreading.
b)
This evidence proved that new seafloor features are constantly being added due to reversals of Earth's magnetic field.
c)
This evidence proved that new seafloor features are constantly being added due to continental drift.
d)
This evidence proved that the rocks on the seafloor were older than rocks on continents.
2.
What is a magnetic field reversal?
a)
when Earth's magnetic field leaves the south pole and enters the north pole
b)
when Earth's magnetic field suddenly runs east/west instead of south/north
c)
when Earth's magnetic field suddenly disappears for short periods of time
d)
when Earth's magnetic field leaves the north pole and enters the south pole
3.
What happens when an oceanic plate converges 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 past the denser continental plate.
c)
The less dense oceanic plate slides under the denser continental plate.
d)
The denser oceanic plate slides under the less dense continental plate.
4.
How do scientists use sound waves to figure out the shape of the ocean floor?
a)
The longer it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the more shallow the water is.
b)
The longer it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the colder the water is.
c)
The longer it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the deeper the water is.
d)
The less time it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the deeper the water is.
5.
How do scientists explain the formation of underwater mountain ranges?
a)
convection currents
b)
seafloor spreading
c)
strike-slip faults
d)
continental drift
6.
What is the difference between normal faults and rift valleys?
a)
Normal faults occur in the northern hemisphere, but rift valleys only occur in the southern hemisphere.
b)
Rift valleys sometimes occur near normal faults, but their formation is not related to these faults.
c)
Rift valleys are formed from normal faults.
d)
Rift valley formation has nothing to do with normal faults.
7.
What is a transform boundary?
a)
A transform boundary is when two plates slide past one another.
b)
A transform boundary is when two plates collide.
c)
A transform boundary is when two plates pull away from each other.
d)
A transform boundary is when two plates move toward each other.
8.
What is Pangaea?
a)
the large landmass that all continents are currently forming
b)
Earth's inner core
c)
the largest fault found on Earth
d)
the large landmass in which all continents once were connected
9.
What tool does a scientist use to detect magnetic fields?
a)
a magnetometer
b)
a magnetogram
c)
a thermometer
d)
a fieldometer
10.
What happens to rock around a subducting slab?
a)
It goes over the other plate.
b)
It disappears from Earth.
c)
It goes under the other plate.
d)
It combines with the other rock.
11.
Do two colliding continental plates always cause volcanoes?
a)
No, earthquakes always occur when two continental plates collide.
b)
Yes, subduction always occurs when continental plates collide.
c)
Yes, subduction always occurs when oceanic plates collide.
d)
No, usually no subduction occurs when continental plates collide.
12.
What is the continental drift theory?
a)
the belief that continents have always been located at their current locations on Earth
b)
the belief that continents have moved slowly apart to their current locations on Earth
c)
the belief that continents have quickly moved apart to their current locations on Earth
d)
the belief that continents are moving slowly together from their current locations on Earth
13.
What are strike-slip faults?
a)
a boundary where rocks on opposite sides of the fault move in opposite or the same directions at different rates
b)
a boundary where rocks on the same side of the fault move in the same direction, but at different rates
c)
a boundary where rocks move in the same directions at the same rate
d)
a boundary where rocks in the fault never move
14.
What clue supported the continental drift theory?
a)
a puzzle-like fit of all the continents
b)
all answers are correct
c)
Similar rock structures have been found on different continents.
d)
Fossils of animals have been found on continents separated by oceans.
15.
What kind of movement created the Himalaya Mountains?
a)
reversals of Earth's magnetic field
b)
divergent boundaries
c)
compressional forces
d)
erosion
16.
Who first proposed the theory of continental drift?
a)
Alfred Wegener
b)
Albert Einstein
c)
Galileo Galilee
d)
Harry Hess
17.
What evidence proved that South America, Africa, India, and Australia were once covered by glaciers?
a)
leftover portions of glaciers
b)
cold climates
c)
enormous valleys formed by glaciers
d)
glacial deposits and rock surfaces scarred by glaciers
18.
What does plate tectonics cause?
a)
causes volcanoes
b)
forms mountains
c)
all answers are correct
d)
forms ocean basins

19.
What is the plate tectonic theory?
a)
the belief that Earth is broken into sections that fit together into one sphere
b)
the belief that hot, less dense material is forced up through Earth's crust through mid-ocean ridges
c)
the belief that Earth's crust and upper mantle is broken into sections
d)
the belief that continents have moved slowly apart to their current locations on Earth
20.
What is the lithosphere?
a)
large, flat stones sitting on top of malleable magma
b)
the plates that make up the crust
c)
the upper part of the mantle
d)
the plates that make up the crust and the upper part of the mantle