Free Printable Plate Tectonics Unit Test Review

1.

The earth is composed mainly of:
(a) water (b) metals (c) iron (d) rock

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

2.

________ of the earth’s surface is covered by water:
(a) 60% (b) 85%
(c) 75% (d) 95%

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

3.

Earth’s inner core is composed mainly of:
(a) molten rock
(b) solid iron and nickel
(c) heated gases
(d) all of the above

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

4.

The rotational motion of the Earth creates a dynamo effect where a force field is generated.

a)

True

b)

False

5.

Mountains form where tectonic plates collide.

a)

True

b)

False

6.

Volcanic activity is related to tectonic plate movement.

a)

True

b)

False

7.

Earth’s outer layer is called the ________ :
(a) Shell (b) Mesosphere
(c) Outer Plate (d) Crust

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

8.

Tectonic plates:
(a) move very slowly
(b) sometimes press against or pull away from each other
(c) sometimes scrape against each other
(d) All of the above

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

9.

. Seismologists study:
(a) Ocean tides
(b) Mountain-side erosion
(c) Volcanic activity
(d) Earthquakes

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

10.

During an earthquake, energy is released into the earth.

a)

True

b)

False

11.

Oceanic plates are thicker than Continental plates.

a)

True

b)

False

12.

Most of the Earth’s volcanoes are found in Hawaii.

a)

True

b)

False

13.

The waves generated by an earthquake are mechanical waves.

a)

True

b)

False

14.

The diagram shows the movement of the Pacific and North American plates along the San Andreas fault located in California. Why do earthquakes occur near the San Andreas fault?

a)

One plate slowly pushes the other plate up

b)

A trench is created as one plate slides under the other plate

c)

Portions of the plates get stuck and then suddenly loosen and move

d)

One plate pushes hard enough to reverse the motion of the other plate

15.

Which layer of Earth is divided into plates?
(a) Mantle
(b) Crust
(c) Inner core
(d) Outer core

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

16.

Hot, molten rock deep below Earth’s surface is called:
(a) lava.
(b) viscous rock.
(c) parent rock.
(d) magma.

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

17.

The solid outer layer of the Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper layer of the mantle is called the:
(a) crust
(b) troposphere
(c) atmosphere
(d) lithosphere

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

18.

Which layer of the earth is the convective layer?
(a) Crust
(b) Lithosphere
(c) Mantle
(d) Inner Core

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

19.

German scientist Alfred Wegener developed the hypothesis of:
(a) Seismology
(b) Continental Drift
(c) Volcanism
(d) Oceanic Crust

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

20.

The Ring of Fire, a region with many active volcanoes, circles which ocean?
(a) Atlantic
(b) Arctic
(c) Pacific
(d) Indian

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

21.

Volcanoes occur at all of the following EXCEPT:
(a) divergent boundaries
(b) hot spots
(c) subduction zones
(d) anticline zones

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

22.

Most of the world’s great mountain ranges occur near what kind of boundaries:
(a) convergent
(b) divergent
(c) transform
(d) fault

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

23.

Which process best EXPLAINS the driving force behind tectonic plate movement?
(a)viscosity
(b) seismology
(c) sea-floor spreading
(d) continental drift

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

24.

The point beneath Earth’s surface where rock breaks under stress and triggers an earthquake is called the:
(a) syncline.
(b) footwall.
(c) epicenter.
(d) focus.

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

25.

The type of seismic waves that arrive at the surface first and move by compressing and expanding the ground like an accordion are called:
(a) S waves.
(b) P waves.
(c) Surface waves. (d) Mercalli waves.

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

26.

When rock layers are stretched apart at divergent boundaries, this is called:
(a) tension
(b) folding
(c) compression
(d) subduction

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

27.

At which location would earthquakes be least likely to occur?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

4

28.

Earth’s inner core is suspended in:
(a) liquid iron and nickel
(b) solid nickel and copper
(c) heated gases
(d) none of the above

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

29.

What causes the tectonic plates to move?
(a)convection currents in the mantle
(b)the dynamo effect created in the core
(c)electric currents produced in the core
(d)solar flares

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

30.

An earthquake is related to a crack in the crust called a(n):
(a)fault
(b) fracture
(c) splinter
(d) crevasse

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

Plate Tectonics Unit Test Review

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 29mins

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