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Plate tectonics

Total questions: 95

Worksheet time: 2hrs 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The movement of the tectonic plates is caused by

a)

the rotation of the Earth.

b)

convection currents in the Asthenosphere

c)

the gravity of the iron-nickel core.

d)

the Moho discontinuity.

2.
Subduction zones occur on Earth where dense oceanic crust dives under more buoyant continental crust. These boundaries are characterized by a deep ocean trench next to a high continental mountain range, large numbers of earthquakes and volcanoes. All of this is further evidence for the
a)
big bang theory.
b)
theory of plate tectonics.
c)
origin of the species.
d)
theory of natural selection.
3.
There are three types of plate boundaries. Which choice is NOT a type of plate boundary?
a)
convergent
b)
thrust
c)
divergent
d)
transform
4.

Observe this diagram of a plate boundary. One statement BEST describes what is happening. It is that

a)

the oceanic crust is melting.

b)

the denser ceanic crust is subducting under the less dense oceanic crust

c)

volcanic islands are forming.

d)

the tectonic plates are moving away from each other.

5.

The map in the picture shows tectonic plate boundaries. This map would be useful in predicting the location of future

a)

droughts

b)

hurricanes

c)

earthquakes

d)

tornadoes

6.
What geological forces might be responsible for this range of mountains?
a)
diverging tectonic plates
b)
erosion of the land by the ocean
c)
converging tectonic plates
d)
deposition of sediments by the ocean
7.

Earthquake epicenters (center of where the earthquakes started) were mapped for a 35 year period in the diagram above. The black dots indicate these epicenters. The black dots appear along what feature on Earth?

a)

hot spots

b)

plate boundaries

c)

rift zones

d)

sea floor spreading

8.
The Earth’s surface is not a solid surface but is divided into
a)
several oceanic plates.
b)
continental and crustal plates.
c)
seven continental plates.
d)
continental and oceanic plates.
9.
Geologists have long recognized that earthquakes are not randomly distributed on Earth but occur in concentrated areas that coincide with __________ and provide evidence for the theory of ___________ .
a)
mountain ranges; fault zones.
b)
continental borders; supercontinents.
c)
plate boundaries; plate tectonics
d)
areas of liquid magma; sea floor spreading.
10.
Which geological features MOST LIKELY prompted the development of the theory of plate tectonics?
a)
river deltas
b)
mountain ranges
c)
glacier fields
d)
tropical rainforests
11.

Where are earthquakes MOST LIKELY to occur?

a)

close to the equator

b)

close to the center of tectonic plates

c)

at divergent or convergent plate boundaries

d)

at transform plate boundaries

12.
The Atlantic Ocean gets about 3-5 ______ wider each year.
a)
centimeters
b)
kilometers
c)
miles
d)
meters
13.

___________ currents in the Earth's asthenosphere cause plate to shift at their boundaries. This movement also causes earthquakes and volcanic activity.

a)

conduction

b)

convection

c)

radiation

d)

ocean

14.

Where would sea floor spreading most likely occur?

a)

At convergent boundaries (oceanic vs. oceanic)

b)

At convergent boundaries (oceanic vs. continental)

c)

At divergent plate boundaries (oceanic vs. oceanic)

d)

At transform plate boundaries

15.
The cracks in Earth's crust are called ___________.
a)
tectonic plates
b)
faults
c)
magma
d)
lava
16.
What are the puzzle pieces of the Earth's surface called?
a)
Tectonic plates
b)
Puzzles
c)
Earthquakes
17.
What is the outermost layer of the Earth called?
a)
Core
b)
Mantle
c)
Crust
18.
The area around the Pacific Ocean where lots of earthquakes and volcanoes happen is called the ____________.
a)
Ring of Earth
b)
Ring of Fire
c)
Ring of Stone
d)
Ring of Diamond
19.
Lava that is still deep inside the earth is called ____________________________.
a)
lava
b)
magma
c)
volcano
d)
earthquake
20.

This famous fault in California has a lot of earthquakes!

a)

New Madrid

b)

Denali Fault

c)

Ramapo Seismic Zone

d)

San Andreas Fault

21.

What type of boundary is shown in the diagram?

a)

Divergent

b)

Convergent

c)

Transform

22.

What type of boundary is shown in the diagram?

a)

Divergent

b)

Convergent

c)

Slide/Transform

23.

What type of boundary is shown in the diagram?

a)

Divergent

b)

Convergent

c)

Slide/Transform

24.
The type of plate boundary where two plates come together is a .....
a)
Convergent Boundary
b)
Divergent Boundary
c)
Transform Boundary
d)
Plate Boundary
25.
What type of event will occur at this boundary?
a)
Earthquake
b)
Volcano Eruption
c)
Tornado
d)
Mountain Building
26.
A divergent boundary occurs when plates ....
a)
Pull apart
b)
Come together
c)
Slide past each other
d)
subducting
27.
Oceanic Trenches are formed by _______ plate boundaries
a)
Convergent
b)
Transform
c)
Plate
d)
Divergent
28.
Islands can from from magma which is pushed up at a __________ plate boundary
a)
Divergent
b)
Convergent
c)
Transform
29.
Where would the oldest rock be found?
a)
L
b)
M
c)
N
d)
O
30.
How is it possible for new crust to be formed without increasing the surface area of the Earth?
a)
Crust is destroyed at the same time it is created
b)
New crust is underwater where it sinks
c)
New crust breaks more easily than old crust
31.
Mountains are created when....
a)
Two continental plates collide
b)
Two oceanic plates pull apart
c)
An Oceanic plate subducts under a Continental Plate
d)
Two continental plates pull apart
32.
The Great Rift Valley in Africa and the Mid-Ocean Ridge were all created by this boundary
a)
Divergent
b)
Convergent
c)
Reform
d)
Transform
33.
When an oceanic plate and a continental plate collide, which one will subduct?
a)
oceanic
b)
continental
c)
neither
34.
The area where two tectonic plates meet.
a)
mantle
b)
focus
c)
plate boundary
d)
convection
35.
This landform can occur at a divergent plate boundary.
a)
ocean trench
b)
mid-ocean ridge
c)
tall mountains
d)
transform fault
36.
A subduction zone is formed...
a)
when one tectonic plate sinks below another
b)
at every type of convergent plate boundary
c)
at every type of divergent plate boundary
d)
at transform boundaries
37.
What feature is formed on the continental crust at an oceanic-continental convergent boundary?
a)
volcanoes
b)
mid-ocean ridge
c)
ocean trench
d)
none of these features are formed at a oceanic-continental convergent boundary
38.
Wegener’s proposal of a supercontinent was supported by:
a)
earthquake data
b)
seafloor magnetism
c)
rock, fossil, and climate data.
d)
convection currents in the mantle.
39.

What does the theory of Continental Drift explain?

a)

Ocean currents move continents around the planet

b)

Convection works deep within the asthenosphere

c)

Mid-ocean ridges force tectonic plates to move

d)

Continents were once together and slowly drifted to where they are today

40.

Where are the youngest rocks on Earth found?

a)

Along mid-ocean ridges

b)

Along transform boundaries

c)

On the edges of the continents

d)

Near ocean trenches

41.

Who was the scientist who proposed the theory of continental drift?

a)

Alfred Powell

b)

Harry Hess

c)

Alfred Wegener

d)

Ernest Rutherford

42.

Where does seafloor spreading take place?

a)

Convergent boundaries

b)

The continentals shelves

c)

Transform boundary

d)

Mid-ocean ridges

43.

The super continent that existed when all continents were together was named

a)

Gondwana

b)

Laurasia

c)

Eurasia

d)

Pangea

44.

What is the process of convection?

a)

The process of hot material rising and cooler material sinking in circular patterns

b)

The process of hot rock solidifying and forming new crust

c)

The process of explaining what goes up must come down

d)

Strong ocean currents moving tremendous amounts of material

45.

Mountains are created along

a)

Transform boundaries

b)

Continental-Continental Convergent

c)

Divergent

d)

Oceanic-Continental Convergent

46.
What is a tectonic plate?
a)
A piece of the Earth's crust
b)
A piece of Earth's mantle
c)
A piece of Earth's core
d)
A piece of Earth's Moon
47.
The liquid layer below the Earth's crust is the
a)
core
b)
lava
c)
magma
d)
mantle
48.

What will happen to the Mediterranean sea as the Eurasian plate and the African plate continue to move towards each other over time?

a)

It will get smaller

b)

It will get larger

c)

It will eventually disappear

d)

Nothing will happen

49.

How will the land in this area change as the Eurasian plate and the African plate continue to move towards each other over time?

a)

Mountains will form

b)

Land will be destroyed

c)

Nothing will happen

50.

What processes helped prove the hypothesis of continental drift?

a)

the water cycle

b)

Subduction

c)

Sea Floor Spreading

d)

none of the above

51.

What is the last step that forms a volcano?

a)

the water lowers the melting point of them mantle and the mantle partially melts

b)

Magma will then rise

c)

When two plates collide and one is subducted under the other.

d)

water enters the mantle

52.

What is the theory of plate tectonics?

a)

The theory that describes how Earth's outer layers is broken up into moving tectonic plates

b)

Tectonic plates stay in one place

c)

All of the continents were once apart of a Super Continent called Panthalassa

d)

All of the plates were once a solid plate until they broke up and moved to their current position

53.

Which picture below represents a convection current?

a)

GPS

b)
c)
d)
54.

What evidence did Alfred Wegener use to prove the Theory of Continental Drift?

a)

he used the moon's rotation and revolution as evidence

b)

he looked at the clouds and noticed continental drift

c)

he looked at the fossils, land forms and how continents fit together like puzzle pieces

d)

he studied the weather patterns for Africa and South America

55.

When oceanic plate and continental plate collide, what type of land form will be created?

a)

mid ocean ridges

b)

ocean trenches

c)

islands

d)

earthquakes

56.

When tectonic plates move away from each other, what type of land form will be created?

a)

islands

b)

mid ocean ridges

c)

ocean trenches

d)

all of the above

57.

Letter B on the diagram below represents which of the following:

a)

The oldest lithosphere/crust

b)

The youngest lithosphere/crust

c)

hot spot

d)

island chain

58.

Letter B in the diagram shows a subduction zone. Why is the oceanic crust subducted?

a)

it is less dense

b)

it is more dense

c)

it is heavier because the ocean is pushing it down

d)

none of the above

59.

What new technology enables scientists to track tectonic plate movement?

a)

the new Iphone

b)

a new smartwatch

c)

GPS tracking

d)

the new rover going to Mars called Perserverance

60.
Which of the following is NOT evidence to support the theory of plate tectonics?
a)
Fossils
b)
Mountains
c)
Glaciers
d)
Sand Erosion
61.

Wegener said the continents seemed to ...

a)

fit together like puzzle pieces

b)

have never moved

c)

be made of coal

d)

sinking into the mantle

62.

Lystosaurus, Mesosaurus, and Cynognathus were...

a)

reptiles that could not have swam across the Atlantic ocean

b)

tropical ferns that could not survive in cold climates

c)

glaciers that covered Pangea

d)

matching mountain ranges

63.

In Africa and South America, Wegener found ___________ matching in thickness and composition with the same fossils found within.

a)

coal beds

b)

glacier evidence

c)

mountain ranges

d)

rock layers

64.

Wegener found that __________ in South America were the same type, height, composition, and were formed in the same way as the ___________ on the east coast of Africa.

a)

coal beds

b)

glaciers

c)

mountains

d)

fossils

65.

_____________ only form in tropical environments near the equator but they are found even in Antarctica.

a)

Mountains

b)

Coal Beds

c)

Glaciers

d)

Fossils

66.

Volcanic mountain ranges found in the middle of the Atlantic where new seafloor is being created are called ________________.

a)

deep ocean trenches

b)

mid ocean ridges

c)

hot spots

d)

subduction zones

67.

The theories of Continental Drift and Seafloor Spreading led to the modern theory of ________________.

a)

fault lines

b)

plate drift

c)

plate tectonics

d)

lithospheric shift

68.

What landform would you most likely find at a divergent boundary between two pieces of continental crust?

a)

Mid-Ocean Ridge

b)

Rift Valley

c)

Mountain

d)

Volcano

69.

When one tectonic plate sinks under another, this is called...

a)

Convegent

b)

Divergent

c)

Subduction

d)

Transform

70.

The Great Rift Valley in Africa and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge were both created by this type of plate boundary.

a)

Convergent

b)

Divergent

c)

Transform

71.

What is Pangaea?

a)

The name of a German scientist

b)

Another name for continental drift

c)

The name of the super-continent that existed millions of years ago

d)

The name of ancient fossil

72.

What type of evidence was NOT used by Alfred Wegener to support his continental drift theory?

a)

evidence from landforms

b)

evidence from human remains

c)

evidence from fossils

d)

evidence from climate

73.
There are volcanoes underwater.
a)
True 
b)
False
74.
Volcanoes that have recently erupted are known as:
a)
Extinct Volcano
b)
Dormant Volcano
c)
Active Volcano
d)
What's a volcano?
75.
Volcanoes can be found...
a)
on land
b)
under water
c)
on islands
d)
all of the above
76.

Boundary between two colliding plates, often associated with mountain building, ocean trenches and volcanic islands

a)

plate boundary

b)

magma

c)

divergent boundary

d)

convergent boundary

77.

where two plates are moving apart, magma comes up to create new crust

a)

ridge

b)

divergent boundary

c)

convergent boundary

d)

plate boundary

78.

A deep crack in the Earth's surface associated with divergent boundary

a)

lava

b)

rift

c)

ridge

d)

trench

79.

Three Types of Plate Boundaries

a)

Transform (slide past)

b)

Convergent (collision)

c)

Divergent (pull apart)

d)

All the above

80.

Examples of convergent boundaries where two continental plates collide producing a large mountain range.

a)

San Andreas Fault (USA)

b)

Japan (Asia); Aleutian Islands (Alaska, USA)

c)

Andes Mountains (S. America)

d)

Himalaya Mtns (Asia); Appalachian Mtns (USA)

81.

Example of divergent boundary between two continental plates.

a)

Mid-Atlantic Ridge (Atlantic Ocean)

b)

Andes Mountains (S. America)

c)

East Africa Rift Valley

d)

None of the above

82.

A __________ plate is a large slab of crust and upper mantle that moves over the earth's surface.

a)

lithosphere

b)

Pangaea

c)

subduction zone

d)

tectonic

e)

Wegener

83.
When two tectonic plates slide past each other, neither crashing together, nor pulling apart, the boundary between them is called...
a)
Divergent boundary
b)
Convergent boundary
c)
Transform boundary
d)
Subduction
84.
When one plate sides under neath another, it _________ and the magma _________.
a)
hardens, sinks
b)
melts, sinks
c)
hardens, rises
d)
melts, rises
85.
The Himalayas in Asia are an example of what type of plate boundary?
a)
divergent
b)
continent-to-continent convergent
c)
ocean-to-continent convergent
d)
transform
86.

The diagram shows a cross section of a portion of the Earth. Which letter represents a mid-ocean ridge?

a)

W

b)

X

c)

Y

d)

Z

87.

The diagram shows a landform on Earth. How did the movement of Earth’s plates form the landform?

a)

Two oceanic plates slid past each other.

b)

Two continental plates collided.

c)

One continental plate slid past an oceanic plate.

d)

One continental plate subducted beneath an oceanic plate.

88.
What geologic feature/event you be most likely to find at a transform boundary?
a)
Earthquakes
b)
Volcanoes
c)
Mountains
d)
Rift Valleys
89.

Which model is depicting a divergent boundary between two plates?

a)

top

b)

middle

c)

bottom

90.

Which model is depicting a transform boundary between two plates?

a)

top

b)

middle

c)

bottom

91.

Which model is depicting a convergent boundary between two plates?

a)

top

b)

middle

c)

bottom

92.
What kind of plate boundary occurs where two plates grind past each other without destroying or producing
lithosphere?
a)
convergent 
b)
transform
c)
divergent
93.
New ocean crust is formed at ______.
a)
convergent boundaries
b)
divergent boundaries
c)
transform fault
94.
Oceanic lithosphere is destroyed at ______
a)
transform fault boundaries
b)
divergent boundaries
c)
ocean ridges
d)
convergent boundaries
95.
How does the age of the seafloor sediments change with increasing distance from the ocean ridge?
a)
age decreases
b)
age stays the same
c)
age increases
d)
age varies without a pattern

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