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Plate Tectonics & Continental drift

Total questions: 43

Worksheet time: 48mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The theory of continental drift states that all the continents were once part of one big landmass called Pangaea. Who was the scientist that proposed this theory?

a)

Harry Hess

b)

Bill Nye

c)

Alfred Wegener

d)

Albert Einstein

2.

Internal processes continually build up the surface of the earth, while __________________ processes break it down.

a)

Atmospheric

b)

Hydrogeological

c)

External

d)

Volcanic

3.

Earth's internal processes are driven primarily by what?

a)

Heat and convection currents

b)

Ocean currents

c)

Weathering and erosion

d)

Earthquakes and volcanoes

4.

Why was the theory of plate tectonics initially rejected?

a)

It didn't explain how continents move

b)

It did not explain formation of islands

c)

It was based upon false statements

d)

There was no data to support the hypothesis

5.

Which of the following is NOT evidence of continental drift?

a)

Continents fit together like puzzle pieces

b)

Volcanic activity

c)

Fossil evidence

d)

Mineral, rock, and glacial deposit evidence

6.

Present day fossils of similar organisms are found on different continents. This supports the theory of continental drift how?

a)

The environment of these organisms was once connected when continents were joined

b)

The organisms were avian and could live in a wide range

c)

The organisms often migrated

d)

The organisms had a large population that was widespread

7.

Which of the following is evidence that mountain ranges on different continents were once connected?

a)

They have the same climate

b)

They are inhabited by similar wildlife

c)

They are the same age

d)

They have no trees beyond a certain height

8.

At what rate do continents continue to move?

a)

About 7 feet a year

b)

About 2 centimeters per year

c)

They are not moving

d)

About 15 feet per year

9.

Why don't present day continents fit perfectly together?

a)

Weathering and erosion of coastlines

b)

They have been twisted by earthquakes

c)

Fossils

d)

Human actions have changed the shape of coastlines

10.

True/False. Pangaea was the only super-continent known to have formed over Earth's geological history.

a)

True

b)

False

11.
A plate boundary at which two plate move parallel to each other in opposite directions
a)
convergent plate boundary
b)
divergent plate boundary
c)
transform plate boundary
d)
subduction
12.

A boundary at which two plates move away from each other

a)

convergent plate boundary

b)

divergent plate boundary

c)

transform plate boundary

d)

subduction

13.

A boundary at which two plate move toward each other __________.

a)

convergent plate boundary

b)

divergent plate boundary

c)

transform plate boundary

d)

subduction

14.

The process wherein one tectonic plate is forced under another at convergent plate boundaries is referred to as _______.

a)

convergent plate boundary

b)

divergent plate boundary

c)

transform plate boundary

d)

subduction

15.

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

16.

What type of plate boundary is shown in the image?

a)

convergent plate boundary

b)

divergent plate boundary

c)

transform plate boundary

d)

subduction

17.

What type of plate boundary is shown in this image?

a)

convergent plate boundary

b)

divergent plate boundary

c)

transform plate boundary

d)

subduction

18.

What type of plate boundary is shown in the image?

a)

convergent plate boundary

b)

divergent plate boundary

c)

transform plate boundary

d)

subduction

19.
What new feature forms at a convergent plate boundary where two continental plates collide?
a)
mid-ocean ridge
b)
trench
c)
mountain range
d)
none of these features form
20.
The physical layer of Earth made of solid rock and soil is called the ___________. 
a)
mesosphere
b)
lithosphere
c)
asthenosphere
d)
mantle
21.
The type of plate boundary where two plates come together is a .....
a)
Convergent Boundary
b)
Divergent Boundary
c)
Transform Boundary
d)
Plate Boundary
22.
Which of the following causes Earth's tectonic plates to move?
a)
Energy from the Sun
b)
Magnetic Pole Reversal
c)
Convection currents in the mantle
d)
Faults in Mountain Ranges
23.
What type of event will occur at this boundary?
a)
Earthquake
b)
Volcano Eruption
c)
Tornado
d)
Mountain Building
24.
Islands can from from magma which is pushed up at a __________ plate boundary
a)
Divergent
b)
Convergent
c)
Transform
25.
Where would the oldest rock be found?
a)
L
b)
M
c)
N
d)
O
26.
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
27.
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
28.
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
29.

Earth’s crust is divided into two types:

a)

continental and oceanic

b)

ocean and upper

c)

lower and upper

d)

pizza and subway

30.
When an oceanic plate and a continental plate collide, which one will subduct?
a)
oceanic
b)
continental
c)
neither
31.
The area where two tectonic plates meet.
a)
mantle
b)
focus
c)
plate boundary
d)
convection
32.
This landform can occur at a divergent plate boundary.
a)
ocean trench
b)
mid-ocean ridge
c)
tall mountains
d)
transform fault
33.
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
34.

What is the correct order (starting from the surface) of Earth’s layers?

a)

crust, outer core, inner core, mantle

b)

mantle, outer core, inner core, crust

c)

crust, mantle, outer core, inner core

d)

outer core, inner core, crust, mantle

35.

In sea-floor spreading, molten material rises from the mantle and erupts along __________.

a)

the edges of all the continents.

b)

mid-ocean ridges.

c)

in deep-ocean trenches.

d)

at the north and south poles.

36.

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.

37.

Most geologists think that the movement of Earth’s plates is caused by _______

a)

convection.

b)

continental drift.

c)

subduction.

d)

conduction.

38.

The geological theory of _______ states that pieces of Earth’s lithosphere are in constant, slow motion.

a)

subduction

b)

plate tectonics

c)

deep-ocean trenches

d)

sea-floor spreading

39.

Scientists think that convection currents flow in Earth’s

a)

continents.

b)

mantle.

c)

lithosphere.

d)

inner core.

40.

Below is a picture of sea-floor spreading. How are the ocean crusts moving?

a)

Converging

b)

Diverging

c)

Sliding

d)

No movement

41.

The San Andreas Fault in California is known as an active earthquake area. What type of plate boundary is this region found on?

a)

Convergent

b)

Divergent

c)

Transform

d)

Sea Floor Spreading

42.
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
43.
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