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Plate Tectonics

Total questions: 81

Worksheet time: 1hrs 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
What does the theory of continental drift state?
a)
The continents were once joined in a super-continent and have moved over time
b)
Continents are stationary and do not move
c)
The Earth is broken into lithospheric plates that move due to convection currents
d)
none of the above
2.
What is this a picture of?
a)
plate tectonics
b)
continental drift
c)
pangea
d)
glacier scaring
3.

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

a)

convection.

b)

continental drift.

c)

subduction.

d)

conduction.

4.
What are the two types of crust
a)
continental and oceanic
b)
ocean and upper
c)
lower and upper
d)
pizza and subway
5.

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.

6.

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.

7.

The idea that continents were once part of a single landmass that broke apart and

moved

a)

Continental Drift

b)

Tectonic Plates

c)

Transform

8.

Forms where plates are moving away from each other

a)

Divergent-

b)

Convergent-

c)

Transform-

9.

Formed where two sections of Earth’s crust are colliding

a)

Divergent-

b)

Convergent-

c)

Transform-

10.

The earth is compose of three main layers, except for____?

a)

Crust

b)

Mantle

c)

Core

d)

Lithosphere

11.

______ a hypothesis that new sea floor is created at mid-ocean ridges and that in the process the continents are pushed apart from each other.

a)

PLATE TECTONIC

b)

FAULTS

c)

SEA-FLOOR SPREADING

d)

SEISMOMETER

12.

The three types of plate boundaries are

a)

Convergent, divergent, change

b)

Divergent, allegiant, insurgent

c)

Convergent, divergent, transform

d)

Push, pull, slide

13.

What is common at convergent boundaries?

a)

Valleys

b)

Canyons

c)

Mountains

d)

Rivers

14.

What happens often at transform boundaries?

a)

Rain

b)

Hurricanes

c)

Volcanic activity

d)

Earthquakes

15.

The crust is

a)

Layer of molten metal.

b)

Outermost layer of the Earth.

c)

Made up of the lithosphere and asthenosphere.

d)

Innermost layer of solid metal.

16.

The lower mantle is

a)

Solid material extending to Earth's core.

b)

Made up of the lithosphere and asthenosphere .

c)

Layer of molten metal.

d)

Innermost layer of solid metal.

17.

The outer core is

a)

Made up of the lithosphere and asthenosphere .

b)

Solid material extending to Earth's core.

c)

Layer of molten metal.

d)

Outermost layer of the Earth.

18.

The inner core is

a)

Layer of molten metal.

b)

Outermost layer of the Earth.

c)

Made up of the lithosphere and asthenosphere .

d)

Innermost layer of solid metal.

19.

The land mass where all of the continents were once together in one large continent is called ________________.

a)

Laurasia.

b)

Pangaea.

c)

Eurasia.

d)

Gondwana.

20.

Tectonic plates consist of

a)

continental crust.

b)

mesosphere.

c)

both continental and oceanic crust.

d)

oceanic crust.

21.

The fact that similar fossils are found on both sides of the ocean is evidence of

a)

magnetic reversal.

b)

global positioning.

c)

continental drift.

d)

oceanic drift.

22.

How fast the continents move?

a)

3-4 inches per day

b)

3-4 inches per week

c)

3-4 inches per month

d)

3-4 inches per year

23.
Transform boundaries are most likely to produce what phenomenon?
a)
volcanoes
b)
deep sea trenches
c)
underwater mountain ranges
d)
earthquakes
24.
What boundary creates mountains?
a)
convergent
b)
divergent
c)
transform
d)
fast
25.
What forms at a divergent boundary between two oceanic plates?
a)
rift valley
b)
mountain
c)
mid-ocean ridge
d)
trench
26.
A rift valley occurs at a ____________ boundary.
a)
divergent
b)
convergent
c)
transform
d)
horizontal
27.
A trench forms at a _________ boundary.
a)
convergent
b)
divergent
c)
transform
d)
vertical
28.
What is happening at point B?
a)
subduction
b)
a divergent boundary
c)
convection
d)
an earthquake
29.
Name the boundary
a)
convergent
b)
transform
c)
divergent
d)
subduction
30.

Boundary between 2 plates that are sliding past one another

a)

Transform fault boundary

b)

Convergent boundary

c)

Divergent boundary

d)

Reverse fault

31.

Which layer of Earth flows slowly and causes the crust to move?

a)

Crust

b)

Mantle

c)

Inner Core

d)

Outer core

32.

One piece of evidence for Plate Tectonics is that--

a)

some continents appear to fit together like a puzzle.

b)

we have video footage of the plates actually moving.

c)

all continents have formed from volcanic eruptions.

d)

the continents are no longer moving.

33.

Which of the following is NOT evidence to support the theory of plate tectonics?

a)

Fossils

b)

Continental fit

c)

Glaciers

d)

Sand Erosion

34.

What type of boundary is shown in the diagram?

a)

Divergent

b)

Convergent

c)

Slide/Transform

35.

What type of boundary is shown in the diagram?

a)

Divergent

b)

Convergent

c)

Slide/Transform

36.

What is Pangea?

a)

the name of a German scientist

b)

the name of a supercontinent that existed millions of years ago

c)

another name for continental drift

d)

the name of an ancient fossil

37.

What is Wegener's idea that continents are slowly moving over Earth's surface called?

a)

divergence

b)

faults

c)

plates

d)

continental drift

38.

Earth's ______________________ is liquid.

a)

inner core

b)

outer core

39.

The asthenosphere is the layer of the Earth just below the ________________________________.

a)

Mesosphere

b)

Lithosphere

40.

The ridge in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean formed along a _____________________________.

a)

convergent

b)

divergent

41.

Which of the following makes up most of Earth's mass?

a)

crust

b)

mantle

c)

outer core

d)

inner core

42.

The part of the Earth on which the tectonic plates are able to move is the...

a)

lithosphere

b)

asthenosphere

c)

mesosphere

d)

subduction zone

43.

The ancient continent that contained all the landmasses is called...

a)

Pangaea

b)

Gondwana

c)

Laurasia

d)

Panthalassa

44.

The type of tectonic plate boundary involving a collision between two tectonic plates is...

a)

divergent

b)

transform

c)

convergent

d)

normal

45.

The type of tectonic plate boundary that sometimes has a subduction zone is...

a)

divergent

b)

transform

c)

convergent

d)

normal

46.

The San Andreas fault is an example of a...

a)

divergent boundary

b)

transform boundary

c)

convergent boundary

d)

plate boundary

47.

Continental mountain ranges are associated with...

a)

divergent boundaries

b)

transform boundaries

c)

convergent boundaries

d)

plate boundaries

48.

Rift Valleys and mid-ocean ridges are associated with...

a)

divergent boundaries

b)

transform boundaries

c)

convergent boundaries

d)

plate boundaries

49.

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

50.

What event will happen at a transform boundary?

a)

Mountains will form

b)

Volcanoes with form

c)

Mid-ocean ridges with form

d)

Earthquake

51.

Which letter corresponds with the oldest rock?

a)

L

b)

M

c)

N

d)

O

52.

Which letter corresponds with the newest rock?

a)

L

b)

M

c)

N

d)

O

53.

How is 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 the old crust

54.

What is a subduction zone?

a)

An oceanic plate sinks below a continental plate

b)

A continental plate sinks below a continental plate

c)

A continental plate sinks below an oceanic plate

d)

An oceanic plate sinks below an oceanic plate

55.
The outer layer of the Earth is called the __________.
a)
core
b)
crust
c)
mantle
d)
plates
56.
Lava that is still deep inside the earth is called ____________________________.
a)
lava
b)
magma
c)
volcano
d)
earthquake
57.
What are the puzzle pieces of the Earth's surface called?
a)
Tectonic plates
b)
Puzzles
c)
Earthquakes
58.
Mountains form from....
a)
Tectonic plates sliding past one another
b)
Collision of tectonic plates
c)
Tectonic plates moving away from each other
d)
Tectonic plates disappearing
59.
What was the name given to all the continents when they were joined as one super continent?
a)
Supreme Continent
b)
Eurasia
c)
Plate tectonics
d)
Pangea
60.
This is the driving force behind the movement of tectonic plates.
a)
Mantle convection currents
b)
Oceanic convection currents
c)
Atmospheric convection currents
d)
Solar convection currents
61.
 A land feature that is produced at a convergent boundary is
a)
a valley
b)
an ocean
c)
a canyon
d)
a volcano
62.
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
63.
What is the name of the area where one crust slides underneath another
a)
Transform zone
b)
subduction zone
c)
Divergent zone
d)
School zone
64.
Name the boundary
a)
convergent
b)
transform
c)
divergent
d)
subduction
65.
The liquid layer below the Earth's crust is the
a)
core
b)
lava
c)
magma
d)
mantle
66.
The core of the earth is made of solid...
a)
chocolate
b)
copper
c)
carbon dioxide
d)
iron
67.
A divergent boundary occurs when plates ....
a)
Move away from each other
b)
Come together
c)
Slide past each other
d)
Slide beneath one another
68.

What type of boundary is shown in the diagram?

a)

Divergent

b)

Convergent

c)

Transform

69.

What type of boundary is shown in the diagram?

a)

Divergent

b)

Convergent

c)

Slide/Transform

70.

What type of boundary is shown in the diagram?

a)

Divergent

b)

Convergent

c)

Slide/Transform

71.

This famous fault in California has a lot of earthquakes!

a)

New Madrid

b)

Denali Fault

c)

Ramapo Seismic Zone

d)

San Andreas Fault

72.

Scientists recently discovered that rocks collected from the Franklin Mountains in West Tests and rocks collected from mountains in eastern Antarctica were exactly the same age. Further research showed that the rocks were chemically and geologically the same and came from the same magma source. This discovery provides evidence of--

a)

coastal erosion

b)

plate tectonics

c)

ocean currents

d)

glacial melting

73.

Which statement best describes the geologic process that is most likely responsible for the formation of mountains?

a)

They are along a transform plate boundary that is no longer active, so erosion is creating deep valleys.

b)

They are along a transform plate boundary in which plates are currently moving side by side, causing earthquakes and faults

c)

They are along a plate boundary in which plates are currently converging, causing uplift and steep slopes.

d)

They are along a plate boundary in which plates diverged in the distance past, allowing new rock to build up.

74.

A mid-ocean RIDGE is located at the boundary of two tectonic plates. Which diagram correctly models the relative plate motion on each side of a mid ocean ridge?

a)
b)
c)
d)
75.

Rift valleys can from when fractures in Earth's crust widen. The valley walls slowly move at a rate of only a few millimeters a year. Which of these best describes the type of tectonic activity that forms rift valleys?

a)

Rift valleys from where a continental plate moves under an oceanic plate

b)

Rift valleys form where a plate slides horizontally past another plate

c)

Rift valleys from where two plates move away from each other.

d)

Rift valleys form where an oceanic plate moves under another oceanic plate.

76.

The San Andreas fault is a transform fault. The map below shows a student's approximation of where the fault line crosses through the United States. Students were asked to make maps predicting which way land would most likely move over thousands of years.

a)
b)
c)
d)
77.

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 moth 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.

78.

The image shows a plate boundary. Arrows have been added to indicate the movement of the plates.What plate boundary feature is also shown?

a)

A ridge formed by an inactive convergent boundary

b)

A valley forming at an active divergent boundary

c)

A fault forming at an active transform boundary

d)

A volcano formed by an active transform boundary

79.

The map shows the locations of four active volcanoes in the Caribbean Sea. What do these volcanoes indicate about plate tectonics in the region?

a)

The volcanoes form an island arc, indicating a converging plate boundary

b)

The volcanoes form a line, indicating a diverging plate boundary.

c)

Two plates are moving past each other, causing faulting and magma formation.

d)

Two plates are moving apart, creating new seafloor

80.

The diagram shows a model of the movement of two tectonic plates. When the plates collide, on plate often moves below the other plate. The rising magma that can result from this type of plate movement may produce-

a)

fossil layers

b)

volcanic islands

c)

deep-sea sediment

d)

seafloor spreading

81.

The model below shows two continental plates. The folded mountains in this model form at which type of plate boundary?

a)

Transform boundary

b)

Divergent boundary

c)

Subduction boundary

d)

Convergent boundary