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Plate Tectonics

Total questions: 26

Worksheet time: 13mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

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

2.

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

a)

along the edges of all the continents.

b)

along mid-ocean ridges.

c)

in deep-ocean trenches.

d)

at the north and south poles.

3.

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.

4.

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

a)

convection.

b)

continental drift.

c)

subduction.

d)

conduction.

5.

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

a)

Converging

b)

Diverging

c)

Sliding

d)

No movement

6.
Where would the oldest rock be found?
a)
L
b)
M
c)
N
d)
O
7.
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
8.
What are the two types of crust
a)
continental and oceanic
b)
ocean and upper
c)
lower and upper
d)
pizza and subway
9.
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
10.
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
11.
Mountains form from ...
a)
plates sliding past one another
b)
collision of plates
c)
plates moving away from each other
12.

In some areas of the world, like California and Japan, earthquakes are a common occurrence. How can this best be explained?

a)

The strong ocean currents are undermining both areas causing earthquakes.

b)

Both areas are located near the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the unstable sand causes earthquakes.

c)

Both areas are subjected to strong ocean wind and waves that causes earthquakes.

d)

Both areas are on the boundary of active plates, the motion of the plates causes earthquakes.

13.
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.
14.
There are three types of plate boundaries. Which choice is NOT a type of plate boundary?
a)
convergent
b)
thrust
c)
divergent
d)
transform
15.
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
16.
During sea floor spreading, molten material rises up from the mantle...
a)
along the continents
b)
at the mid ocean ridges
c)
deep ocean trenches
d)
at north and south poles
17.
Name the boundary
a)
convergent boundary
b)
divergent boundary
c)
transform boundary
d)
sergent boundary
18.
Name the boundary
a)
convergent boundary
b)
divergent boundary
c)
transform boundary
d)
sergent boundary
19.
Name the boundary
a)
convergent boundary
b)
divergent boundary
c)
transform boundary
d)
sergent boundary
20.
What was Wegener's hypothesis called?
a)
The Pangea 
b)
Moving Continents 
c)
The Continental Drift
d)
Techtonic Plates
21.
Why was Alfred Wegner's theory of Continental Drift not immediately accepted by scientists?
a)
there was no mechanism to explain how Continental Drift happened.
b)
The theory of Continental Drift was immediately accepted by the scientific community.
c)
there was no evidence to support his theory.
d)
Scientists did not think it was possible for the Continents to move.
22.
Which explains that the continents were once joined together and over time they broke up and then drifted apart?
a)
Plate Tectonic Theory
b)
Continental Drift 
23.

Rocky or rigid outer part of Earth consisting of the brittle crust and the top part of the upper mantle

a)

Lithosphere

b)

Oceanic Crust

c)

Continental Crust

d)

Asthenosphere

24.

Hot fluid or semi-fluid material below or within the earth's crust from which lava and other igneous rock is formed on cooling.

a)

Convection Current

b)

Lithosphere

c)

Core

d)

Magma

25.

Crustal plates that pull apart from one another MOST likely form

a)

volcanic island arcs

b)

strike-slip faults

c)

oceanic trenches

d)

rift zones

26.

Which statement best describes why fossils of the same land-dwelling species have been discovered in both South America and Africa?

a)

The organism migrated to two continents

b)

The organisms were separated by the formation of new mountain ranges

c)

The organisms became extinct due to climate change on these continents

d)

These organisms once lived on one large landmass that later split into two continents

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