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Continental Drift & Plate Tectonics

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 41mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is this a picture of?

a)

Plate Tectonics

b)

Continental Drift

c)

Pangaea

d)

Ocean Crust

2.
The Theory of Continental Drift states that Pangaea broke apart and the continents "drifted" away from each other
a)
True
b)
False
3.

Another piece of evidence in the theory of Continental Drift is __________ evidence of a giant fern named Glossopteris.

a)

geologic

b)

fit/shape

c)

glacial

d)

fossil/climate

4.

Because Glossopteris seeds cannot travel across the ocean and grow in warm, swampy climates, these fossils are evidence of ...

a)

Pangea existing

b)

Continental Drift

c)

changing climates

d)

all of the above

5.

Wegner used the following as pieces of evidence...

a)

fit/shape of continents

b)

geologic and fossil

c)

climate

d)

all of the above

6.

Earthquakes are most common around plate boundaries.

a)

True

b)

False

7.

Rocks and structures on both sides of the ____________ Ocean are very similar.

a)

Pacific

b)

Atlantic

c)

Indian

d)

Arctic

8.

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

a)

evidence from landforms

b)

evidence from fossils

c)

evidence from human remains

d)

evidence from climate

9.

When we observe the same reptile fossil in two places, we infer ___.

a)

The reptile flew to a new habitat.

b)

The habitats used to be near each other.

c)

Someone buried the fossils in a new place to trick us.

10.

When I observe that the green lizard fossil is on many continents, I infer ____.

a)

The lizard can fly.

b)

The continents moved.

c)

Someone is trying to trick us.

11.

When a continent moves, we call it ____.

a)

Tectonics

b)

Drift

c)

Transfer

12.

True or False: The continents have always been in the same place they are today.

a)

True

b)

False

13.

True or False: Scientists predict that the continents will keep drifting in the future.

a)

True

b)

False

14.

What was Wegener’s continental drift idea?

a)

The continents have moved slowly apart to their current locations.

b)

The continents have always been located at their current locations.

c)

The continents are moving slowly together from their current locations.

d)

None of these

15.

True or False-Similar fossil records across continents was evidence for continental drift.

a)

True

b)

False

16.
This is a picture of glacier scars found in Africa.  What are these evidence for?
a)
Africa has always been near the equator
b)
Africa was once in an area of the Earth that had a very cold climate
c)
The continents have not moved
d)
sea floor spreading
17.

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

18.

Wegener observed scratches from glaciers in Africa and India where it is currently too hot for glaciers to form. This is considered...

a)

Fossil Evidence

b)

Rock Formation Evidence

c)

Climate Evidence

d)

Objective Evidence

19.
Massive pieces of land that are part of the Earth's crust and upper mantle
a)
Tectonic plates
b)
Trenches
c)
Divergent boundary
d)
Continental shelves
20.
The deepest part of the ocean; long, narrow ditches
a)
Tectonic plates
b)
Trenches
c)
Divergent boundary
d)
Continental shelves
21.
___________ help explain why Earth is not getting any larger even though the tectonic plates are always moving.
a)
earthquakes
b)
subduction zones
c)
fossils
d)
volcanoes
22.
The OLDEST seafloor is located? 
a)
Closest to the mid-ocean ridge
b)
Farthest from the mid-ocean ridge
23.
True or False : Sea-floor Spreading adds new material to the ocean floor?
a)
True
b)
False
24.
What happens when Subduction occurs?
a)
Parts of the crust fall into the mantle
b)
Parts of the crust fall into the core
c)
Parts of the crust fall into space
d)
None of these
25.
What are Mid-Ocean Ridges?
a)
A chain of underwater waterfalls 
b)
A chain of underwater volcanos
c)
A chain of underwater mountains
d)
A chain of underwater rocks
26.
The oceanic crust is pushed aside on both sides of the 
a)
Continent's edge
b)
Deep-ocean trench
c)
Mid-ocean ridge
27.
The oceanic crust _________ when it reaches the continental crust.
a)
sinks
b)
rises
c)
expands
28.
New crust is always formed at the...
a)
mid-ocean ridge
b)
deep-ocean trench
c)
asthenosphere
29.

_______ are mountain chains on the ocean floor.

a)

Sea-floor ridges

b)

Mid-ocean ridges

c)

Tectonic plates

d)

Photosynthesis

30.

___________ is the process by which

new oceanic lithosphere (sea floor) forms as magma rises to Earth’s surface and solidifies at a mid-ocean ridge.

a)

Continental drift

b)

Sea-floor spreading

c)

Plate tectonics

d)

Mid-ocean range

31.

___________ is the hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations.

a)

Continental drift

b)

Sea-floor spreading

c)

Plate tectonics

d)

Mid-ocean range

32.

Most geologists think that the movement of Earth's plates is caused by __________________.

a)

conduction

b)

earthquakes

c)

convection currents in the mantle

d)

Earth's magnetic field

33.
A plate boundary where two plates move away from each other is called
a)
Divergent Boundary
b)
Convergent Boundary
c)
Transform Boundary
d)
Subduction
34.
A Plate Boundary where two plates move toward each other is called
a)
Convergent Boundary
b)
Divergent Boundary
c)
Transform Boundary
d)
Subduction
35.
Convergent Plate Movement can create
a)
Rifts
b)
Mountains
c)
Ocean Ridges
d)
Radiation
36.
Divergent Plate movement can create
a)
Convection Currents
b)
Conduction
c)
Mountains
d)
Rifts and ocean ridges
37.
When pressure builds between two tectonic plates, it can suddenly release causing a (an) ______________________
a)
Earthquake
b)
Volcano
c)
Convection Current
d)
Gravitational Pull
38.
Mountains form from ...
a)
plates sliding past one another
b)
collision of plates
c)
plates moving away from each other
39.
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
40.

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.

41.
The huge pieces of the earth's crust are called ____________________________. 
a)
crust
b)
plates
c)
directions
d)
seismos
42.

An _________ is a natural phenomenon when the Earth’s surface suddenly shakes or trembles.

a)

fault

b)

earthquake

c)

plate

43.

When two plates slide past each other, they create a _________.

a)

fault

b)

flood

c)

fire

44.

The vibration of Earth produced by the rapid release of energy within the lithosphere

a)

Earthquake

b)

Tsunami

45.
Which feature is formed at convergent boundaries?
a)
mountains
b)
mid ocean ridge
c)
divergent boundary
d)
faults
46.

Any of the many processes (such as eruptions or lava flows) in which gas, lava, and ash are pushed out on the surface of Earth

a)

volcanic activity

b)

eruption

c)

geyser

d)

earthquake

47.

A natural spring that sends hot water and steam suddenly into the air from a hole in the ground

a)

geyser

b)

volcano

c)

landform

d)

mid-ocean rift

48.

What type of island is pictured here?

a)

Coral atoll

b)

Coral island / raised coral island

c)

Volcanic island

d)

Continental island

49.

The area outlining the Pacific is nicknamed the "Ring of Fire" because...

a)

the Sun heats up these outer areas.

b)

there are burning forest fires in the areas.

c)

of the high volcanic activity in these regions.

d)

the earthquakes cause damage and fire.

50.
The ____________, which contains Mount Everest, is a result of continental plates colliding and creating this mountain range. 
a)
Himalayas
b)
Appalachians
c)
Rockies
d)
Ko'olau
51.

The ___________ Trench is the lowest point on Earth and has been created by converging oceanic plates.

a)

Marshallese

b)

Macedonia

c)

Mariana

d)

Marquesas

52.

Which Newton's Law best describes this statement, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction?

a)

Newton's 1st Law

b)

Newton's 2nd Law

c)

Newton's 3rd Law

53.

How is this an example of Newton's 3rd Law?

a)

Only the ball is applying force to the soccer player's head.

b)

Only the soccer player's head is applying force to the ball.

c)

An equal force are being applied by the ball and the soccer player's head on each other.

54.

Newton's 3rd Law of Motion states...

a)

An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an outside force and causes a change in motion

b)

Force is equal to the mass and acceleration of an object.

c)

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

d)

An object in motion will remain in motion at a constant speed and same direction unless an unbalanced force causes a change in motion.

55.

Which law best describes the following statement: when a tennis ball hits the ground, then bounces back up into your hand.

a)

Law of Inertia

b)

Law of Acceleration

c)

Law of Action-Reaction

56.

A person steps out of the boat and onto the dock.  As the person moves forward onto the dock, the boat moves backward.  Which statement best describes the backward motion of the boat as the person steps forward?

a)

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

b)

Every mass exerts a force on every other mass.

c)

An object at rest tends to stay at rest.

d)

Friction opposes the motion of an object.

57.

The rocket engines ignite and push the gases downward, what is the movement of the rocket?

a)

The rocket moves upward

b)

Mass of the rocket decreases

c)

The gases cause a reduction in air resistance

d)

The rocket moves downward

58.

The nozzle of a rocket is pointed downward so that as fuel is ignited, the exhaust pushes downward. Why is this arrangement necessary for a rocket to function properly?

a)

The rocket is protected from the heat of the exhaust.

b)

Burned fuel can be collected on the ground.

c)

As fuel is combusted, the rocket pushes the gases backward and the gases push the rocket forward.

d)

This allows the rocket to be steered properly.

59.

Which is an example of the law of action/reaction?

a)

A rocket taking off from Earth

b)

A crash test dummy flies through the windshield in a collision

c)

A small rock skips a pond faster than a large rock

60.

What is another name for Newton’s 3rd law?

a)

Law of Inertia

b)

Law of Acceleration

c)

Law of Action/Reaction