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Plate Tectonics Test Review

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 22mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How do scientists gather information about Earth’s interior?

a)

by studying the atmosphere

b)

by studying seismic waves

c)

by studying the biosphere

d)

by studying soil erosion

2.

What is the most likely result of a collision between a crustal plate and an ocean plate?

a)

The crust will stop moving.

b)

The two plates will slide past each other.

c)

The crustal plate will sink below the ocean plate.

d)

The ocean plate will sink below the crustal plate.

3.

How can Pangaea be described?

a)

as a super continent in which all landmasses were connected

b)

as lithospheric plates that are not moving in any direction

c)

as a mega world with a large population and many cities

d)

as the core where all of Earth′s heat is produced

4.

Which earthquake waves cause the most damage on Earth?

a)

surface waves

b)

primary waves

c)

secondary waves

d)

transverse waves

5.

Which statement best explains why Earth′s plates move slowly over time?

a)

Convection currents within Earth′s mantle push the plates.

b)

Earth′s magnetic field pulls the plates.

c)

The moon′s gravity pulls the plates

d)

Longitudinal waves push the plates.

6.

Two continental plates collide, and the edges of the plates are crumpled and uplifted. Which geologic event will most likely result?

a)

the eruption of a volcano

b)

the development of a rift valley

c)

the formation of a mountain range

d)

the development of a U-shaped valley

7.

Which event is most directly linked to an earthquake on the ocean floor?

a)

hurricane

b)

landslide

c)

tornado

d)

tsunami

8.

Fossils from the same land-dwelling animal species are discovered on the continents of South America and Africa. What is the significance of this finding?

a)

It proves the animal became extinct due to climate changes.

b)

It demonstrates how animals migrate from one area to another.

c)

It shows how these continents were separated by mountain ranges.

d)

It provides evidence that the continents were once one large landmass.

9.

Which statement best explains plate tectonics?

a)

The movement of crustal plates over the mantle often results in earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

b)

The movement of crustal plates over the mantle prevents continental drift

c)

Crustal plates always move away from each other at tectonic boundaries.

d)

Crustal plates always move toward one another at tectonic boundaries.

10.

Where does the energy from an earthquake originate?

a)

from a sudden increase in solar radiation striking Earth

b)

from the Moon’s gravitational pull during a close orbit

c)

from rocks under stress shifting deep below Earth’s surface

d)

from the weight of sediments pushing down on bedrock

11.

Which process forced Nevada’s mountain ranges upward over the past million years?

a)

erosion of surrounding material

b)

seismic activity along fault lines

c)

multiple volcanic eruptions

d)

deposition of wind-blown sediments

12.

Generally, the deeper rock layers of Earth are older than shallower rock layers. How can the collision of two tectonic plates change the order of the rock layers?

a)

The rock layers contain pollutants that dissolve soil.

b)

The rock layers lack water due to extended droughts.

c)

The rock layers are compressed forming faults and folds.

d)

The rock layers are moved closer to rivers which erode landforms.

13.

The Hawaiian Islands are in the middle of a large tectonic plate with many volcanoes. The volcanoes are the direct result of the tectonic plate...

a)

being forced under another tectonic plate at a subduction zones.

b)

colliding with one another tectonic plate and being forced upward.

c)

moving over a hot spot where magma breaks through the crust.

d)

applying great pressure on the crust causing constant earthquakes

14.

The flow of magma directly applies force to which of these crustal features?

a)

mountain ranges

b)

tectonic plates

c)

oceans

d)

glaciers

15.

Which event below involves a constructive force?

a)

earthquake

b)

volcanic eruption

c)

flood

d)

wind storm

16.

Tectonic plates consist of

a)

continental crust

b)

mesospheric crust

c)

both continental and oceanic crust

d)

oceanic crust

17.

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

18.

______________________ continually adds materials to the ocean floor creating ocean floor.

a)

Sea-floor spreading

b)

Ocean trenches

c)

Divergent mid-ocean ridges

d)

Convergent mid-ocean ridges

19.

_____________________ are undersea that are the deepest part of the ocean.

a)

Divergent trenches

b)

Ocean trenches

c)

Transform trenches

d)

Mid-ocean trenches

20.

An ocean trench is the same as a __________ on land.

a)

Mountain

b)

Valley

c)

Earthquake

d)

Volcano