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Plate Tectonics

Total questions: 85

Worksheet time: 58mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Tectonic plates consist of

a)

continental crust

b)

mesospheric crust

c)

both continental and oceanic crust

d)

oceanic crust

2.

The scientist who developed the big idea called "sea-floor spreading"

a)

Alfred Wedgener

b)

Harry Hess

c)

Edward Dutton

d)

Ortelius

3.

Pangaea was an ancient supercontinent made up of...

a)

America, Greenland, and Europe

b)

Antarctica, India, and America

c)

all of Earth’s continents

d)

South Africa, India, Australia, and South America

4.

Why did no one believe Wegener's thoery that the continents were once together?

a)

He could not explain HOW the continents moved

b)

He didn't have evidence

c)

His data was wrong

d)

He didn't use the right technology to gather data

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.

Which layer of the Earth consists of tectonic plates?

a)

asthenosphere

b)

mantle

c)

mesosphere

d)

lithosphere

7.

Tectonic plates “float” on

a)

the lithosphere

b)

the mantle

c)

the ocean

d)

the asthenosphere

8.

Tectonic plates “float” on

a)

the lithosphere

b)

the mantle

c)

the ocean

d)

the asthenosphere

9.

The earth's outer shell is divided into slabs of rock called ______ .

a)

continental plates

b)

crustal plates

c)

trench plates

d)

tectonic plates

10.

What is the driving force behind the movement of the plates?

a)

b)

c)

d)

11.

Match the following as either Continental crust or Oceanic crust

a)

Continental

crust

1.

older

b)

Continental

crust

2.

less dense

c)

Oceanic

crust

3.

recycles

d)

Oceanic

crust

4.

basalt rock

e)

Continental

crust

5.

thicker

12.

Match the following

a)
1.

divergent

b)
2.

convergent

c)
3.

transform

13.

At which plate boundary is new crust formed?

a)

divergent

b)

convergent

c)

continental

d)

transform

14.

What type of crusts are involved with one plate subducting beneath another?

a)

continental and continental

b)

Oceanic and continental

c)

oceanic and divergent

d)

continental and convergent

15.

What types of landforms are formed at convergent boundaries?

PICK TWO

a)

volcanoes

b)

new crust

c)

Trenches

d)

rift valley

16.

What is the WHOLE AREA called where the oceanic crust goes beneath the continental crust?

a)

subtraction zone

b)

section zone

c)

secondary zone

d)

subduction zone

17.

This evidence shows ancient animals lived on several continents, even though they are an ocean apart.

a)

Mountain Range Evidence

b)

Glacial Evidence

c)

Fossil Evidence

18.

Similar patterns are found around the world in high peaks.

a)

Mountain Range Evidence

b)

Glacial Evidence

c)

Fossil Evidence

19.

Marks left behind showing direction of ice movement

a)

Mountain Range Evidence

b)

Glacial Evidence

c)

Fossil Evidence

20.

Lines of similar age/type matching on different continents

a)

Alfred Wegener

b)

Pangea

c)

Rock Strata

21.

Mega continent made of combined continents

a)

Alfred Wegener

b)

Pangea

c)

Rock Strata

22.

Mark only those that are evidence for Plate Tectonics:

a)

Rock Strata

b)

Porosity

c)

Fossil Record

d)

Acceleration

e)

Continental Drift

23.
In which type of boundary do the plates move away from each other?
a)
convergent
b)
normal
c)
divergent
d)
transform
24.
At which type of plate boundary does seafloor spreading occur?
a)
Tranform
b)
Convergent
c)
Divergent
d)
Subductive Zone
25.
Which of these events can ONLY happen on a DIVERGENT BOUNDARY?
a)
Rift Valley
b)
Mountain
c)
A peninsula
d)
An Insanely complex, long answer that you will click out of instinct. 
26.

When a divergent boundary happens under continental crust, it's called a:

a)

Rift Valley

b)

Block Mountain

c)

Folded Mountain

d)

Mid-Ocean Ridge

27.

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

a)

divergent boundaries

b)

transform boundaries

c)

convergent boundaries

d)

plate boundaries

28.
What is the area where two tectonic plates meet called?
a)
collision
b)
mid-ocean ridge
c)
a boundry
d)
a rift zone
29.
What type of boundary is formed when plates separate?
a)
convergent
b)
horizontal
c)
divergent
d)
transform
30.
What type of boundary is formed when plates separate?
a)
convergent
b)
horizontal
c)
divergent
d)
transform
31.

where two plates are moving apart, magma comes up to create new crust

a)

ridge

b)

divergent boundary

c)

convergent boundary

d)

plate boundary

32.
What are the two types of crust
a)
continental and oceanic
b)
ocean and upper
c)
lower and upper
d)
pizza and subway
33.
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
34.

A transform boundary, where one tectonic plate slides past another, is likely to result in which of the following?

a)

Frequent earthquakes

b)

Rift valley formation

c)

Intense weathering

d)

Mountain building

35.

What type of boundary is this?

a)

convergent

b)

divergent

c)

transform

36.
Which type of boundary is known for causing big earthquakes?
a)
divergent
b)
convergent
c)
transform
d)
subduction
37.
What kind of plate boundary is shown here?
a)
divergent
b)
convergent
c)
transform
d)
strike slip
38.

What is this a picture of?

a)

Pangaea

b)

Plate tectonics

c)

Glaciers

39.

Which is true about the crust at a Transform Boundary?

a)

Crust is destroyed

b)

Crust is created

c)

Crust is neither destroyed or created

40.

What kind of plate boundary is the San Andreas Fault on?

a)

Convergent

b)

Divergent

c)

Transform

41.

What do you expect to find at a mid-ocean ridge?

a)

relative young rocks

b)

reverse fault

c)

thick accumulation of sediments

d)

very ancient rocks

42.

Divergent Boundaries

a)

Create new crust

b)

Destroy crust

c)

Neither create or destroy

43.

The Himalayas in Asia are an example of what type of plate boundary?

a)

divergent

b)

ocean-to-continent convergent

c)

continent-to-continent convergent

d)

transform

44.

What type of crusts are involved with one plate subducting beneath another?

a)

continental and continental

b)

Oceanic and continental

c)

oceanic and divergent

d)

continental and convergent

45.

Match the following

a)
1.

divergent

b)
2.

convergent

c)
3.

transform

46.

Is there a pattern to the locations of earthquakes and volcanoes around the globe?

a)

No, earthquakes and volcanoes are random.

b)

Yes, earthquakes and volcanoes usually occur near the boundaries of tectonic plates.

c)

yes, earthquakes and volcanoes usually occur in the middle of tectonic plates.

d)

No, earthquakes and volcanoes usually occur under water.

47.

tectonic plate that is composed entirely of oceanic crust and lies beneath the Pacific Ocean.

a)

Pacific plate

b)

South American plate

c)

North American plate

d)

Indo-Australian plate

48.

undersea mountain chain where new ocean floor is produced; a divergent plate boundary.

a)

subduction

b)

mid-ocean ridge

c)

boundary

d)

fault

49.
What are the puzzle pieces of the Earth's surface called?
a)
Tectonic plates
b)
Puzzles
c)
Earthquakes
50.

Where is the Ring of Fire located?

a)

Atlantic Plate

b)

Pacific Plate

c)

Japanese Plate

d)

North American Plate

51.

Which continents boarder the Ring of Fire? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.

a)

Asia

b)

Austrailia

c)

Africa

d)

North America

e)

South America

52.

The country of Iceland is a great place to study geology because it forms over a _____________ and _______________.

a)

Divergent boundary and hotspot

b)

Convergent boundary and hotspot

c)

Only at a transform boundary

d)

Only over a hotspot

53.

What type of plate boundary is this?

a)

Convergent

b)

Divergent

c)

Transform

d)

Hot spot

54.

This is the name for the chain of volcanoes and earthquakes around the edge of the Pacific Plate.

a)

The Subduction Zone

b)

The Ring of Fire

c)

The Seismic-Tectonic Area

55.
What kind of plate boundary is shown here?
a)

divergent

b)

convergent

c)

transform

56.
What kind of plate boundary is shown here?
a)

divergent

b)

convergent

c)

transform

57.

Hot melted rock that forms underground near the subduction zone is called ___.

a)

lava

b)

sedimentary rock

c)

igneous rock

d)

magma

58.

What is magma called when it reaches the surface of Earth?

a)

Lava

b)

viscosity

c)

toxic gas

59.

True or False: The more silica a volcano has in its magma, the quieter it will erupt.

a)

true

b)

false

60.

Match the volcano to its descriptions?

a)

Erupt quietly - has dark basaltic magma

1.

Shield

b)

Has tall steep sides

2.

Cinder Cone

c)

Erupt loudly - has light grinitic magma

3.

Composite

61.

Match the volcano to its descriptions?

a)

Is broader and wider than it is tall

1.

Shield

b)

Magma/lava is thinner than composite but thicker than shield

2.

Cinder Cone

c)

Most common type of volcano in the world

3.

Composite

62.

Match the volcano to its descriptions?

a)
1.

Shield

b)
2.

Cinder Cone

c)
3.

Composite

63.

What is a volcano?

a)

A weak spot in Earth’s crust where magma can come to the surface.

b)

A mix of rocks, minerals, gases, and water from the mantle.

c)

Hot semifluid rock that becomes solid rock as it cools off.

d)

A special kind of mountain.

64.

Where do volcanoes typically form?

a)

At plate boundaries.

b)

In the middle of tectonic plates.

65.

What is an explosive eruption?

a)

When trapped gases build up pressure until they explode with incredible force.

b)

When magma flows easily and erupts quietly with gases bubbling out gently and lava oozing out quietly.

66.

What is a dormant volcano?

a)

A volcano that has erupted at least once in the last 10,000 years.

b)

A volcano that hasn’t erupted in the last 10,000 years, but could still erupt.

c)

A volcano that should never erupt again.

67.

What is an extinct volcano?

a)

A volcano that has erupted at least once in the last 10,000 years.

b)

A volcano that hasn’t erupted in the last 10,000 years, but could still erupt.

c)

A volcano that should never erupt again.

68.

Which of the following is NOT a feature of stratovolcanoes?

a)

Also called composite volcanoes.

b)

Made of layers of ash and lava.

c)

Very tall.

d)

Made of layers of just lava.

69.

What kind of eruptions do stratovolcanoes have?

a)

Explosive eruptions.

b)

Quiet eruptions.

70.

What kind of volcano is this?

a)

Stratovolcano

b)

Shield volcano

c)

Cinder cone volcano

71.

What kind of volcano is this?

a)

Stratovolcano

b)

Shield volcano

c)

Cinder cone volcano

72.

What event happens when there is a sudden, violent shaking of tectonic plates?

a)

earthquake

b)

volcano

c)

thunderstorm

73.

When scientists map the location of earthquakes, where do they find that most earthquakes happen?

a)

middle of tectonic plates

b)

in the core of the earth

c)

only near mountains

d)

at plate boundaries

74.

Why aren't all earthquakes recorded?

a)

happen too far underground

b)

happen too often

c)

too weak to be felt

d)

happen under the mantle

75.

What gets released when plates move that causes the ground to shake?

a)

energy

b)

light

c)

soil

76.

What type of energy waves do earthquakes produce?

a)

sound

b)

heat

c)

light

d)

seismic

77.

Which scale measures the magnitude, or size, of an earthquake?

a)

Mercalli

b)

Richter

c)

weight

d)

density

78.

The strength of the shaking from an earthquake is called it's intensity.

a)

True

b)

False

79.
The word tsunami means_______________ in _______________.
a)
massive wave / Japanese
b)
harbor wave / Japanese
c)
harbor wave / English
d)
big wave / Chinese
80.
What can cause a tsunami?
a)
earthquake
b)
underwater volcanoes
c)
landslides
d)
all of these
81.
What natural phenomena happens right before an tsunami?
a)
the ocean water retreats
b)
animals act strangely
c)
you can hear a loud train-like sound
d)
all of these
82.
How high can tsunami waves reach?
a)
10,000 feet
b)
100 meters
c)
100 feet
d)
all of these
83.

How fast can tsunamis travel?

a)

400 mph

b)

100 mph

c)

1,000,000 mph

d)

500 mph

84.
What are some ways that people can protect themselves from tsunamis?
a)
build protective walls
b)
use tsunami warning devices (buoys and signals)
c)
live / retreat to higher elevations
d)
all of these
85.
True or False...meteors can cause tsunamis?
a)
True
b)
False
c)
Maybe
d)
What's a meteor

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