Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

TEST: Ch 17 Plate Tectonics

Total questions: 86

Worksheet time: 1hrs 7mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the name of the scientist that first hypothesized that the continents all fit together and were once a single land mass.   (a)  

Choose from the below words
Albert Einstein 
Alfred Wegener
Dmitri Mendeleev
Bill Nye
2.

The idea that all the continents slowly move over Earth's Surface became known as (a)  

Choose from the below words
Continental Drift
floating continents 
Plate Tectonics
convection currents
3.
Why did most scientist reject Wegener's hypothesis of the continental drift?
a)
He had no physical evidence to back up his claim.
b)
He had no explanation of how the continents moved
c)
He was not a real scientist.
d)
The did not reject his hypothesis.
4.

The name of the "super-continent" where all of the present continents were joined as one large continent.  (a)  

Choose from the below words
Pangea
South America
Atlantis
Hawaii
5.
What is one piece of evidence that caused Wegener to think that continents moved?
a)
He found an old map of the world that showed movement.
b)
He found similar fossils on different continents that are separated by oceans.
c)
He proved his hypothesis with an experiment that measured movement.
d)
He observed the continents moving with his own eyes.
6.

Any trace of an ancient organism that is preserved in rock is called (a)  

Choose from the below words
fossil
geode
igneous rock
mesosaurus
7.

What two specific continents fit together most noticeably? (a)  

Choose from the below words
Africa and North America
South America and Europe
South America and Africa
Antartica and Africa
8.

What specific technology did Wegener use in his study? (a)  

Choose from the below words
GPS
Sonar
Radar
Maps
9.

Early mapmakers thought continents might have moved based on their observations of (a)  

Choose from the below words
magnetism
rock and fossil evidence
matching coastlines
earthquakes and floods
10.

Pangaea was an ancient supercontinent made up of

a)

South America, India, Australia, and South Africa

b)

The United States, Greenland, and Europe

c)

Antarctica, India, and South America

d)

all of Earth's continents

11.

To support his hypothesis of continental drift, Alfred Wegener did NOT use (a)  

Choose from the below words
ancient climatic evidence
magnetic field data
data on ancient reptiles and ferns
evidence from rock formations
12.

Fossil evidence that supported Wegener's idea of continental drift included (a)  

Choose from the below words
land-dwelling animals
ocean plants
ocean mammals
tropical flowers
13.

Fossils of aquatic reptiles found in freshwater rocks suggested to Wegener that these reptiles

a)

swam the great distances between continents

b)

probably did not cross the oceans

c)

ate Glossopteris

d)

once lived in Earth's oceans

14.

Based on observations of fossils of Glossopteris, Wegener concluded that

a)

magnetic reversals had occurred in Earth's past

b)

continental rocks containing these fossils had once been joined

c)

Earth's continents were never joined

d)

Glossopteris grew only in the tropics

15.

Coal beds in Antarctica indicated to Wegener that this continent was (a)  

Choose from the below words
always cold
inhabited by penguins
once located closer to the equator
once beneath the ocean
16.

Based on the glacial deposits he observed, Wegener argued that

a)

glaciers form near the equator

b)

Earth's axis of rotation had changed the past

c)

landmass drifted away from the South Pole

d)

Glossopteris could not survive hot weather

17.

Most scientists at the time rejected Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift because he

a)

had collected little evidence to support his hypothesis

b)

would not state his hypothesis publicly

c)

insisted that Earth's axis of rotation had changed

d)

couldn't explain how or why the continents moved

18.

The formation of new areas of oceanic crust, which occurs through the upwelling of magma at the Mid-Ocean Ridge. (a)  

Choose from the below words
Continental Drift
Sea Floor Spreading
Floatation Theory
Pangea
19.

Match the following

a)

Paleomagnetism

1.

the study of magnetic minerals in rock

b)

Plate Tectonics

2.

theory of how lithospheric plates move and change shape

c)

Sea-Floor Spreading

3.

process by which new ocean floor forms as magma rises and solidifies at the Mid-Ocean Ridge

d)

Trench

4.

long, narrow, steep depression that forms on the sea floor as a result of subduction

e)

Magma

5.

liquid rock produced under the Earth's surface

20.

_______ are mountain chains on the ocean floor.

a)

Sea-floor ridges

b)

Mid-ocean ridges

c)

Tectonic plates

d)

Photosynthesis

21.

Mid-ocean ridges are the sites of intense _________ activity.

a)

emotional

b)

volcanic

c)

earthquake

d)

mathematical

22.

At a mid-ocean ridge, melted rock rises through cracks in the _________.

a)

ceiling

b)

river

c)

inner core

d)

sea floor

23.

As the melted rock cools and hardens,

it forms new ________.

a)

volcanoes

b)

hope

c)

core

d)

crust

24.

___________ 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

25.

In the 1960s, scientists studying the ocean floor discovered _____________.

a)

that the ocean floor had magnetic patterns

b)

the Titanic

c)

that the ocean floor had magical properties

d)

that the ocean floor was as smooth as a desert

26.

Throughout Earth's history, the north and the south magnetic poles have switched places many times.

a)

true

b)

false

27.

Magnetic reversal is the process by which ________________.

a)

the Earth's north and south magnetic poles periodically change places

b)

the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations

c)

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

28.

During times of normal polarity, such as today, a compass needle points toward the North Pole.

a)

true

b)

false

29.

Oceanic crust near the mid-ocean ridge is younger than oceanic crust farther away from the ridge.

a)

true

b)

false

30.

What technology did scientists use in the mid-1900s to map the mid-ocean ridge?

a)

satellites

b)

deep-sea diving

c)

submarines

d)

sonar

31.

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

32.

Old oceanic crust is more dense than new oceanic crust because it is _______________.

a)

hot

b)

moving toward a deep-ocean trench

c)

cool

d)

closer to the mid-ocean ridge

33.

Mid-ocean ridges are ____________________.

a)

found in all of Earth's oceans

b)

found only in the Pacific Ocean

c)

located mostly along coastlines

d)

long deep-ocean trenches

34.
The OLDEST seafloor is located? 
a)
Closest to the mid-ocean ridge
b)
Farthest from the mid-ocean ridge
35.
True or False : Sea-floor Spreading adds new material to the ocean floor?
a)
True
b)
False
36.
In the Atlantic ocean, where is the youngest seafloor located?
a)
Towards the edges, near the eastern and western continents
b)
Towards the middle of the ocean
c)
Towards the north and south poles
d)
Young seafloor is located randomly throughout the ocean
37.

Seafloor spreading occurs because ____.

a)

new material is being added to the asthenosphere

b)

earthquakes break apart the ocean floor

c)

sediments accumulate at the area of spreading

d)

molten material beneath Earth's crust rises to the surface

38.

A vast, underwater mountain chain is called a(n) _________.

a)

ocean ridge

b)

oceanic crust

c)

deep-sea trench

d)

ocean floor sediment

39.
The OLDEST seafloor is located? 
a)
Closest to the mid-ocean ridge
b)
Farthest from the mid-ocean ridge
40.
Why were magnetic patterns found on the ocean floor puzzling?
a)
They showed alternating bands of normal and reversed polarity.
b)
No rocks were magnetic.
c)
They did not show alternating bands of normal and reversed polarity.
d)
All rocks were magnetic.
41.
Which is NOT evidence of sea-floor spreading?
a)
Molten magma constantly erupting
b)
Drilling samples of rock
c)
Magnetic stripes
d)
Fossil evidence
42.

The process that creates new ocean crust by the upwelling of magma at ocean ridges is

a)

Divergent boundary

b)

Seafloor spreading

c)

Subduction

d)

Ocean trench

43.

The study of the history of Earth's magnetic field is called

a)

Magnetism

b)

Magnetometer

c)

Magnetic reversal

d)

Paleomagnetism

44.

What device measures magnetism?

a)

Paleomagnetism

b)

Magnetometer

c)

Magnetic reversal

d)

Isochron

45.

Generally, what is the age of oceanic crust?

a)

the same age as the continental crust

b)

younger than the continental crust

c)

older than the continental crust

d)

science has never determined its age

46.
Where is old crust recycled back into the mantle?
a)
At the mid ocean ridge
b)
At the trenches
c)
At the subduction zones (often at the edge of the continents)
d)
In the middle of the continents.
47.

What happens when the flow in the outer core changes, and Earth's magnetic field changes direction?

a)

magnetic symmetry

b)

paleomagnetism

c)

core reversal

d)

magnetic reversal

48.

A magnetic field that has the same orientation as Earth's present field has _______________ polarity.

a)

good

b)

normal

c)

abnormal

d)

retrograde

49.

A magnetic field that is opposite to the present field has ______________ polarity.

a)

normal

b)

reversed

c)

retrograde

d)

backward

50.

What device can detect small changes in magnetic fields?

a)

magnetometer

b)

spectrograph

c)

seismometer

51.

An imaginary line on a map that shows points that have the same age is called a(n)

a)

isotope

b)

isometric

c)

isochron

d)

equator

52.

As new oceanic crust forms, the older crust moves...

a)

upward towards the surface

b)

closer to the ridges

c)

away from the ridges

53.

What type of plate boundary is this? (a)  

Choose from the below words
Transform
Convergent
Divergent
54.

What type of plate boundary is this? (a)  

Choose from the below words
Transform
Convergent
Divergent
55.

What type of plate boundary is this?

a)

Transform

b)

Convergent

c)

Divergent

56.

What type of plate boundary is this? (a)  

Choose from the below words
Transform
Convergent
Divergent
57.

What type of plate boundary is this? (a)  

Choose from the below words
Transform
Convergent
Divergent
58.

What is happening in the picture?

a)

layers of the Earth are changing positions

b)

the inner and outer core are solid

c)

convection currents are causing the tectonic plates to move

d)

the mantle is growing

59.

Two plates scrape and slide past each other at (a)  

Choose from the below words
convergent boundaries
divergent boundaries
transform boundaries
magnetic boundaries
60.

New crust forms along a(n)

a)

subduction zone

b)

divergent boundary

c)

convergent boundary

d)

transform boundary

61.

A (a)   plate is a large slab of crust and upper mantle that moves over the earth's surface.

62.

The point where one plate slides beneath another is known as the ______________.

a)

lithosphere

b)

Pangaea

c)

subduction zone

d)

tectonic

e)

Wegener

63.

What is a plate boundary?

a)

when two plates come together

b)

the second layer of earth

c)

ocean component

d)

continental drift

64.

What are the types of plate boundaries?

a)

divergent, converge, transform

b)

divergent, oceanic, transform

c)

oceanic, continental, divergent

d)

transform, oceanic, converge

65.

What is a convergent boundary?

a)

two plates that converge

b)

two plates that drift apart

c)

two plates that collide and push against each other

d)

two plates that slide past each other

66.

What type of crustal features form at a convergent boundary?

a)

salt flats

b)

folded mountains

c)

earthquakes

d)

lakes

67.

What is a divergent boundary?

a)

two plates that drift apart

b)

two plates that slide past each other

c)

two plates that collide

d)

a fault

68.

What type of crustal features form at a divergent boundary?

a)

a trench

b)

an ocean whole

c)

an earthquake

d)

a rift or a ridge

69.

What is a transform boundary?

a)

two plates colliding

b)

two plates sliding past each other

c)

two plates drifting apart

d)

tectonic plates

70.

What type of crustal features form at a transform boundary? (a)  

Choose from the below words
volcanoes
trenches
faults
valleys
71.

What makes the plate tectonics move?

a)

hot magma

b)

the ocean floor

c)

convection currents

d)

heat waves

72.

Convergent boundary lies within what layer of Earth?

a)

crust

b)

inner core

c)

mantle

d)

outer core

73.

Which of the following boundary always moves away from each other?

a)

close boundary

b)

convergent boundary

c)

divergent boundary

d)

transformative boundary

74.

Which of the following is a common product of the movement of the transform plate boundary?

a)

hills

b)

earthquakes

c)

oceanic floor

d)

seamount

75.

What does heat do when convection currents are moving?

a)

Sinks

b)

Rises

c)

Stays in place

76.

Colder, more dense magma near the crust...


OPTIONS: sinks, rises, or remains the same

(a)  

77.

Hotter, less dense magma near the core...

a)

rises.

b)

sinks.

78.

The plates of the crust move because...

a)

volcanoes erupt violently.

b)

of the weight of the oceans.

c)

of convection currents in the mantle.

d)

of the moon's gravity.

79.

Convection currents occur due to...

a)

rotation of earth

b)

differences in temperature and density

c)

electrons moving

d)

gravitational pull

80.

Which of the following is one reason 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

81.

Convection cycles move in the mantle. How does this affect the crust?

a)

crust has no motion

b)

crust moves in random directions

c)

crust moves in same direction convection cycle moves

82.

Which of the following best describes this diagram?

a)

The oceanic crust is subducting under the continental crust because it is denser

b)

The trench is froming a lake of water along the edge of the lithosphere.

c)

Mountains are forming because 2 contiential crust are converging

d)

The ocean water will put out the fire caused by the volcano.

83.

The Ring of Fire is located around the Pacific Plate. How did this land feature form?

a)

dinosaurs moved the plates to this location.

b)

mountains formed along the ring because of uplifting.

c)

movement along the edges caused earthquakes and volcanoes.

d)

ice formed during the ice age and left rocks behind in this pattern,

84.

Which of the following is the correct difference between the oceaninc and the continetal crust?

a)

The ocean crust is thicker and less dense

b)

The continential crust it thicker and more dense

c)

The oceanic crust is thiner but is more dense.

d)

The contiential crust is thinner and less dense.

85.

What is the source of heat in a mantle convection current?

a)

the sun

b)

the crust

c)

the core

d)

the moon

86.

In a convection current , hot materials move

a)

any direction

b)

downward

c)

sideward

d)

upward