wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Plate Tectonic

Total questions: 48

Worksheet time: 32mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Fossils can only be dinosaur bones. 
a)
Yes, only dinosaurs made fossils. 
b)
No, fossils can also be leaves, footprints, wood, shells and more. 
c)
No, fossils can also be big rocks that break up into smaller rocks. 
2.

When a fossil of an animal is found on almost all continents, then it supports

a)

the idea of a traveling animal

b)

the idea of a connected original continent

c)

the idea of a flying animal

3.

Fossils can also give evidence for a Pangaea theory

a)

True

b)

False

4.

What evidence of Wegener's Theory is shown in the remains of organisms that lived long time ago?

a)

embryology

b)

continental drift

c)

seafloor spreading

d)

fossils

5.

One piece of evidence for Plate Tectonics is that--

a)

some continents appear to fit together like a puzzle.

b)

we have video footage of the plates actually moving.

c)

all continents have formed from volcanic eruptions.

d)

the continents are no longer moving.

6.

Fossil records indicate that the continents were once connected. How do fossil records support this claim?

a)

We have been able to transport the same types of fossils from one continent to another.

b)

Fossils of the same organism that are chemically and physically similar have been found on continents that are now separated by oceans.

c)

Some continents contain fossils of many different types of organisms.

7.
How does absolute age differ from relative age?
a)
only absolute dating indicates which rock is older than another
b)
only absolute dating finds the age in years
c)
only relative dating finds the age in years
8.
The best index fossils have which two traits?
a)
widespread geographically, long lifespan
b)
widespread geographically, short lifespan
c)
specific place, long lifespan
d)
specific place, short lifespan
9.
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
10.
Preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past.
a)
vertebrate
b)
carbon film
c)
invertebrate
d)
fossil
11.
Which of the following orders the rock layers accurately from youngest to oldest?
a)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
b)
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
c)
2, 3, 4, 5, 1
d)
1, 2, 3, 5, 4
12.
Which of the following orders the rock layers accurately from oldest to youngest?
a)
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H
b)
B, F, G, C, D, H, A, E
c)
B, G, C, D, E, H, A, F
d)
F, A, H, E, D, C, G, B
13.

The age of the Earth is measured in _______ of years.

a)

millions

b)

billions

14.

This is a model of sea floor spreading at a divergent boundary called a_________________________________

a)

Divergent boundary

b)

Transform boundary

c)

Mid Ocean Ridge

d)

Oceanic Crust

15.

The formation of new areas of oceanic crust, which occurs through the upwelling of magma at midocean ridges and its subsequent outward movement on either side is called

a)

Subduction

b)

Seafloor Spreading

c)

Divergent boundary

d)

Convergent boundary

16.

Wegener’s theory was rejected by scientists because he could not explain what ____________ pushes or pulls continents.

a)

continent

b)

magma

c)

force

d)

drift

17.

Wegener’s theory that all continents had once been joined together in a single landmass and have drifted apart since.

a)

Seafloor Spreading

b)

Continental Drift

c)

Subduction

d)

Pangaea

18.

The deepest parts of the ocean; long, narrow ditches

a)

Trenches

b)

Divergent Boundary

c)

Lithosphere

d)

Subduction

e)

Tectonic Plates

19.

The magnetic pattern of ocean-floor rocks on one side of an ocean ridge is_____________.

a)

a mirror image of that on the other side

b)

younger than other side

c)

much different pattern

d)

at right angles to the ridge

20.
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
21.

The OLDEST seafloor is located

a)

closest to the mid-ocean ridge.

b)

farthest from the mid-ocean ridge.

c)

east of Hawaii

d)

west of California

22.

Scientists use ______ to map the ocean floor

a)

radar

b)

pulsar

c)

lidar

d)

sonar

23.
Which of the following objects best represents the movement that occurs during sea-floor spreading?
a)
Elevator
b)
Conveyor belt
c)
Rollercoaster
d)
Hot air balloon
24.

How is it possible for new crust to be formed without increasing the surface area of the Earth?

a)

Crust is recycled in subduction zones at the same time it is created at mid-ocean ridges

b)

New crust is underwater where it sinks

c)

New crust breaks more easily than old crust

d)

The oldest crust just breaks apart as the plates move

25.
Where would the oldest rock be found?
a)
L
b)
M
c)
N
d)
O
26.

A divergent boundary occurs where plates ....

a)

Pull apart

b)

Come together

c)

Slide past each other

d)

subducting

27.

Earthquakes can cause ___.

a)

mountains to form

b)

tsunamis

c)

hurricanes

d)

none of these

28.

Seafloor spreading is caused by ____.

a)

volcanoes

b)

earthquakes

c)

convection currents in the mantle

d)

magic

29.

The mid Atlantic ridge is a ___ boundary.

a)

convergent

b)

divergent

c)

transform

30.

The San Andreas fault in California is a --- boundary.

a)

convergent

b)

divergent

c)

transform

31.

Plate tectonics explains the cause of ___.

a)

volcanoes

b)

earthquakes

c)

trenches

d)

all of these

32.

What happens at a subduction zone?

a)

two plates slide past each other

b)

one plate is pulled down under another one

c)

two plates move apart

33.

What type of plate boundary has plates that are sliding past each other?

a)

convergent

b)

divergent

c)

transform

34.

Tectonic plates move quickly.

a)

true

b)

false

35.

How do the plates move along transform boundaries?

a)

They move towards one another

b)

They move away from one another

c)

They move past one another

d)

one moves up and one moves down

36.

How do the plates move along convergent boundaries?

a)

They move towards one another

b)

They move away from one another

c)

They move past one another

d)

One moves up and one moves down

37.

How do the plates move along a divergent boundary?

a)

They move towards one another

b)

They move away from one another

c)

They move past one another

d)

One move up the other moves down

38.

Subduction zones occur along

a)

Transform boundaries

b)

Continental-Continental boundaries

c)

Divergent boundaries

d)

Oceanic-Continental boundaries

39.

Volcanoes are created along

a)

Divergent and Convergent boundaries

b)

Transform and Convergent boundaries

c)

Divergent and Transform boundaries

d)

The boundary between Illionois and Wisconsin

40.

At this boundary, old crust is destroyed and deep earthquakes occur

a)

Transform

b)

Continental-Continental Convergent

c)

Divergent

d)

Oceanic-Continental Convergent

41.

Mountains are created along

a)

Transform boundaries

b)

Continental-Continental Convergent

c)

Divergent

d)

Oceanic-Continental Convergent

42.

At this boundary plates slide past one and other and earthquakes are created

a)

Transform

b)

Continental-Continental Convergent

c)

Divergent

d)

Oceanic-Continental Convergent

43.

What is the process of convection?

a)

The process of hot material rising and cooler material sinking in circular patterns

b)

The process of hot rock solidifying and forming new crust

c)

The process of explaining what goes up must come down

d)

Strong ocean currents moving tremendous amounts of material

44.

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

a)

Gravity

b)

Convection

c)

Wave motion

d)

Seismic activity

45.

Where does seafloor spreading take place?

a)

Convergent boundaries

b)

The continentals shelves

c)

Transform boundary

d)

Mid-ocean ridges

46.

Who was the scientist who proposed the theory of continental drift?

a)

Alfred Powell

b)

Harry Hess

c)

Alfred Wegener

d)

Ernest Rutherford

47.

Where are the youngest rocks on Earth found?

a)

Along mid-ocean ridges

b)

Along transform boundaries

c)

On the edges of the continents

d)

Near ocean trenches

48.

What does the theory of Continental Drift explain?

a)

Ocean currents move continents around the planet

b)

Convection works deep within the asthenosphere

c)

Mid-ocean ridges force tectonic plates to move

d)

Continents were once together and slowly drifted to where they are today