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Rocks and Plate Tectonics Review

Total questions: 121

Worksheet time: 1hrs 22mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What happens where an oceanic plate converges with a continental plate?

a)

The denser oceanic plate slides on top of the less dense continental plate.

b)

The denser oceanic plate slides under the less dense continental plate.

c)

The less dense oceanic plate slides past the denser continental plate.

d)

The less dense oceanic plate slides under the denser continental plate.

2.

At what type of plate boundary are most high continental mountains formed?

a)

convergent boundary

b)

hotspots

c)

divergent boundary

d)

transform boundary

e)

mid-ocean ridges

3.

What kind of plate movement created the Himalayan Mountains?

a)

convergence of oceanic crust with continental crust.

b)

divergence between two continental crustal plates.

c)

transform movement between oceanic and continental crustal plates.

d)

convergence of two plates composed of continental crust.

4.

What type of boundary occurs where two plates move together, causing one plate to descend into the mantle beneath the other plate?

a)

transform fault boundary

b)

convergent boundary

c)

divergent boundary

d)

hotspots

5.

Deep ocean trenches are associated with:

a)

mid-ocean ridge systems.

b)

transform fault boundaries.

c)

subduction zones.

d)

rift zones.

6.

Rift valleys, like the Great African Rift Valley, form as a result of:

a)

crustal compression.

b)

divergent boundaries

c)

convergent boundaries

d)

subduction zones

7.

A mid-ocean ridge is an example of what type of plate boundary?

a)

convergent zone

b)

divergent zone

c)

transform zone

d)

subduction zone

8.

The youngest rocks on the ocean floor are typically located near what feature?

a)

a mid-ocean ridge

b)

a subduction zone

c)

on an island arc

d)

a deep-sea trench

9.

A rift valley is evidence of which kind of plate boundary?

a)

convergent boundary

b)

transform boundary

c)

divergent boundary

d)

hotspot

10.

What kind of plate boundary occurs where two plates grind past each other without destroying or producing new lithosphere?

a)

divergent boundary

b)

hotspots

c)

convergent boundary

d)

transform boundary

11.

Which type of plate boundary is in the southern California region?

a)

passive margin

b)

divergent boundary

c)

convergent boundary

d)

transform boundary

12.

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

13.

Tectonic plates are made of?

a)

The mantle

b)

Continental and oceanic lithosphere

c)

The outer core

d)

The mesosphere

14.

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

15.

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

a)

Alfred Powell

b)

Harry Hess

c)

Alfred Wegener

d)

Ernest Rutherford

16.

How far do tectonic plates move each year?

a)

Meters per year

b)

Centimeters per year

c)

Kilometers per year

d)

Feet per year

17.

Where does seafloor spreading take place?

a)

Convergent boundaries

b)

The continentals shelves

c)

Transform boundary

d)

Mid-ocean ridges

18.

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

a)

Gravity

b)

Convection

c)

Wave motion

d)

Seismic activity

19.

The super continent that existed when all continents were together was named

a)

Gondwana

b)

Laurasia

c)

Eurasia

d)

Pangea

20.

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

21.

This type of boundary creates rift zones and shallow earthquakes

a)

Transform

b)

Continental-Continental Convergent

c)

Divergent

d)

Oceanic-Continental Convergent

22.

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

23.

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

a)

Transform

b)

Continental-Continental Convergent

c)

Divergent

d)

Oceanic-Continental Convergent

24.

Mountains are created along

a)

Transform boundaries

b)

Continental-Continental Convergent

c)

Divergent

d)

Oceanic-Continental Convergent

25.

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

26.

Subduction zones occur along

a)

Transform boundaries

b)

Continental-Continental boundaries

c)

Divergent boundaries

d)

Oceanic-Continental boundaries

27.

Ocean trenches are found along

a)

Transform boundaries

b)

Continental-Continental boundaries

c)

Divergent boundaries

d)

Oceanic-Continental boundaries

28.

Earthquakes can happen along

a)

All boundaries

b)

Divergent and transform boundaries

c)

Convergent and divergent boundaries

d)

Transform and Convergent boundaries

29.

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

30.

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

31.

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

32.

When comparing the lithosphere to the asthenosphere, which statement is correct?

a)

The asthenosphere is part of the crust, and the lithosphere is part of the mantle.

b)

The lithosphere is a layer of flowing hot magma that supports the solid thin layer of the asthenosphere.

c)

The lithosphere is brittle and rigid, and the asthenosphere is plastic-like and flowing.

d)

The asthenosphere is a thin layer that sits on top of the lithosphere.

33.

Which statement is true regarding the movement of the continents on the opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean?

a)

They are drifting closer together.

b)

They have remained the same distance apart.

c)

They drifted further apart and then drifted closer together.

d)

They are drifting farther apart.

34.

What causes the Earth's crustal plates to move?

a)

convection currents in the Earth's mantle

b)

revolution of the Earth around the Sun

c)

volcanism within the Earth's lithosphere

d)

the rotation of the Earth on its axis

35.

Which layer of the Earth is described as "plastic and flowing"?

a)

asthenosphere

b)

atmosphere

c)

lithosphere

d)

troposphere

36.

When parts of the upper mantle collide with each other, the force causes changes on the surface like volcanoes and fractures. Why does the collision not impact the asthenosphere?

a)

The asthenosphere is plastic and brittle.

b)

The asthenosphere is plastic and flowing.

c)

The asthenosphere is rigid and flowing.

d)

The asthenosphere is rigid and brittle.

37.

Which statement is supported by the Theory of Continental Drift?

a)

Present-day continents of South America and Africa are moving toward each other.

b)

Continents move due to changes in the Earth's orbit around the Sun.

c)

Present-day continents of South America and Africa once fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.

d)

Continents move due to changes in the tilt of the Earth's axis.

38.

What is the point on the Earth's surface that lies directly above the site where an earthquake occurred?

a)

seismic wave

b)

fault line

c)

focus

d)

epicenter

39.

Where does most present-day faulting of rock occur?

a)

crustal plate boundaries

b)

interior areas of continental crustal plates

c)

polar regions of the Earth

d)

interior areas of oceanic crustal plates

40.

Which statement is true according to the theory of plate tectonics?

a)

Lithospheric plates are destroyed at the mid-ocean ridges.

b)

Continents drift because they rest on lithospheric plates that move.

c)

Lithospheric plates move because the inner core of the Earth is liquid.

d)

Transform boundaries form when two lithospheric plates collide.

41.

The continents on Earth today are not in the same location as they were 300 million years ago. What concept provides the best explanation for the drifting of the continents?

a)

global warming

b)

law of conservation of mass

c)

seismic probability

d)

theory of plate tectonics

42.

Geologists believe that millions of years ago all the continents were united and formed which supercontinent?

a)

Gondwanaland

b)

Pangaea

c)

Eurasia

d)

Atlantis

43.

Where do earthquakes most likely occur?

a)

the interior of an oceanic crust plate

b)

boundary between the core and mantle

c)

near a fault zone

d)

near the equator

44.

In 1912, Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift, stating that all the continents were once joined together and slowly moved apart. However, his theory was not widely accepted in his time. In 1962, the discovery of sea floor spreading (sea floor being forced apart by the formation of new crust) eventually led to a more modern and widely accepted theory of plate tectonics.

Why did the theory of plate tectonics improve upon Wegener’s theory of continental drift?

a)

The theory of plate tectonics was a less complete theory because it failed to provide complete reasons and mechanisms for why the plates and continents moved.

b)

The theory of plate tectonics was a more complete theory because it provided a reason and mechanism for why the plates and continents moved.

c)

The theory of plate tectonics was a more complete theory because it failed to provide reasons and mechanisms for why the plates and continents moved.

d)

The theory of plate tectonics was a less complete theory because it provided a reason and mechanism for why the plates and continents moved.

45.

How do rock samples collected from the sea floor provide evidence of tectonic plate movement?

a)

Older rocks are found near the deep-ocean trenches.

b)

Older rocks are near the center of mid-ocean ridges.

c)

Younger rocks are near the deep-ocean trenches.

d)

Younger rocks are mixed with older rocks at mid-ocean ridges.

46.

Where is the thickest part of the Earth's crust?

a)

under the oceans

b)

under deserts

c)

under mountain ranges

d)

under swamps

47.

Which statement is true about the Earth's crust?

a)

Earth's crust is thinnest under oceans.

b)

Earth's crust is uniform in thickness.

c)

Earth's crust is thinner under the poles and thicker at the equator.

d)

Earth's crust is thinnest under mountainous regions.

48.

Which statement is true about subduction zones?

a)

They occur when a less dense plate is pushed below a more dense oceanic plate.

b)

They result in mountains formed when two continental plates collide.

c)

They always result in sea-floor spreading.

d)

They always occur at convergent plate boundaries.

49.

The San Andreas Fault in California is caused by the Pacific Plate sliding horizontally along the North American Plate. Many earthquakes occur along this fault. What type of fault results from this type of plate boundary movement?

a)

convergent

b)

divergent

c)

subduction

d)

transform

50.

Which statement is true regarding the movement of the continents on the opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean?

a)

They have been drifting farther apart.

b)

They have been drifting closer together.

c)

They have remained the same distance apart.

d)

They drifted further apart and then drifted closer together.

51.

The vast majority of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur near plate boundaries, but there are some exceptions. The Hawaiian Islands, which are entirely of volcanic origin, have formed in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in the middle of the Pacific Plate.


Regions exist below the plates which provide localized sources of high heat energy to sustain volcanism. What are these regions called?

a)

subduction zones

b)

hot spots

c)

convection centers

d)

asthenosphere thermals

52.

What happens when oceanic crust subducts beneath continental crust?

a)

A volcanic island arc and an ocean trench will form.

b)

A non-volcanic mountain range will form.

c)

An on-shore volcanic arc and an ocean trench will form.

d)

A rift valley will form.

53.

A student prepares a model to show a convergent boundary between two plates, A and B.


What would happen if Plate A is a continental plate, and Plate B is an oceanic plate?

a)

Plate A would subduct beneath Plate B, forming an oceanic volcano.

b)

Plate B would subduct beneath Plate A, forming a deep trench.

c)

Plates A and B would collide, forming an oceanic ridge and a volcanic arc.

d)

Plates A and B would thrust rocks upward, forming a fold mountain.

54.

The diagram shows a type of tectonic plate boundary.

What type of plate boundary is shown?

a)

oceanic-oceanic divergent plate boundary

b)

continental-continental divergent plate boundary

c)

continental-continental convergent plate boundary

d)

oceanic-continental convergent plate boundary

55.

What is the name of the 225 million year old super continent?

a)

Pancake

b)

Pangea

c)

Super Continent Sam

d)

Albert Einstein

56.

How first identified the theory of plate tectonics and Pangea?

a)

Albert Einstein

b)

Patrick Henry

c)

Alfred Wegener

d)

Mr. Harris

57.

What are two pieces of evidence that support the theory of plate tectonics?

a)

Matching rocks/fossils on different continents

b)

Landscapes that look alike

c)

The same species live in different areas today

d)

Seafloor Spreading

58.

The lithosphere is one smooth, solid shell around the Earth.

a)

True

b)

False

59.

In convection currents, hot material ______ and then cool material _____.

a)

1) Rises

2) Sinks

b)

1) Sinks

2) Rises

60.

Convergent boundaries occur when:

a)

Two plates pull apart

b)

Two plates collide

c)

Two plates scrape/slide past each other

61.

Divergent boundaries occur when:

a)

Two plates pull apart

b)

Two plates collide

c)

Two plates scrape/slide past each other

62.

Transform boundaries occur when:

a)

Two plates pull apart

b)

Two plates collide

c)

Two plates scrape/slide past each other

63.

Subduction zones occur when:

a)

Two plates collide at and convergent boundary and one sinks

b)

Two plates collide at a convergent boundary and they push each other up

c)

Two plates pull apart at a divergent boundary

64.

Seafloor spreading occur when:

a)

Two plates collide at and convergent boundary and one sinks

b)

Two plates collide at a convergent boundary and they push each other up

c)

Two plates pull apart at a divergent boundary

65.

Mountain building occurs when:

a)

Two plates collide at and convergent boundary and one sinks

b)

Two plates collide at a convergent boundary and they push each other up

c)

Two plates pull apart at a divergent boundary

66.

Alfred Wegener's Theory of Plate Tectonics was laughed at initially, but is now believed by the scientific community.

a)

True

b)

False

67.
What are the two types of weathering?
a)
Mechanical and Physical
b)
Mechanical and Chemical
c)
Chemical and Abrasion
d)
There's more than two types
68.
The sea arch pictured was made through...
a)
Mechanical weathering of the rock cliff
b)
Chemical weathering of the rock cliff
69.
Salt water weathering rocks by dissolving pieces of it over time is an example of ....
a)
Chemical Weathering
b)
Mechanical Weathering
70.
Wind abrasion (wind blowing sand against something) is an example of _______ weathering.
a)
Chemical
b)
Mechanical
71.
Erosion is defined as ________
a)
The transport of sediment
b)
The break down of rcoks into sediment
c)
the depositing of sediment
d)
None of these
72.
Weathering is defined as________
a)
The transport of sediments
b)
The breaking down of rocks into sediment
c)
The deposit of sediment
d)
None of these
73.
What type of plate boundary & crust type usually creates tall mountains?
a)
Convergent, continental-oceanic
b)
Divergent, continental-continental
c)
Convergent, continental-continental
d)
Transform
74.
What type of rock is formed deep underground through heat and pressure?
a)
Igneous
b)
Sedimentray
c)
Metamorphic
d)
None of these
75.
Fossils are found in what type of rock?
a)
Igneous
b)
Sedimentary
c)
Metamorphic
d)
None of these
76.
Obsidian is shiny, smooth and usually black. It is an igneous rock, and forms when:
a)
Magma cools slowly underground
b)
Lava cools slowly underground
c)
Magma cools quickly on the surface
d)
Lava cools quickly on the surface
77.
Earthquakes are most likely to form _________
a)
randomly
b)
on convergtent plate boundaries
c)
on divergent plate boundaries
d)
on all plate boundaries
78.
What type of boundary is pictured?
a)
Convergent
b)
Divergent
c)
Transform
d)
None of these
79.
The youngest rocks would be located _____
a)
Closest to the mid-ocean ridge
b)
farthest away from the mid-ocean ridge
c)
in the middle of the mid-ocean ridge
d)
none of these
80.
What type of rock is forming in this image?
a)
Igneous
b)
Sedimentary
c)
Metamorphic
d)
None of these
81.
What caused the letters on this old tombstone to fade?
a)
weathering
b)
deposition
c)
being made of cheap material
d)
none of these
82.
Name the boundary
a)
convergent boundary
b)
divergent boundary
c)
transform boundary
d)
sergent boundary
83.
Name the boundary
a)
convergent boundary
b)
divergent boundary
c)
transform boundary
d)
sergent boundary
84.
What kind of plate boundary is shown here?
a)
divergent
b)
convergent
c)
transform
d)
strike slip
85.
What kind of plate boundary is shown here?
a)
divergent
b)
convergent
c)
transform
d)
strike slip
86.
Whenever a subduction zone is formed a ______ is formed.
a)
Mountain
b)
Island Arc
c)
Rift
d)
Volcano
87.
A subduction zone is formed...
a)
when one tectonic plate sinks below another
b)
at every type of convergent plate boundary
c)
at every type of divergent plate boundary
d)
at transform boundaries
88.
What is D?
a)
magma
b)
upper mantle
c)
lava
d)
convection
89.
What is B?
a)
ocean trench
b)
mid-ocean ridge
c)
rift valley
d)
volcano
90.
What is A?
a)
ocean trench
b)
mid-ocean ridge
c)
volcano
d)
rift valley
91.
What happens when two oceanic plates move apart from each other?
a)
A mid-ocean ridge forms
b)
An underwater volcano forms
c)
An underwater trench forms
d)
An oceanic plate subducts a continental plate
92.
What is the thinnest layer of the earth’s composition?
a)
mantle
b)
inner core
c)
crust
d)
outer core
93.
The diagram below shows four layers of Earth. Each layer is identified by a number.  Which layer is mostly made of solid iron?
a)
Layer 1
b)
Layer 2
c)
Layer 3
d)
Layer 4
94.
The diagram below shows four layers of Earth. Each layer is identified by a number. Which layer is mostly made of molten iron and nickel?
a)
Layer 1
b)
Layer 2
c)
Layer 3
d)
Layer 4
95.
The diagram below shows four layers of Earth. Each layer is identified by a number. Which layer is mostly made of rock that can flow?
a)
Layer 1
b)
Layer 2
c)
Layer 3
d)
Layer 4
96.
The diagram below shows four layers of Earth. Each layer is identified by a number. Which layer is mostly made of brittle and rigid rock?
a)
Layer 1
b)
Layer 2
c)
Layer 3
d)
Layer 4
97.
What is this a picture of?
a)
plate tectonics
b)
continental drift
c)
pangea
d)
glacier scaring
98.
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
99.
What evidence did Wegener use in his theory?
a)
Continents and fossils fitting together/matching-up like puzzle pieces 
b)
glacier scars and other climate evidence from temperature
c)
mountain ranges and rocks line up across continents
d)
all of the above
100.
A break in Earth's crust along which rocks move is called a ________.
a)
plate
b)
rift
c)
fault
d)
breach
101.
What is the name of the single landmass that began to break apart 200 million years ago?
a)
Panthalassa
b)
Laurasia
c)
Gondwanna
d)
Pangaea
102.
The process by which molten material adds new oceanic crust to the ocean floor is called ___________.
a)
Divergent boundary
b)
Sea-floor spreading
c)
Convergent boundary
d)
Renovating 
103.
What is an undersea mountain chain where new ocean floor is produced?
a)
Rift valley
b)
Deep-ocean trench
c)
Mid-ocean ridge
d)
Transform bounda
104.
What is the process by which oceanic crust sinks beneath a deep-ocean trench and back into the mantle at a convergent plate boundary?
a)
Subduction
b)
Induction
c)
Abduction 
d)
Reduction
105.
___________ is the theory that pieces of Earth's lithosphere are in constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle.
a)
Seismic waves
b)
Convection current
c)
Divergent boundary
d)
Plate tectonics
106.

What type of event will occur at this boundary?

a)

Earthquake

b)

Volcano Eruption

c)

Tornado

d)

Mountain Building

107.

Mountains are created when....

a)

Two continental plates collide

b)

Two oceanic plates pull apart

c)

An Oceanic plate subducts under a Continental Plate

d)

Two continental plates pull apart

108.

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.

109.

Rising magma that results from subduction may produce...

a)

fossil layers

b)

volcanic island arcs

c)

deep-sea sediment

d)

seafloor spreading

110.
The Andes Mountains are a volcanic mountain range located on the western coast of South America. The plate boundary located in this region is most likely an area of-
a)
subduction because the plates are colliding
b)
folded mountains because the plates are colliding
c)
mid-ocean ridges because the plates are pulling apart
d)
ocean-floor spreading because the plates are spreading apart
111.
What forms at a divergent boundary between two oceanic plates?
a)
rift valley
b)
mountain
c)
mid-ocean ridge
d)
trench
112.
Where would the oldest rock be found?
a)
L
b)
M
c)
N
d)
O
113.
It is steep on a topographic map where __________.
a)
lines are closest together
b)
a river flows into a lake
c)
contours bend
d)
contours are far apart
114.
If we were in a plane, Path B --> C is about the same distance as path E --> N. But, which path is the easier walk? 
a)
B --> C is the easier walk
b)
E --> N is the easier walk
c)
B --> C and E --> N are the same walking distance
115.

Which type of boundary involves the plates moving horizontally, side by side?

a)

convergent

b)

divergent

c)

transform

116.

When a divergent boundary occurs on land, which landform does it create?

a)

mid-ocean ridge

b)

rift valley

c)

new ocean floor

d)

subduction zone

117.

What are transform boundaries known for?

a)

earthquakes

b)

volcanoes

c)

mid-ocean ridges

d)

rift vallies

118.

The process when one crust goes under another is called

a)

sea floor spreading

b)

convergency

c)

subduction

d)

rifting

119.

Which of the following does not occur at a continental-oceanic convergent boundary?

a)

volcano

b)

deep ocean trench

c)

mountain

120.

When 2 oceanic crusts collide, which one subducts?

a)

The older crust

b)

The newer crust

c)

can not tell from information given

121.

What is formed when a continental crust collides with another continental crust?

a)

volcanoes

b)

earthquakes

c)

deep ocean ridges

d)

mountains