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Plate Tectonics and Geologic Time

Total questions: 63

Worksheet time: 47mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

States that younger rock is found above older rock when comparing undisturbed sedimentary rock layers

a)

Law of superposition

b)

Trace fossil

c)

Matter can't be created or destroyed

d)

Atoms

2.

The ______ Time Scale below shows the events, in order, of Earth's History.

a)

Geologic

b)

Superpositioned

c)

Relative

d)

Cross-cut

3.

In which time period are we currently living?

a)

Precambrian Time

b)

Paleozoic Era

c)

Mesozoic Era

d)

Cenozoic Era

4.

In which kind of rock do we usually find a fossil?

a)

Igneous rock

b)

Metamorphic rock

c)

Sedimentary rock

5.

Organisms D and C clearly lived in an aquatic (water) environment. Organism A does not look like it lived in the water. What is the most likely explanation for this?

a)

The fossil in layer A died on land and was carried to the water

b)

The fossils in layer C and D did not live in the same location as the fossil in layer A

c)

The environment changed over a long period of time. It used to be under water, but is not anymore

6.
Which fossil is relatively the oldest?
a)

Gastropod

b)
Ammonite
c)

Trilobite

d)
Gastropod
7.
Which rock layer in the diagram seems to be the oldest?
a)
F
b)
E
c)
B
d)
A
8.
According to the law of superposition, which layer is the youngest?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
9.

Look at the diagram, in which layer did animal E first appear?

a)

Layer #4

b)

Layer #5

c)

Layer #6

d)

Layer #8

10.

The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?

a)

The absolute age of rock layers

b)

The age of fossils

c)

The relative age of rock layers

d)

the super powers of squirrels

11.

What is the relative age of a rock?

a)

The age determined by the things around it.

b)

The age of an igneous rock.

c)

The age determined by radioactive dating.

d)

The time it since a rock was formed.

12.

During which era, did human evolution take place?

a)

Paleozoic

b)

Mesozoic

c)

Cenozoic

d)

Phanerozoic

13.

During which era, did the dinosaurs dominate?

a)

Paleozoic

b)

Mesozoic

c)

Cenozoic

d)

Phanerozoic

14.

During which era did the formation of Pangaea begin?

a)

Cenozoic

b)

Mesozoic

c)

Paleozoic

d)

Phanerozoic

15.

How is the earth's surface affected by the movement of the tectonic plates?

a)

It causes the formation of new mountains

b)

It leads to the destruction of existing landmasses

c)

It results in the creation of new ocean basins

d)

It causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

16.

Where do most movements happen in the Earth's crust?

a)

At divergent boundaries

b)

At convergent boundaries

c)

At transform boundaries

d)

At mid-ocean ridges

17.

What are three types of plate boundaries?

a)

Divergent, convergent, and transform

b)

Oceanic, continental, and subduction

c)

Rift valleys, trenches, and fault lines

d)

Mid-ocean ridges, volcanoes, and mountains

18.

Which has mid-ocean ridges, & rift valleys?

a)

Convergent boundary

b)

Divergent boundary

c)

Transform boundary

19.

Which has fault lines?

a)

Convergent boundary

b)

Divergent boundary

c)

Transform boundary

20.

Which has subduction, trench, mountains, & volcanoes?

a)

Convergent boundary

b)

Divergent boundary

c)

Transform boundary

21.

Mountain ranges like the Appalachian and Himalayas happen between...

a)

A continental plate and an oceanic plate.

b)

An oceanic plate and another oceanic plate.

c)

A continental plate and another continental plate.

22.

Tectonic plates move apart

a)

Convergent Boundaries

b)

Divergent boundary

c)

Transform boundary

23.

Tectonic plates come together at a

a)

Convergent boundary

b)

Divergent boundary

c)

Transform boundary

24.

Himalayas and the Appalachian mountain ranges

a)

Convergent boundary

b)

Divergent boundary

c)

Transform boundary

25.

San Andreas Fault

a)

Convergent boundary

b)

Divergent boundary 

c)

Transform boundary

26.

Atlantic mid ocean ridge, African rift valley

a)

Convergent boundary

b)

Divergent boundary

c)

Transform boundary

27.

What plate boundary is this?

a)

Convergent

b)

Divergent

c)

Transform

28.

What boundary is this?

a)

Convergent

b)

Divergent

c)

Transform

29.

What boundary is this?

a)

Convergent

b)

Divergent

c)

Transform

30.

According to scientists (paleontologists) about how 'old' is Earth?

a)

2015 years old

b)

3.6 billion years old

c)

4.6 billion years old

d)

4.6 million years old

31.
According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found 
a)
At the top of the rock layers
b)
Near the bottom of the rock layers
c)
In the middle of the rock layers
d)
Somewhat near the surface
32.
Which era is the longest in Earth's history?
a)
Precambrian Era
b)
Paleozoic Era
c)
Mesozoic Era
d)
Cenozoic Era
33.
Fossils are only found in...
a)

Intrusive igneous rocks

b)

Sedimentary rocks

c)

Extrusive igneous rocks

d)

Metamorphic rocks

34.
Which is the correct order of geologic time?
a)
Era >Eon >Period >Epoch
b)
Eon >Era >Period >Epoch
c)
Epoch >Period >Era >Eon
d)
Era >Eon > Epoch >Period
35.
What was probably the first organism on Earth?
a)
Plants
b)
Alligators
c)
Bacteria
d)
Fish
36.
Which is the most recent era of time- the one that we are currently in?
a)
Mesozoic 
b)
Paleozoic 
c)
Cenozoic 
d)
Precambrian 
37.
How do we separate the geologic time scale into eras?
a)
So that they all last the same amount of time
b)
Every 1 billion years
c)
Based on major changes to life on Earth
d)
Based on when a new reptile appeared
38.
Name the boundary
a)

Convergent 

b)

Transform

c)

Divergent

d)

Insurgent  

39.
Plate movement is caused by ______________.
a)

The rotation of the Earth

b)

Ocean tides

c)

Convection currents in the mantle

d)

The moon's gravity

40.
What are mid-ocean ridges?
a)
A chain of underwater waterfalls 
b)
A chain of underwater volcanos
c)
A chain of underwater mountains
d)
A chain of underwater rocks
41.
What would you be most likely to find at a convergent boundary between two pieces of continental crust?
a)
Volcano
b)
Mountains
c)
Rift
d)
Island Arc
42.
Which of the following is where one plate slides under another plate?
a)

Submarine zone

b)

Divergence zone

c)

Subduction zone

d)

Lower zone

43.
Oceanic crust is.....
a)
Younger and less dense than continental crust
b)
Thinner, younger, and more dense than continental crust
c)

Older, thicker, and less dense than continental crust

d)
Bigger and younger than continental crust
44.
Earth's plates are....
a)
Constantly moving and changing the face of the Earth
b)

Never move

c)

Move seldom, but very fast

d)

Move when they feel like it

45.
This area contains over 70 percent of volcanoes and 90 percent of earthquakes in the world.
a)
North American plate
b)
Ring of Fire
c)
Fiery rings
d)
African plate
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.

We live in an area without many earthquakes because _____

a)

We live near a major fault line

b)

We live near the boundary of 2 tectonic plates

c)

We live near the middle of the North American Plate

d)

We live near the Pacific Plate

48.

What is subduction?

a)

Where one tectonic plate sinks below another

b)

Where two plates slide

c)

Where two plates divide

d)

Where two plates collide

49.
One region of the world that is very exposed to volcanoes, tsunamis, and earthquakes is...
a)
the Ring of Fire.
b)
the North and South Pole.
c)
the United States.
d)
Eastern Europe.
50.

Caused by sudden movement in the Earth's plates.

a)

Earthquake

b)

Volcano

c)

Landslide

d)

Hurricane

51.

Caused by an underwater earthquake.

a)

Tsunami

b)

Volcano

c)

Landslide

d)

Hurricane

52.

Caused when a plate subducts into the mantle and melts, causing it to rise back to the surface as lava

a)

Tsunami

b)

Volcano

c)

Tornado

d)

Hurricane

53.
Why is it beneficial to be able to predict when and where natural hazards will occur? 
a)
Communities can be notified to evacuate 
b)
So that we can stop them from happening again 
c)
So that scientists know where to go in order to study them 
d)
So that we can harness their power for renewable energy
54.

Which natural hazard is NOT impacted by tectonic plates?

a)

Earthquakes

b)

Tornadoes

c)

Volcanoes

d)

Tsunamis

55.

True or false: tsunamis are waves caused by wind.

a)

True

b)

False

56.

What is one way buildings are made in areas where earthquakes occur?

a)

Homes built as a single story

b)

Homes built out of wood

c)

Homes are built far away from each other

d)

Homes are built high off the ground

57.

Which natural disaster causes most of its damage due to shaking?

a)

Tornadoes

b)

Earthquakes

c)

Tsunamis

d)

Hurricanes

58.

________________ are a series of huge waves caused by an underwater earthquake in the ocean.

a)

Currents

b)

Tsumani

c)

Waves

59.

Which era is considered the Age of Mammals?

a)

Paleozoic

b)

Cenozoic

c)

Mesozoic

60.

What type of event usually marks the end of an Era?

a)

A volcanic eruption

b)

An asteroid

c)

A mass extinction

d)

An earthquake

61.

The Triassic Period, Jurassic Period, and Cretaceous Period occurred in which Era?

a)

Pre-Cambrian

b)

Mesozoic

c)

Cenozoic

62.

Sequence the Eras from oldest to most recent

a)

Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Precambrian, Paleozoic

b)

Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, Precambrian

c)

Mesozoic, Precambrian, Paleozoic, Cenozoic

d)

Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic

63.

The age of a rock measured in years

a)

Relative age

b)

Biological age

c)

Absolute age

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