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Earth's Interior and Crust Characteristics

Total questions: 52

Worksheet time: 2hrs 40mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The diagram represents a model of Earth’s surface and internal structure. Letters A, B, C, and D represent four different layers. Some depths below Earth’s surface are shown. Which Earth layer is inferred to be composed of solid nickel and iron?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

2.
In which area of Earth’s interior is the pressure most likely to be 1.2 million atmospheres?
a)
Asthenosphere
b)
Stiffer Mantle
c)
Inner Core
d)
Outer Core
3.
Scientists have classified Earth’s interior into the known layers based primarily on evidence gained by studying
a)
deep drill cores
b)
volcanic eruptions
c)
gravity measurements
d)
earthquake seismic waves
4.
According to the Earth Science Reference Tables, as the depth within the Earth's interior increases, the
a)
density, temperature, and pressure increase
b)
density, temperature, and pressure decrease
c)
density and temperature increase, but pressure decreases
d)
density increases, but temperature and pressure decrease
5.
Compared to oceanic crust, continental crust is generally
a)
older and thinner
b)
older and thicker
c)
younger and thinner
d)
younger and thicker
6.
According to the plate tectonics theory, the Peru-Chile Trench and the Andes Mountains formed along the west coast of South American because the South American Plate
a)
collided with the Nazca Plate
b)
collided with the North American Plate
c)
slid away from the Nazca Plate
d)
slid away from the North American Plate
7.
When two tectonic plates collide, oceanic crust usually subducts beneath continental crust because oceanic crust is primarliy composed of igneous rock that has
a)
low density and is mafic
b)
low density and is felsic
c)
high density and is mafic
d)
high density and is felsic
8.

The cross-section shows the direction of movement of an oceanic plate over a mantle hot spot, resulting in the formation of a chain of volcanoes labeled A, B, C, and D. The geologic age of volcano C is shown. What are the most likely geologic ages of volcanoes B and D?

a)

B is 5 million years old and D is 12 million years old

b)

B is 12 million years old and D is 6 million years old

c)

B is 9 million years old and D is 9 million years old

d)

B is 10 million years old and D is 4 million years old

9.
The movement of tectonic plates is inferred by many scientists to be driven by
a)
tidal motions in the hydrosphere
b)
density differences in the troposphere
c)
convection currents in the asthenosphere
d)
solidification in the lithosphere
10.
Which features are commonly formed at the plate boundaries where continental crust converges with oceanic crust?
a)
large volcanic mountain ranges parallel to the coast at the center of the continents
b)
A deep ocean trench and a continental volcanic mountain range near the coast
c)
An underwater volcanic mountain range and rift valley on the ocean ridge near the coast
d)
Long chains of mid-ocean volcanic islands perpendicular to the coast
11.
A seismic station is located 8000 kilometers from the epicenter of an earthquake. How long did it take the first P-wave to travel from the epicenter to the seismic station?
a)
9 minutes 20 seconds
b)
11 minutes 20 seconds
c)
20 minutes 40 seconds
d)
4 minutes 20 seconds
12.

In which layer of Earth’s interior is the inferred temperature 6,000º C?

a)

crust

b)

outer core

c)

inner core

d)

mantle

13.

On the map above, line AB is drawn across several of Earth’s tectonic plates in the South Atlantic Ocean. Which cross section best represents the plate boundaries and mantle movement beneath line AB?

a)
b)
c)
d)
14.

Which graph best shows the range of density in each of Earth’s layers?

a)
b)
c)
d)
15.

Contact zones between tectonic plates may produce trenches. One of these trenches is located at the boundary between which plates?

a)

Indian-Australian and Pacific

b)

South American and African

c)

Indian-Australian and Antarctic

d)

North American and Eurasian

16.

The diagram above shows the collision of an oceanic plate and a continental plate. Collisions between oceanic plates and continental plates are thought to result primarily from

a)

hot liquid magma in the inner core

b)

convection currents in the mantle

c)

volcanic eruptions along coastlines

d)

meteor impacts in the ocean basins

17.

At the Aleutian Trench and the PeruChile Trench, tectonic plates are generally

a)

moving along a transform boundary

b)

moving over a mantle hot spot

c)

diverging

d)

converging

18.

On which plate is the Hawaii Hot Spot located?

a)

South American

b)

Antarctic

c)

Nazca

d)

Pacific

19.

Which of the following is located at a converging plate boundary?

a)

Southwest Indian Ridge

b)

Iceland Hotspot

c)

Marianas Trench

d)

Sandwich Plate

20.

What type of plate boundary exists between the African Plate and the Antartic Plate?

a)

convergent

b)

transform

c)

divergent

d)

complex

21.

The temperature of rock located 1,000 kilometres below the Earth's surface is about

a)

200 Celsius

b)

2,100 Celsius

c)

2,800 Celsius

d)

3,200 Celsius

22.

The diagrams show four major types of fault motion occurring in Earth's Crust. Which type of fault motion matches the general pattern of crustal movement at California's San Andreas fault?

a)
b)
c)
d)
23.

Approximately how far below the surface of the Earth's surface is the interface between the mantle and the outer core?

a)

5 to 30 km

b)

700 to 900 km

c)

2,900 to 3,000 km

d)

5,000 to 5,200 km

24.

Which information indicates that new seafloor rock is forming along a mid-ocean ridge and then moving horizontally away from the ridge?

a)

Most volcanoes are located under water.

b)

Seafloor rock is older than continental rock.

c)

Fossils of marine organisms can be found at high elevations on continents.

d)

The age of seafloor rock increases as the distance from the mid-ocean ridge increases.

25.

Which type of tectonic plate boundary is found between the South American Plate and the Scotia

Plate?

a)

A) transform

b)

B) convergent

c)

C) divergent

d)

D) complex or uncertain

26.

In which layer of Earth's interior is the

inferred temperature 6,000°C?

a)

A) crust

b)

B) mantle

c)

C) outer core

d)

D) inner core

27.

The place where two plates come together is known as a _______

a)

transform boundary.

b)

divergent boundary.

c)

convergent boundary.

d)

rift valley.

28.
What does the theory of continental drift state?
a)
The continents were once joined in a super-continent and have moved over time
b)
Continents are stationary and do not move
c)
The Earth is broken into lithospheric plates that move due to convection currents
d)
none of the above
29.

Which two mantle hot spots are located at midocean ridges?

a)

Iceland and Yellowstone

b)

Galapagos and Tasman

c)

St. Helena and Hawaii

d)

Easter Island and Bouvet

30.

Crustal formation, which may cause the widening of an ocean, is most likely occurring at the boundary between the

a)

African Plate and the Eurasian Plate

b)

Pacific Plate and the Philippine Plate

c)

Indian-Australian Plate and the Antarctic Plate

d)

South American Plate and the North American Plate

31.

How does the Oceanic crust compare to the Continental crust?


a)


A) The Oceanic crust is more dense

b)


B) The Oceanic crust is less dense

c)

C) The Oceanic crust has the same density as the Continental crust

32.

The theory of continental drift suggests that the

a)


A) continents moved due to Earth's orbit around the sun

b)

B) continents moved due to Earth's rotation

c)

C) the continents are moving toward each other

d)

D) the continents once fit together like puzzle parts

33.

The block diagram below represents the formation of an island arc near a plate boundary.

An island arc is located near the boundary between which two tectonic plates?

a)

Antarctic Plate and Indian–Australian Plate

b)

Philippine Plate and Eurasian Plate

c)


African Plate and North American Plate

d)


Scotia Plate and South American Plate

34.

Which tectonic plate boundary is best represented by this diagram?

a)

Nazca Plate and Pacific Plate boundary

b)

Scotia Plate and South American Plate boundary

c)


Juan de Fuca Plate and North American Plate boundary

d)

Antarctic Plate and Indian-Australian Plate boundary

35.

Which cross section best represents the convection currents in the mantle beneath the Peru-Chile Trench?

a)

b)

c)

d)

36.

The block diagram below shows the boundary between two tectonic plates.

a)

divergent

b)

convergent

c)

complex

d)

transform

37.

At which plate boundary is one lithospheric plate sliding under another?

a)

Nazca Plate and Antarctic Plate

b)


Pacific Plate and Indian-Australian Plate

c)


Indian-Australian Plate and Antarctic Plate

d)

Nazca Plate and Pacific Plate

38.

Early scientist studies the continents an dobserved that South America and Africa fit together like puzzle pieces. Which of the following ideas does this observation support?

a)

The continental shelves of these two continents are made of the same type of rock.

b)

The material that makes up the continental shelves is eroded from the continents.

c)

These continents were joined in the past and have moved apart since that time.

d)

The tectonic plates beneath these continents are roughly the same age.

39.

Mid-ocean ridges are found at one type of tectonic plate boundary. These ridges consist of extensive underwater mountain ranges split by rift valleys. The rift valleys mark places where two crustal plates are pulling apart, widening the ocean basins, and allowing magma from the asthenosphere to move upward. In some cases, mid-ocean ridges have migrated toward nearby mantle hot spots. This explains why mid-ocean ridges and mantle hot spots are found together at several locations.

At which location is the temperature of the ocean floor bedrock most likely highest?

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

40.
The diagram below shows the magnetic polarity preserved by minerals within the bedrock of the oceanic crust near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Letters A, B, C, and D represent locations in the ocean-floor bedrock.
The most recently formed bedrock is found at location
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
41.

Base your answer to the following question on the block diagram and on your knowledge of Earth science. Describe the general relationship between the distance from the ridge center and the age of the seafloor bedrock.

a)

As distance from the ridge center increases, the age of the seafloor remains the same.

b)

As distance from the ridge center increases, the age of the seafloor decreases.

c)

As distance from the ridge center increases, the age of the seafloor increases.

42.

The map below shows the present-day locations of South America and Africa. Remains of Mesosaurus, an extinct freshwater reptile, have been found in similarly aged bedrock formed from lake sediments at locations X and Y. Which statement represents the most logical conclusion to draw from this evidence?

a)

Mesosaurus migrated across the ocean from location X to location Y.

b)

Mesosaurus came into existence on several widely separated continents at different times.

c)

The continents of South America and Africa were joined when Mesosaurus lived.

d)

The present climates at locations X and Y are similar.

43.

Base your answer to the following question on the map of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge shown below. Points A through D are locations on the ocean floor. Line XY connects locations in North America and Africa. In which cross section do the arrows best show the convection occurring within the asthenosphere beneath line XY?

a)

b)

c)

d)

44.

The map below shows some tectonic plate boundaries near South America and Africa. Letters A, B, C, and D represent locations on Earth's surface. Which location most likely has the youngest bedrock?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

45.

Which mantle hot spot is located closest to a mid-ocean ridge?

a)

Canary Islands

b)

Easter Island

c)

Hawaii

d)

Tasman

46.

State the average density of the continental crust of the North American Plate and the average density of the oceanic crust of the Pacific Plate.

a)

Continental: 2.7 g/cm³, Oceanic: 3.0 g/cm³

b)

Continental: 2.9 g/cm³, Oceanic: 3.3 g/cm³

c)

Continental: 2.5 g/cm³, Oceanic: 2.9 g/cm³

d)

Continental: 2.8 g/cm³, Oceanic: 3.1 g/cm³

47.

The cross section below represents a lithospheric plate boundary. In which diagram do the arrows show the relative directions of plate movement at this type of plate boundary?

a)

b)

c)

d)

48.

The map shows the location of the epicenter of a major earthquake that occurred about 1700 years ago. Point A represents a location on a tectonic plate boundary. Plates X and Y represent major tectonic plates. The island of Crete; the Anatolian Plate, which is a minor tectonic plate; and the Hellenic Trench have been labeled. Arrows indicate the relative directions of plate motion. What are the names of the major tectonic plates X and Y?

a)


X
= Eurasian Plate; Y = African Plate

b)


X
= Eurasian Plate; Y = Arabian Plate

c)

X = Indian-Australian Plate; Y = African Plate

d)

X = Indian-Australian Plate; Y = Arabian Plate

49.

On the map below, points A through D represent locations on Earth's surface. Which location is positioned over a mantle hot spot?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

50.

Base your answer on the map of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge shown below. Points A through D are locations on the ocean floor. Line XY connects locations in North America and Africa. In which cross section do the arrows best show the convection occurring within the asthenosphere beneath line XY?

a)

b)

c)

d)

51.

Which diagram best represents the polarity of the magnetic field preserved in the ocean-floor bedrock found on both sides of the Mid-Indian Ridge?

a)

b)

c)

d)

52.

Which diagram best shows the magnetic pattern and relative age of the igneous bedrock on the west side of the ridge?

a)

b)

c)

d)