WorksheetsPlate Tectonics & Earthquakes Test Review
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 25mins
Who was the first person to propose the idea that all the continents were once joined together in a single landmass?
Alfred Wegener
Charles Darwin
Harry Hess
James Hutton
What was the name of that landmass?
Gondwana
Laurasia
Pangaea
Rodinia
Name the types of evidence that was used to support the theory of continental drift. Select all that apply.
Fit of continental coastlines across oceans
Matching fossils found on widely separated continents
Alignment of mountain belts and similar rock types across continents
Paleoclimate indicators such as glacial deposits and coal beds in unexpected places
Describe how the tectonic plates move, including the role of convection. Which statement best explains this motion?
Convection currents in the mantle move plates as hot material rises and cool material sinks, dragging the plates along
Winds and ocean currents push plates across the seafloor
Earth’s magnetic field pulls the plates westward
Earthquakes create ripples that carry plates around the globe
What is the correct order of Earth's layers?
Crust → Mantle → Outer core → Inner core
Crust → Outer core → Mantle → Inner core
Mantle → Crust → Outer core → Inner core
Crust → Mantle → Inner core → Outer core
How many MAJOR plates are on Earth’s surface?
5
7
10
12
Determine whether the statement is true or false: Trenches form at subduction zones.
True
False
Determine whether the statement is true or false: Shearing is the type of stress that occurs when two plates collide at a convergent boundary.
True
False
Determine whether the statement is true or false: At transform boundaries two plates slide past each other in opposite directions.
True
False
Determine whether the statement is true or false: The San Andreas Fault is a famous transform boundary.
True
False
New oceanic crust forms at transform fault boundaries. Choose the correct evaluation.
True
False
Iceland is located on a divergent plate boundary. Choose the correct evaluation.
True
False
For a Divergent boundary, which type of stress is most characteristic?
Compression
Shear
Tension
Torsion
Which boundary type is best represented by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?
Divergent
Convergent (Ocean/Ocean)
Convergent (Ocean/Continent)
Transform
For a Convergent (Ocean/Ocean) boundary, which description best fits its characteristics?
Plates slide horizontally past each other with little vertical motion
Two oceanic plates collide; one subducts, forming a trench and island arc volcanism
Two continental plates spread apart, creating new oceanic crust at a ridge
An oceanic plate collides with a continental plate, creating fold mountains without volcanism
Which is a classic example of Convergent (Ocean/Continent) boundaries?
Andes Mountains
Hawaiian hot spot
San Andreas Fault
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Convergent (Continent/Continent) boundaries are primarily associated with which type of stress?
Tension
Compression
Shear
Which example best represents Convergent (Continent/Continent) collision?
Appalachian Plateau
Himalayan Mountains
Mariana Trench
Iceland rift valley
Transform boundaries are primarily associated with which type of stress?
Shear
Compression
Tension
Which of the following is a well-known transform boundary example?
San Andreas Fault
East Pacific Rise
Peru–Chile Trench
Himalayan Front
What are some things that can cause an earthquake? Select all that apply.
Sudden movement along faults at plate boundaries
Volcanic activity
Large underground nuclear or mining explosions
Daily tidal changes in the ocean
What is a fault?
A break in Earth’s crust along which movement has occurred
A fold formed by compressional stress without fracture
A stationary boundary with no displacement
A small crack that cannot generate earthquakes
A Normal Fault is most commonly associated with which type of stress?
Compression
Shear
Tension
A Reverse Fault is most commonly associated with which type of stress?
Compression
Shear
Tension
A Strike-Slip Fault is most commonly associated with which type of stress?
Compression
Shear
Tension
What is an earthquake?
A sudden release of energy in the Earth that produces seismic waves due to movement along a fault
A continuous slow creep of plates without wave generation
A seasonal vibration of the crust caused by weather
A volcanic eruption of lava at the surface only
Describe how scientists determine an earthquake’s epicenter.
By measuring ground temperature at one station
By triangulating distances from at least three seismograph stations using P–S wave arrival time differences
By visually locating the area of worst damage only
By comparing earthquake magnitudes recorded worldwide
What does the Richter Scale tell you about an earthquake?
It measures the earthquake’s magnitude
It describes observed damage and human reactions
It ranks tsunami heights along coasts
It reports the depth of the focus only
What does the Mercalli Scale tell you about an earthquake?
It measures intensity based on observed effects and damage
It measures total energy released from the focus
It measures the length of the fault rupture
It measures wave frequency recorded at one station
What is the difference between a foreshock and an aftershock?
A foreshock occurs before the mainshock; an aftershock occurs after the mainshock
Both occur at exactly the same time as the mainshock
A foreshock is always stronger than the mainshock
Aftershocks only occur at divergent boundaries
What is the elastic rebound theory?
The idea that rocks deform elastically under stress until they rupture and then spring back, releasing energy as an earthquake
The concept that rocks slowly dissolve and reprecipitate without breaking
A theory stating that only volcanoes can trigger earthquakes
A model where plates do not store strain energy
What is the difference between a seismogram and a seismograph?
A seismograph is the instrument that records seismic waves; a seismogram is the recorded tracing or digital record
A seismogram measures magnitude while a seismograph measures intensity
A seismograph is the paper record; a seismogram is the building that houses it
They are identical terms for the same device
Where do most earthquakes occur?
Along plate boundaries
Randomly across continents with no pattern
Only in the interiors of tectonic plates
Only beneath oceanic ridges
What is a tsunami?
A series of large ocean waves most often generated by undersea earthquakes or landslides
A wind-driven surface wave caused by storms
A tidal change due to the Moon’s gravity
A standing wave in a lake
How many seismic stations are necessary to accurately determine the location of an earthquake's epicenter?
Two
Three
Four
Five
Which scale ranks earthquakes according to their intensity felt and observed damage?
Richter magnitude scale
Moment magnitude scale
Modified Mercalli Intensity scale
Torino scale
What else, besides an earthquake, can generate a tsunami?
Underwater landslide
Drought
Wind-driven surface waves
Tidal bulges
The focus is the location on the surface directly above where the earthquake occurred. (True / False)
True
False
The epicenter is the location on the surface directly above where the earthquake occurred. (True / False)
True
False
The 2 types of body waves are love waves and Rayleigh waves. (True / False)
True
False
The 2 types of body waves are P waves and S waves. (True / False)
True
False
P waves are compression waves. (True / False)
True
False
P waves are always the first waves that are detected following an earthquake. (True / False)
True
False
S waves are faster than P waves. (True / False)
True
False
A seismograph is the instrument and the seismogram is the traces/marks on paper recording the earthquake waves. (True / False)
True
False
An aftershock occurs before the earthquake and indicates it is coming. (True / False)
True
False
Liquefaction is when saturated materials turn to fluids. (True / False)
True
False
Tsunami means ‘seismic sea or harbor wave’ in Japanese. (True / False)
True
False
The Atlantic Ocean is the only ocean with a Tsunami Warning System. (True / False)
True
False
Earthquakes are easy to predict and the predictions are often very accurate. (True / False)
True
False
