Plate Tectonics
Practice Test
1.
What is a magnetic field reversal?
a.
when Earth's magnetic field suddenly disappears for short periods of time
b.
when Earth's magnetic field leaves the north pole and enters the south pole
c.
when Earth's magnetic field suddenly runs east/west instead of south/north
d.
when Earth's magnetic field leaves the south pole and enters the north pole
Hint
2.
How can crust disappear at the edge of a boundary?
a.
It is too dense and is sinking into Earth.
b.
because new crust is being added to the other edge of the boundary
c.
Gravity is pulling it down.
d.
The other edge of the boundary is being pulled into Earth's core.
Hint
3.
How can Earth's plates move?
a.
They only can move toward each other.
b.
They only converge or diverge.
c.
They only collide or slide along each other.
d.
They can collide, pull apart, or slide against each other.
Hint
4.
What happens when an oceanic plate converges with a continental plate?
a.
The less dense oceanic plate slides under the denser continental plate.
b.
The less dense oceanic plate slides past the denser continental plate.
c.
The denser oceanic plate slides under the less dense continental plate.
d.
The denser oceanic plate slides on top of the less dense continental plate.
Hint
5.
Do two colliding continental plates always cause volcanoes?
a.
No, earthquakes always occur when two continental plates collide.
b.
Yes, subduction always occurs when continental plates collide.
c.
Yes, subduction always occurs when oceanic plates collide.
d.
No, usually no subduction occurs when continental plates collide.
Hint
6.
What is the continental drift theory?
a.
the belief that continents are moving slowly together from their current locations on Earth
b.
the belief that continents have moved slowly apart to their current locations on Earth
c.
the belief that continents have always been located at their current locations on Earth
d.
the belief that continents have quickly moved apart to their current locations on Earth
Hint
7.
What is the plate tectonic theory?
a.
the belief that continents have moved slowly apart to their current locations on Earth
b.
the belief that hot, less dense material is forced up through Earth's crust through mid-ocean ridges
c.
the belief that Earth's crust and upper mantle is broken into sections
d.
the belief that Earth is broken into sections that fit together into one sphere
Hint
8.
How do scientists explain the formation of underwater mountain ranges?
a.
continental drift
b.
strike-slip faults
c.
convection currents
d.
seafloor spreading
Hint
9.
What are strike-slip faults?
a.
a boundary where rocks in the fault never move
b.
a boundary where rocks on the same side of the fault move in the same direction, but at different rates
c.
a boundary where rocks move in the same directions at the same rate
d.
a boundary where rocks on opposite sides of the fault move in opposite or the same directions at different rates
Hint
10.
What evidence proved that South America, Africa, India, and Australia were once covered by glaciers?
a.
leftover portions of glaciers
b.
enormous valleys formed by glaciers
c.
cold climates
d.
glacial deposits and rock surfaces scarred by glaciers
Hint
11.
What is Pangaea?
a.
Earth's inner core
b.
the large landmass in which all continents once were connected
c.
the large landmass that all continents are currently forming
d.
the largest fault found on Earth
Hint
12.
What do scientists believe is the force behind the plate tectonics theory?
a.
convection currents
b.
the Sun's gravity
c.
gravity slab pull
d.
the movement of the planets
Hint
13.
What is a transform boundary?
a.
A transform boundary is when two plates move toward each other.
b.
A transform boundary is when two plates pull away from each other.
c.
A transform boundary is when two plates slide past one another.
d.
A transform boundary is when two plates collide.
Hint
14.
What is the difference between normal faults and rift valleys?
a.
Normal faults occur in the northern hemisphere, but rift valleys only occur in the southern hemisphere.
b.
Rift valleys are formed from normal faults.
c.
Rift valleys sometimes occur near normal faults, but their formation is not related to these faults.
d.
Rift valley formation has nothing to do with normal faults.
Hint
15.
What happens to rock around a subducting slab?
a.
It goes over the other plate.
b.
It goes under the other plate.
c.
It disappears from Earth.
d.
It combines with the other rock.
Hint
16.
What tool does a scientist use to detect magnetic fields?
a.
a magnetogram
b.
a fieldometer
c.
a thermometer
d.
a magnetometer
Hint
17.
Who first proposed the theory of continental drift?
a.
Albert Einstein
b.
Galileo Galilee
c.
Harry Hess
d.
Alfred Wegener
Hint
18.
What is the lithosphere?
a.
large, flat stones sitting on top of malleable magma
b.
the plates that make up the crust and the upper part of the mantle
c.
the plates that make up the crust
d.
the upper part of the mantle
Hint
19.
Why was the discovery of no rocks older than 2 billion years old on the ocean floor so important?
a.
This evidence proved that new seafloor features are constantly being added due to continental drift.
b.
This evidence proved that the rocks on the seafloor were older than rocks on continents.
c.
This evidence proved that new seafloor features are constantly being added due to reversals of Earth's magnetic field.
d.
This evidence proved that new seafloor features are constantly being added due to seafloor spreading.
Hint
20.
What does plate tectonics cause?
a.
forms mountains
b.
causes volcanoes
c.
forms ocean basins
d.
all answers are correct
Hint
