Plate Tectonics
Practice Test
1.
What is a magnetic field reversal?
a.
when Earth's magnetic field suddenly runs east/west instead of south/north
b.
when Earth's magnetic field leaves the north pole and enters the south pole
c.
when Earth's magnetic field leaves the south pole and enters the north pole
d.
when Earth's magnetic field suddenly disappears for short periods of time
Hint
2.
How can crust disappear at the edge of a boundary?
a.
It is too dense and is sinking into Earth.
b.
The other edge of the boundary is being pulled into Earth's core.
c.
because new crust is being added to the other edge of the boundary
d.
Gravity is pulling it down.
Hint
3.
What is the difference between normal faults and rift valleys?
a.
Rift valleys sometimes occur near normal faults, but their formation is not related to these faults.
b.
Normal faults occur in the northern hemisphere, but rift valleys only occur in the southern hemisphere.
c.
Rift valley formation has nothing to do with normal faults.
d.
Rift valleys are formed from normal faults.
Hint
4.
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
5.
What do scientists believe is the force behind the plate tectonics theory?
a.
gravity slab pull
b.
convection currents
c.
the movement of the planets
d.
the Sun's gravity
Hint
6.
How do scientists use sound waves to figure out the shape of the ocean floor?
a.
The longer it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the deeper the water is.
b.
The less time it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the deeper the water is.
c.
The longer it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the more shallow the water is.
d.
The longer it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the colder the water is.
Hint
7.
A divergent boundary is a boundary between two plates that __________.
a.
converge
b.
slide along each other
c.
move away from each other
d.
move toward each other
Hint
8.
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 seafloor spreading.
b.
This evidence proved that new seafloor features are constantly being added due to reversals of Earth's magnetic field.
c.
This evidence proved that the rocks on the seafloor were older than rocks on continents.
d.
This evidence proved that new seafloor features are constantly being added due to continental drift.
Hint
9.
What clue supported the continental drift theory?
a.
a puzzle-like fit of all the continents
b.
Similar rock structures have been found on different continents.
c.
all answers are correct
d.
Fossils of animals have been found on continents separated by oceans.
Hint
10.
How does the
Mesosaurus
fossil evidence support the continental drift theory?
a.
because it's unlikely that the
Mesosaurus
existed on both continents.
b.
because it's unlikely that the
Mesosaurus
could swim between continents
c.
because the
Mesosaurus
lived millions of years ago, when scientists believe the continents began to drift
d.
The
Mesosaurus
fossil evidence does not support the continental drift theory. It proves it wrong.
Hint
11.
What kind of movement created the Himalaya Mountains?
a.
reversals of Earth's magnetic field
b.
divergent boundaries
c.
erosion
d.
compressional forces
Hint
12.
What happens when an oceanic plate converges with a continental plate?
a.
The denser oceanic plate slides on top of the less dense continental plate.
b.
The less dense oceanic plate slides under the denser continental plate.
c.
The less dense oceanic plate slides past the denser continental plate.
d.
The denser oceanic plate slides under the less dense continental plate.
Hint
13.
What is the continental drift theory?
a.
the belief that continents have moved slowly apart to their current locations on Earth
b.
the belief that continents have always been located at their current locations on Earth
c.
the belief that continents are moving slowly together from their current locations on Earth
d.
the belief that continents have quickly moved apart to their current locations on Earth
Hint
14.
What is the lithosphere?
a.
the plates that make up the crust and the upper part of the mantle
b.
large, flat stones sitting on top of malleable magma
c.
the upper part of the mantle
d.
the plates that make up the crust
Hint
15.
What evidence proved that South America, Africa, India, and Australia were once covered by glaciers?
a.
glacial deposits and rock surfaces scarred by glaciers
b.
leftover portions of glaciers
c.
enormous valleys formed by glaciers
d.
cold climates
Hint
16.
Do two colliding continental plates always cause volcanoes?
a.
No, earthquakes always occur when two continental plates collide.
b.
No, usually no subduction occurs when continental plates collide.
c.
Yes, subduction always occurs when continental plates collide.
d.
Yes, subduction always occurs when oceanic plates collide.
Hint
17.
Who first proposed the theory of continental drift?
a.
Galileo Galilee
b.
Albert Einstein
c.
Alfred Wegener
d.
Harry Hess
Hint
18.
What tool does a scientist use to detect magnetic fields?
a.
a fieldometer
b.
a thermometer
c.
a magnetogram
d.
a magnetometer
Hint
19.
How do scientists explain the formation of underwater mountain ranges?
a.
convection currents
b.
seafloor spreading
c.
strike-slip faults
d.
continental drift
Hint
20.
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
