Plate Tectonics
Practice Test
1.
A divergent boundary is a boundary between two plates that __________.
a.
slide along each other
b.
move toward each other
c.
move away from each other
d.
converge
Hint
2.
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 suddenly disappears for short periods of time
c.
when Earth's magnetic field leaves the south pole and enters the north pole
d.
when Earth's magnetic field leaves the north pole and enters the south pole
Hint
3.
What kind of movement created the Himalaya Mountains?
a.
erosion
b.
reversals of Earth's magnetic field
c.
divergent boundaries
d.
compressional forces
Hint
4.
What are strike-slip faults?
a.
a boundary where rocks move in the same directions at the same rate
b.
a boundary where rocks on opposite sides of the fault move in opposite or the same directions at different rates
c.
a boundary where rocks on the same side of the fault move in the same direction, but at different rates
d.
a boundary where rocks in the fault never move
Hint
5.
Who first proposed the theory of continental drift?
a.
Alfred Wegener
b.
Harry Hess
c.
Albert Einstein
d.
Galileo Galilee
Hint
6.
What does plate tectonics cause?
a.
all answers are correct
b.
forms ocean basins
c.
causes volcanoes
d.
forms mountains
Hint
7.
What happens to rock around a subducting slab?
a.
It disappears from Earth.
b.
It goes under the other plate.
c.
It combines with the other rock.
d.
It goes over the other plate.
Hint
8.
What is Pangaea?
a.
the largest fault found on Earth
b.
the large landmass that all continents are currently forming
c.
Earth's inner core
d.
the large landmass in which all continents once were connected
Hint
9.
How do scientists explain the formation of underwater mountain ranges?
a.
continental drift
b.
convection currents
c.
strike-slip faults
d.
seafloor spreading
Hint
10.
How can Earth's plates move?
a.
They can collide, pull apart, or slide against each other.
b.
They only collide or slide along each other.
c.
They only converge or diverge.
d.
They only can move toward each other.
Hint
11.
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 denser oceanic plate slides on top of the less dense continental plate.
c.
The denser oceanic plate slides under the less dense continental plate.
d.
The less dense oceanic plate slides past the denser continental plate.
Hint
12.
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 longer it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the colder the water is.
c.
The less time it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the deeper the water is.
d.
The longer it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the more shallow the water is.
Hint
13.
What is the plate tectonic theory?
a.
the belief that hot, less dense material is forced up through Earth's crust through mid-ocean ridges
b.
the belief that continents have moved slowly apart to their current locations on Earth
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
14.
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
15.
What tool does a scientist use to detect magnetic fields?
a.
a magnetogram
b.
a fieldometer
c.
a thermometer
d.
a magnetometer
Hint
16.
Why was the discovery of no rocks older than 2 billion years old on the ocean floor so important?
a.
This evidence proved that the rocks on the seafloor were older than rocks on continents.
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 new seafloor features are constantly being added due to seafloor spreading.
d.
This evidence proved that new seafloor features are constantly being added due to continental drift.
Hint
17.
What is the lithosphere?
a.
large, flat stones sitting on top of malleable magma
b.
the plates that make up the crust
c.
the upper part of the mantle
d.
the plates that make up the crust and the upper part of the mantle
Hint
18.
How can crust disappear at the edge of a boundary?
a.
The other edge of the boundary is being pulled into Earth's core.
b.
Gravity is pulling it down.
c.
because new crust is being added to the other edge of the boundary
d.
It is too dense and is sinking into Earth.
Hint
19.
What is the continental drift theory?
a.
the belief that continents have always been located at 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 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
20.
Do two colliding continental plates always cause volcanoes?
a.
No, usually no subduction occurs when continental plates collide.
b.
No, earthquakes always occur when two continental plates collide.
c.
Yes, subduction always occurs when continental plates collide.
d.
Yes, subduction always occurs when oceanic plates collide.
Hint
