Plate Tectonics Review

___________________ helps explain why there are a large number of marsupial species in Australia and South America, two continents that were once connected.

• ozone production
• continental drift
• the fifth mass extinction
• the sixth mass extinction

There are three types of plate boundaries. Which choice is NOT a type of boundary?

• convergent
• divergent
• thrust
• transform

In some areas of the world, like California and Japan, earthquakes are a common occurrence. How can this best be explained?

• The strong ocean currents are undermining both areas causing earthquakes.
• Both areas are subject to strong ocean wind and waves cause earthquakes.
• Both areas are located near the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the unstable sand causes earthquakes.
• Both areas are on the boundary of active plate margins, the motion of the plates causes earthquakes.

Observe this diagram of a plate boundary. One statement BEST describes what is happening. It is that

• the tectonic plates are moving away from each other
• new oceanic crust is forming
• this is typical of a subduction zone
• mountains are forming

In this diagram of the ocean basin, where is the oldest oceanic crust found?

• A
• B
• C
• D

Where are earthquakes MOST LIKELY to occur?

• close to the equator
• along coastal regions
• close to the center of tectonic plates
• along the boundaries of tectonic plates

The map shown would be helpful in predicting the location of future

• droughts
• volcanoes
• hurricanes
• tornadoes

The movement of Earth's plates cause all EXCEPT this type of catastrophic event.

• Ice Age
• tsunami
• volcano
• earthquake

Ocean trenches are formed when

• two oceanic plates slide past each other
• an oceanic plate goes under another oceanic plate
• two oceanic plates grind past each other along transform faults
• two oceanic plates hit each other causing both plates to rise up

 The movement of the tectonic plates is caused by

• convection currents in the mantle
• the gravity of the iron-nickle core
• the rotation of the Earth
• the Moho discontinuity