4.09 Moving Plates

Which piece of evidence did Alfred Wegener's original theory of continental drift have access to?

• mountains in North America appearing to match up with mountains in Northern Europe

• a seafloor that was geologically active with earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain chains

• reversing paleomagnetism in rocks on the ocean floor

• seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Which piece of evidence did Alfred Wegener's original theory of continental drift have access to?

• evidence of ancient tropical swamps in cold regions of North America

• seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges

• reversing paleomagnetism in rocks on the ocean floor

• a seafloor that was geologically active with earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain chains

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

The Earth's plates moved over millions of years, bringing continents and other features of the Earth to their present arrangement.

How is this movement of the lithosphere explained?

• the theory of plate tectonics

• continental drift

• the principle of superposition

• nuclear fusion

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Which theory states that Earth's lithosphere is divided into moving pieces?

• plate tectonics

• Robinson's theory

• convection theory

• continental drift

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

Which description best presents the arrangement of continents, oceans, and landforms according to the theory of plate tectonics?

• the motion of lithospheric plates over millions of years

• oceans eroding along different paths within a single continent over millions of years, causing it to break up

• several divisions of two original continents over millions of years

• large pieces of Pangaea drifted in different directions over millions of years

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

Which theory best explains the present arrangement of continents, oceans, and landforms on Earth?

• the continental puzzle theory

• the Pangaea theory

• Wegener's continental theory

• plate tectonic theory

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Which description tells two processes scientists think move the Earth's lithospheric plates?

• gravity acting on the edges of plates and friction between the plate and the asthenosphere

• friction between the plate and the asthenosphere and pressure of magma on the edge of the plate

• gravity acting on the edges of plates and convection in the mantle

• convection in the mantle and pressure of magma on the edge of the plate

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Which pair of forces do scientists believe are responsible for tectonic plate motion?

• gravity acting on the edges of plates and friction between the plate and the asthenosphere

• friction between the plate and the asthenosphere and pressure of magma on the edge of the plate

• gravity acting on the edges of plates and convection in the mantle

• convection in the mantle and pressure of magma on the edge of the plate

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Which statement is true about the theory of plate tectonics and the theory of continental drift?

• The theory of plate tectonics explains how continental movements could occur.

• The theory of plate tectonics shows that continental movements could not have happened.

• The theory of plate tectonics tells exactly where the continents were before Pangaea divided.

• The theory of plate tectonics shows that Pangaea was impossible, but the continents did move.

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

Which statement is true about the theory of plate tectonics and the theory of continental drift?

• The theory of plate tectonics does not explain how continental movements could occur.

• The theory of plate tectonics proves the theory of continental drift completely wrong.

• The theory of plate tectonics tells exactly where the continents were before Pangaea divided.

• The theory of plate tectonics gives the method by which continents can move as part of plates.

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5