Understanding Plate Tectonics Quiz

What causes tectonic plates to move?

• The gravitational pull of the moon

• Strong ocean currents

• Convection currents in the mantle

• Wind forces on the Earth’s surface

Which type of plate boundary is responsible for creating new oceanic crust?

• Convergent boundary

• Divergent boundary

• Transform boundary

• Subduction zone

What landform is most commonly found at a divergent boundary?

• Mountain ranges

• Deep-sea trenches

• Mid-ocean ridges

• Volcano arcs

What happens when two continental plates collide at a convergent boundary?

• One plate sinks below the other, forming a trench

• The plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes

• Mountains form as the plates push against each other

• A mid-ocean ridge forms

What is an example of a transform boundary?

• The Mid-Atlantic Ridge

• The Himalayan Mountains

• The San Andreas Fault

• The Mariana Trench

Why does subduction occur at convergent boundaries?

• The oceanic plate is denser than the continental plate, causing it to sink

• The plates pull apart, allowing magma to rise

• The plates are too light to sink, so they push upwards

• Wind and water erosion cause the plates to move

What is a major result of transform boundaries?

• Volcanoes forming

• Earthquakes caused by friction

• New crust being created

• Ocean basins widening

What is the role of convection currents in plate movement?

• They push magma directly onto the Earth’s surface

• They cause strong winds that shift the continents

• They circulate heat in the mantle, moving plates above them

• They pull ocean water into deep-sea trenches

What is the main process occurring at mid-ocean ridges?

• Subduction

• Sea-floor spreading

• Plate collision

• Faulting and fracturing

Which of the following best describes a convergent boundary?

• Two plates moving apart, forming a valley

• Two plates colliding, causing mountains or trenches

• Two plates sliding past each other, creating faults

• Two plates moving in a circular pattern