Plate Tectonics

Olivia became interested in the fossil evidence that Wegener used to form his hypothesis of continental drift. How did fossils show that the continents were once joined together?

• Animal fossils such as the mesosaurus were found on one continent.

• Freshwater animal fossils were found in the nearby oceans.

• Scientists found examples of different kinds of fossils on some continents.

• Plant fossils of the same kind of fernlike plants were found on five continents.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Evidence that supported the hypothesis of continental drift included fossils, land features, and

• ocean currents

• solar activity

• presence of bacteria

• climate data

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What is Pangaea?

• the name of an ancient fossil

• the name of the supercontinent that existed millions of years ago

• another name for continental drift

• The name of a German Scientist

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Julia watched a pot of water boil. The boiling water reminded her of the convection currents she had learned about while she studied plate tectonics. How do these currents drive the motion of Earth’s plates?

• Hot melted rock rises and cooler rock sinks in the mantle, forming currents that move the plates.

• Ocean water rises as it warms and falls as it cools to move the plates.

• Melted rock rises and falls, and the currents move the mantle while the crust remains in place.

• The crust moves in a current to drive the motion of the water in the oceans.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

An earthquake is measured by its size. What is this number called?

• number line

• magnitude

• pH scale

• F-scale

Having studied tectonics in school, Roberto grew interested in tectonic plates and how they move. Plates move in different ways along plate boundaries.

What determines how the plates interact at their boundaries?

• the materials the plates are made of

• the kind of plates they are and whether they keep moving

• the difference in thickness of the plates

• the kind of boundary and the directions in which the plates are moving

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Earthquakes can cause another type of natural disaster, what is it?

• hurricane

• flood

• tsunami

• drought

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At a convergent boundary, water may be trapped and may mix with the material in the mantle. What occurs if this material reaches the surface before cooling?

• a major earthquake

• a volcano

• a tsunami

• a folded mountain

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

A dead volcano is also known as (a)   ​

• extinct
• dormant
• active
• Hawaii

The movement of Earth’s tectonic plates generates tremendous force. Which force pulls on Earth’s crust, stretching the rock to make it thinner?

• tension

• stress

• shearing

• compression

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3