Earth Systems Topics 2 & 3 Test Review

What is the rock cycle?

• A model that illustrates how igneous rocks are formed
• A model that illustrates how weathering and erosion change rocks
• A model that illustrates how minerals turn into rocks
• A model that illustrates how rocks slowly change from one form to another through time

What theory states that continents are slowly moving to their present positions on Earth?

• subduction
• erosion
• continental drift
• seafloor spreading

Who is the scientist that suggested that the continents were once joined together at some point in time? He called this supercontinent Pangaea.

• Albert Einstein
• Alfred Wegener
• Steven Hawking
• Charles Darwin

Describe types of boundaries

• strike, rift valley, and folded mountain boundary
• normal fault, mid-ocean ridge, and continental boundary
• continental, oceanic plate, and mountain boundary
• divergent, convergent, and transform boundary

The most likely cause of volcanic activity on the island of iceland is ______________?

• the strength of the Atlantic Ocean's currents
• the pulling apart of the tectonic plates due to a divergent boundary
• the colliding of the tectonic plates due to a convergent boundary
• the cooling of the Earth's core leading to the sudden stop of convection currents in the mantle

Which is the Earth's thinnest layer?

• crust
• mantle
• inner core
• outer core

Heat in the mantle and the core cause ________________ which helps to cycle material on Earth.

• convection currents
• counter currents
• convergent currents
• volcanoes

Evidence of continental drift includes:

• The same fossils being on two different continents
• Landforms that appear to be on two different continents
• The same waters being on two continents
• The same rocks being on two continents
• The same weather appearing on two different continents

This type of continental drift evidence explains why palm tree fossils have been found in very cold regions of the Earth where they don't currently grow

• fossil evidence
• landform/rock evidence
• climate evidence
• photosynthesis evidence

Originally, the continental drift theory was not well received by other scientists. Why?

• There was another theory that was more believable
• There was no evidence that the continents were moving
• There was no explanation for how the continents were moving
• Scientists thought Alfred Wegener's data was unreliable