Plate Tectonics & Seafloor Spreading Practice

What physical process changed the geological area and composition of the Earth's oceans shown in the two pictures?

• gravity
• plate tectonics
• volcanic eruptions
• deposition

What is the theory of continental drift?

• The continents have been moving closer together and then farther apart throughout Earth's history.
• The continents were once connected, broke apart, and moved to the current locations.
• The continents have slowly moved into their current positions and will now switch directions and begin moving back together.
• The continents once moved, but now are in a fixed position.

What are the pieces of Earth's crust called?

• continents.
• tectonic plates.
• geologic plates.
• continental drifts

Which of the following is true about Earth's crust?

• Earth's crust is divided into several large plates that move relative to each other.
• Earth's crust is a mass of rock that moves as a single unit.
• Earth's crust is divided into several large plates that do not move relative to each other.
• Earth's crust is a single mass of rock that doesn't move.

Earth's tectonic plates

• are constantly in motion
• move only once
• do not move
• move only up and down

What is the giant supercontinent that existed early in Earth's history?

• Pangaea
• Paleozoic
• Mesozoic
• Massaria

The scientific theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth's crust is composed of many plates, or slabs of rock. Interactions of these plates have created different landforms, or geologic features. Which of the following statements provides evidence for this theory?

• A large earthquake off the coast of Japan creates a wave that is over 20 feet high.
• Fossils are found at the top of the Himalayan mountains.
• The city of Pompeii is perfectly preserved under volcanic ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
• An iceberg buckles the hull of the Titanic and allows water to enter between the steel plates.

The symbols found on the map indicate where fossils have been found in the same layer of sediment. Each symbol represents fossil locations of a particular species. What do the locations of the fossils suggest?

• Similar fossil types are never found on different continents.
• Each continent has completely unique plant and animal life.
• The continents were once connected to each other.
• The continents' locations have remained constant throughout time.

Which of the following provides the most evidence for the theory of plate tectonics?

• the coloring of city moths
• the spreading of the sea floor
• the changing of the seasons
• the location of our state

Two hundred and twenty-five million years ago, all of today's continents were part of a single continent. The map below shows the positions of the continents. There is a significant amount of evidence that can be used to support the theory that a supercontinent existed. Which of the following shows how the map shows evidence for the existence of a supercontinent?

• All of the continents had identical climate conditions in the past.
• None of the continents had similar climates to each other in the past.
• The continents' shapes fit together well, and some continents have the same fossils.
• The continents' shapes do not fit together well, and each continent has completely different fossils.