Earth Science A Unit 4 Quiz

Alfred Wegener’s theory of continental drift was supported by many lines of evidence. Continental shapes match. Fossil patterns, rock patterns, and climactic evidence also indicated that the continents were once one landmass. Why was his hypothesis of continental drift rejected by most scientists of his day?

• Wegener could not explain the force or natural process that made the continents drift (or move).

• Wegener’s reputation was not great enough to convince scientists that he was correct.

• Wegener’s theory did not explain the magnetic patterns of the sea floor.

• Ages of rocks on different continents did not support Wegener’s theory

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

According to the modern theory of tectonic plates, what force causes the plates to move?

• Convection currents in the earth cause the crust to move. Much like water currents in a frozen lake can cause slabs of ice floating on its surface to move.

• Gravity causes land tides which pull the continents around.

• Magnetic reversals from the earth’s core attracts and repels the iron layers in each continent. This forces them to move.

• Heating of the sun (more at the equator than at the poles) causes plate motion.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Which of the following best summarizes the plate tectonic theory?

• Earth is divided into pieces or plates that reach clear to the inner core; lava hardens on one edge of the plate. Rock on the other side melts. Thus the plates appear to move across the earth.

• Magnetism makes the plates of the earth move, forming trenches, mountains and ridges. When the magnetism is reversed the plates move backward. Normal magnetism makes them move forward.

• Billions of years of earthquakes and volcanoes have divided earth’s crust into large and small pieces which remain largely unchanged over geologic time.

• Earth’s crust is divided into moving pieces called plates that interact with each other, creating mountain ranges, ocean ridges, and ocean trenches. Continents move with the plates. Plates move as they ride on convection currents within the earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

How are plates moving relative to each other at divergent plate boundaries?

• the plates separate from each other, creating rift valley and mid ocean ridges

• the plates separate from each other, creating deep sea trenches.

• the plates collide together and create mountains because both plates are uplifted

• the plates slide past each other creating large earthquakes in the process.

How do volcano and earthquake patterns support the idea of plate tectonic theory?

• They are usually found near the borders of plates, which is where plates slide against each other and create stress in the crust.

• They are usually found on the continents, which is where plates are coming apart and experiencing a lot of stress.

• They are usually found in the center of plates, which is where plates are coming apart and experiencing a lot of stress.

• Most are found on larger continents, and according to the theory larger continents are still in the process of breaking up.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

How are plates moving relative to each other at convergent plate boundaries?

• Convergent boundaries are sliding boundaries. One plate slides past another.

• Convergent boundaries are collision boundaries. Two plates collide together often producing subduction as one plate is forced under another.

• Convergent boundaries happen when one plate stops moving and reverses direction.

• Convergent boundaries are separation boundaries where one plate will pull away from another and open up a rift valley in the process.

Which location shows a transform fault boundary?

• A

• B

• C

• None of the above

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

Which location shows a divergent boundary?

• A

• B

• C

• None of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The South American and African plates are diverging, what physical evidence proves this?

• the island of Great Britain

• the Rocky Mountains

• the Appalachian Mountains

• the mid Atlantic ridge

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The country of Haiti is located southeast of Florida and almost directly east of Cuba in the Caribbean sea. How would you explain the earthquake in Haiti?

• It formed because of the motion of the African Plate and Indian Plate

• It formed because of the motion of the Caribbean Plate and North American Plate

• It formed because of the motion of the Pacific Plate and Eurasian Plate

• It formed because of the motion of the South American Plate and Antarctic Plate

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2