Plate Tectonics

Which of the following statements supports the claim that the continents were not always where they are now?

• Lycophytes are a now extinct tree-like plant whose fossil remains have been found in Oklahoma.

• Exposed rock formations in West Texas have rock layering that is similar to formations in New Mexico.

• The eastern coastline of South America appears to closely match the western coastline of Africa.

• Fossils of dinosaurs have been found in Asia.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

A class is analyzing five layers of rocks. They list the fossils found in each layer.

Layer M: Plants, Dinosaur

Layer N: Trilobites, Ammonites

Layer O: Ammonites, Shelled organisms

Layer P: Mammals, Plants, Dinosaurs

Layer Q: Mammals, Plants

The class researches to discover the following four facts.

1. Trilobites and ammonites are some of the oldest fossils found in these rock layers.

2. Trilobites went extinct before ammonites.

3. Fossil evidence indicates mammals evolved around the same time that dinosaurs went extinct.

4. Fossil evidence of shelled organisms indicates they evolved before plants and dinosaurs.

Which option provides the most likely natural position of the rock layers, from deepest to most shallow, based on the law of superposition?

• N, O, M, P, Q

• Q, P, M, N, O

• O, P, Q, M, N

• N, M, P, Q, O

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What type of boundary is shown in the diagram and why can you classify it that way?

• A) A divergent boundary because the tectonic plates are moving apart from each other

• B) A convergent boundary because the tectonic plates are moving toward each other

• C) A convergent boundary because the tectonic plates are moving side to side

• D) A divergent boundary because the tectonic plates are moving toward each other

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The Himalayas formed at the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates. The mountains formed as the plates (a)   because this is a (b)   boundary. Which terms best complete the sentence?

• convergent
• moved together
• transform

• moved apart
• divergent

Movement at plate boundaries results in different geologic features, which can be used to distinguish one type of boundary from another. Mountain-building on Earth’s surface generally occurs at ​ (a)   , while ocean basin formation occurs at ​ (b)   . Which terms, in order of appearance, best complete the sentence?

• Transform boundaries
• Plate Boundary

• Convergent boundaries
• Divergent boundaries

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

How can super-volcanoes be distinguished form other volcanoes

• they are very large and erupt very frequently

• they only form at hot spots and erupt very frequently

• they only form in the ocean and have extremely large eruptions

• they are very large and have extremely large eruptions

If an Island chain forms due to a hotspot, which of the following statements is true

• The oldest island will be the smallest

• the oldest island will be the largest

• the oldest island will be located farthest from the hot spot

• the oldest island will be located nearest the hot spot

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

Scientists predict that in approximately 10 million years, the African continent will split into two separate landmasses, creating a new ocean basin between them. Which of the following statements is the best evidence that supports this idea?

• There are reports of shallow earthquakes near the eastern coastline of Africa.

• There are volcanoes, such as Mt. Kilimanjaro, near the eastern coastline of Africa.

• There are mid-ocean ridges forming along the eastern portion of the continent.

• There is an ocean trench forming along the eastern portion of the continent.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Based on the diagram, what causes magma to form at this plate boundary?

• The oceanic plate pushes magma up from the mantle.

• The continental plate pulls magma up from the mantle.

• The oceanic plate begins to melt due to friction at the plate boundary.

• The continental plate begins to melt due to friction at the plate boundary.

Look at the map of plate tectonic movement and each labeled location: A, B, and C. Identify which of these events, earthquake, mountain formation, or ocean basin formation, would likely occur at each location. Explain how plate tectonics at each location causes the event you identified.

• Earthquake at A, Mountain formation at B, Ocean basin formation at C

• Mountain formation at A, Earthquake at B, Ocean basin formation at C

• Ocean basin formation at A, Mountain formation at B, Earthquake at C

• Earthquake at A, Ocean basin formation at B, Mountain formation at C

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3