Plate Tectonic Essay Question

What is Pangaea?

• The name of a German Scientist
• the name of the supercontinent that existed millions of years ago
• another name for continental drift
• the name of an ancient fossil

Which type of evidence was NOT used to support the continental drift hypothesis?

• evidence from landforms
• evidence from fossils
• evidence from human remains
• evidence from climate

Most geologists think that the movement of Earth's plates is caused by

• conduction
• earthquakes
• convection currents in the mantle
• Earth's magnetic field.

The geological theory that states that pieces of Earth's lithosphere are in costant, slow motion is the theory of

• subduction
• plate tectonics
• deep ocean trenches
• sea floor spreading

A place where two plates slip past each other, moving in opposite directions, is known as a

• transform boundary
• divergent boundary
• convergent boundary
• rift valley

A collision between two pieces of continental crust at a converging boundary produces a

• mid ocean ridge
• deep ocean trench
• rift valley
• mountain range

The place where two plates come together is known as a 

• transform boundary
• divergent boundary
• convergent boundary
• rift valley

Fossils of a particular animal species have been found in both southern Africa and South America but nowhere else.  Which of the following is MOST LIKELY the reason why?

• The fossils evolved into different organisms
• The climate changed and became much colder.
• In the past, Africa and South America were part of the same continent
• In the future, Africa and South America will be part of the same continent.

What is the primary cause of volcanoes and earthquakes?

• crustal plate movements
• Earth's gravitational force
• higher than usual tides
• solar magnetic storms

Which type of plate boundaries occur at X?

• Divergent
• convergent
• transform
• subducting