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Science
9th -
12thgrade
Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, & Volcanoes
32 questions
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- 1. Multiple Choice
Scientists have measured the rate of growth of the Atlantic Ocean basin to be about 2 to 3 cm per year. This type of activity coincides with the formation of ridges on the ocean floor. What is the MOST likely cause of this activity?
flow of continental basalt
movement of tectonic plates
erosion of undersea mountains
deposition of sediment from estuaries
- 2. Multiple Choice
Which feature results when plates of different densities converge and one plate slips under the other?
a fault
a ridge
a trench
a rift zone
- 3. Multiple Choice
Oceanic crust is composed mainly of basalt. Continental crust is composed mainly of granite. Why does oceanic crust generally tend to subduct under continental crust when plates collide?
The oceanic crust is thicker than the continental crust.
The continental crust is thicker than oceanic crust.
The oceanic crust is denser than the continental crust.
The continental crust is denser than the oceanic crust
- 4. Multiple Choice
Gloria is studying earthquakes and volcanoes and where they occur. The dark lines in the map show tectonic plate boundaries. The numbers indicate locations where people could live.
If Gloria wanted to live where there were few earthquakes and volcanoes, which location should she choose?
1
2
3
4
- 5. Multiple Choice
At which type of margin does mountain building produce mountains composed entirely of preexisting crust material?
divergent boundary between two oceanic plates
convergent boundary between two continental plates
divergent boundary between an oceanic plate and a continental plate
convergent boundary between an oceanic plate and a continental plate
- 6. Multiple Choice
What long-term impact could the destruction of large areas of forests have on Earth?
increased rates of erosion
decreased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels
decreased amounts of acid rain
increased atmospheric oxygen levels
- 7. Multiple Choice
The Red Sea marks a boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving apart.
What name is given to this type of plate tectonic boundary?
divergent boundary
convergent boundary
phase boundary
transform boundary
- 8. Multiple Choice
The Theory of Plate Tectonics is based on
evidence of sea floor spreading.
topographic mapping of mountain ranges.
an analysis of soil at the plate boundaries.
volcanic activity along coastlines.
- 9. Multiple Choice
About 75% of the world’s active volcanoes are the result of tectonic activity around which plate?
North American Plate
African Plate
Pacific Plate
Nazca Plate
- 10. Multiple Choice
Certain activities occur at different plate boundaries due to movement at the boundary. Which activity would be the MAIN result of two tectonic plates slipping past one another?
floods
earthquakes
island building
seafloor spreading
- 11. Multiple Choice
When trees are removed from an area in a tropical rainforest, the area experiences an increase in soil erosion. Which statement BEST explains why removing the trees can lead to soil erosion?
Less bedrock will be available to make soil.
There will be fewer roots to hold the soil in place.
The number of soil-eating insects in the area will increase.
The amount of solar radiation reaching the ground will increase.
- 12. Multiple Choice
In the 1960s, seismometers were installed around the world for the purpose of monitoring nuclear testing. The seismometers unexpectedly showed that most of the world’s earthquakes and volcanoes occurred in belts along the continental margins. How did these new data help support the theory of plate tectonics?
by allowing scientists to prevent future volcanoes near tectonic plate boundaries
by providing evidence the continents have moved extensively over time
by providing evidence of interactions between moving tectonic plates
by allowing scientists to predict where future earthquakes would occur
- 13. Multiple Choice
The formation of the Himalayan Mountains is one example of land features caused by compressive forces. Which action led to the formation of these mountains?
seafloor spreading
strike-slip faulting
colliding plates
hot spots
- 14. Multiple Choice
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a divergent fault on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. The ridge itself forms a mountain chain that runs the length of the ocean floor from north to south. Which BEST describes the location of the youngest rock on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean?
close to the east side of the Atlantic Ocean
close to the west side of the Atlantic Ocean
close to the top of the mountains on both sides of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
close to the base of the mountains on both sides of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
- 15. Multiple Choice
New evidence suggests that “hot spots” may form in response to “twisting” stresses on plates. It is theorized that these stresses may eventually result in the splitting apart of the tectonic plate in the area of the hot spot. Which of the geographic features would be affected MOST by the splitting of a tectonic plate?
the Himalayas
the Hawaiian Islands
the San Andreas Fault
the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
- 16. Multiple Choice
Plate movement can form different features on Earth. The movement of tectonic plates can be both a constructive and a destructive force. At which type of plate boundary is new crust formed?
convergent
subduction
transform
divergent
- 17. Multiple Choice
The diagram represents a process that occurs within Earth’s mantle.
What process is represented by this diagram?
rotation
conduction
radiation
convection
- 18. Multiple Choice
On the ocean floor, there are long mountain ranges called mid-ocean ridges. Which description explains how these geological structures were formed?
a transform boundary where one ocean plate slides past another ocean plate
a convergent boundary where two ocean plates move apart from one another
a divergent boundary where ocean plates move away from each other.
a convergent boundary where an ocean plate sinks beneath another ocean plate
- 19. Multiple Choice
The diagram illustrates the formation of a mountain range. What has caused the mountain range to form?
the abrasion of a glacier
the eruption of a volcano
the deposition of sediments
the collision of tectonic plates
- 20. Multiple Choice
This volcano was MOST likely caused by which activity?
faulting at a transform boundary
faulting at a convergent boundary
subduction at a transform boundary
subduction at a convergent boundary
- 21. Multiple Choice
Many houses are built on the sides of hills. Which of these actions would BEST prevent houses from sliding down hills after heavy rainfalls?
increasing the slope of the hill
spraying herbicides on the hill
adding plants to the hill
removing grass from the hill
- 22. Multiple Choice
Which of these BEST explains how tectonic-plate movement causes the formation of mountain ranges?
Convection currents in the mantle force two plates to collide.
Sediment builds upward due to crushing forces of subducting plates.
The plates separate, allowing the asthenosphere to push through and later cool.
Pressure from colliding plates melts rock that later cools to form large boulders.
- 23. Multiple Choice
Most mountains on Earth occur in huge ranges stretching for thousands of miles. Which event is MOST likely to cause the formation of these mountain ranges?
erosion of rocks
deposition of sediments
volcanic eruption
movement of plates
- 24. Multiple Choice
The diagram shows the formation of a subduction zone as two tectonic plates collide.
What will be the MOST likely formation at location Y?
island
lake
plateau
volcano
- 25. Multiple Choice
The diagram shows what can occur when two continental plates collide.
Which characteristic of the Indian Plate explains why it moves under the Eurasian Plate?
it is larger
it is denser
it is molten
it is younger
- 26. Multiple Choice
Students studying rocks notice that in a particular location there are many igneous rocks that are very similar. This observation BEST supports which statement?
A nearby volcano is tall.
A nearby volcano is inactive.
A nearby volcano is about to erupt.
A nearby volcano had once been active.
- 27. Multiple Choice
Two tectonic plates pushing toward each other cause intense heat and pressure in Earth’s crust. Into which will crust material be changed by heat and pressure?
fossils
sediments
igneous rock
metamorphic rock
- 28. Multiple Choice
The surface of Earth is composed of large tectonic plates that are constantly shifting as they float on top of molten rock. Which process must occur in the mantle to make the plates move?
normal faulting
seafloor spreading
igneous intrusions
convection currents
- 29. Multiple Choice
Which of these is evidence for the theory of plate tectonics?
the melting of the polar ice caps
the shifting of biomes as climates change
the prevalence of granite on all the continents
the presence of volcanoes around the Pacific rim
- 30. Multiple Choice
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains a set of earthquake hazard maps that cities and towns use for developing building codes.
Based on the map, which city or town is located in an area of greatest earthquake hazard?
Bangor, ME
Bismarck, ND
Charleston, SC
Albuquerque, NM
- 31. Multiple Choice
A land developer is considering building in the Santa Paula area. Based on the information in the graph, the land developer would want to avoid areas with which of these slopes?
0–5°
12–18°
22–28°
32–38°
- 32. Multiple Choice
A farmer has a steeply sloping pasture that is eroding. Which is the BEST option to stop the immediate erosion of the topsoil?
Increase the amount of vegetation on the sloping pasture.
Increase the soil thickness by adding five inches of sandy soil.
Increase the organic content of the topsoil by adding earthworms.
Plant trees and shrubs at the bottom of the sloping pasture.
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