Plate Tectonics - Assessment

1.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Scientists think the continents once formed a large, single landmass that broke apart, and the continents slowly drifted to their present locations. What is the name given to this claim?

continental slope

continental shelf

continental drift

continental rise

2.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Florida is not close the edge of a tectonic plate. Therefore, which one of the following features does not exist in or beneath Florida?

tectonic plate boundary

tectonic plate

mantle

crust

3.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The Red Sea formed as the African Plate moved apart from the Arabian Plate. Which type of boundary was involved in the formation of the Red Sea?

convergent boundary

stationary boundary

divergent boundary

transform boundary

4.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The Rocky Mountains formed when the Pacific plate collided with the North American plate. Which of the following terms describes this process?

convergent boundary

transform boundary

divergent boundary

ridge push

5.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The asthenosphere is the part of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move. Which of these statements best describes a characteristic of the asthenosphere that allows the tectonic plates to move?

It is porous.

It is permeable.

It is rigid.

It is soft.

6.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

A plate boundary is a place where two tectonic plates meet. There are several types of tectonic plate boundaries. Which statement below shows the correct definition of a tectonic plate boundary?

At a divergent boundary, one plate sinks under another plate.

At a convergent boundary, plates slide past each other.

At a transform boundary, plates move apart.

At a divergent boundary, plates separate.

7.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Convection currents in the mantle contribute to tectonic plate movement. What is a convection current?

the transfer of energy by direct contact

the transfer of energy by the movement of matter

the transfer of energy through a solid, such as the Earth’s crust

the transfer of energy from a region of lower temperature to a region of higher temperature

8.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Volcanoes often form at convergent plate boundaries. Which set of arrows represents a convergent plate boundary?

9.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Earthquakes often form at transform plate boundaries. Which set of arrows represents a transform plate boundary?

10.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Mid-ocean ridges often form at divergent plate boundaries. Which set of arrows represents a divergent plate boundary?

11.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Unlike Florida, a transform boundary passes through California. What happens at a transform boundary that can cause an earthquake?

Two plates slide or glide past each other.

Two plates move away from each other.

Two plates move in the same direction.

Two plates collide.

12.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Tectonic plates can be made of continental crust or oceanic crust, or a combination of the two. Besides their location, how else are these two kinds of crust different?

Tectonic plates made of continental crust are smaller than plates made of oceanic crust.

Continental crust is thicker than oceanic plates.

Continental crust is thinner than oceanic crust.

Tectonic plates made of continental crust are larger than plates made of oceanic crust.

13.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Tectonic plates can be made of continental crust or oceanic crust, or a combination of the two. Besides their location, how else are these two kinds of crust different?

Tectonic plates made of continental crust are larger than plates made of oceanic crust.

Tectonic plates made of continental crust are smaller than plates made of oceanic crust.

Continental crust is denser than oceanic plates.

Continental crust is less dense than oceanic plates.

14.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Tectonic plates can be made of continental crust or oceanic crust, or a combination of the two. Besides their location, how else are these two kinds of crust different?

Continental crust is older than oceanic crust.

Tectonic plates made of continental crust are smaller than plates made of oceanic crust.

Tectonic plates made of continental crust are larger than plates made of oceanic crust.

Continental crust is younger than oceanic crust.

15.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The movement of tectonic plates is so slow and gradual that you cannot see or feel them moving. As a result, scientists depend on the global positioning system (GPS) to verify tectonic plate motion. Satellites can measure the small distances that GPS ground stations move over time. In what units is the movement of tectonic plates measured?

kilometers/month

centimeters/year

meters/week

meters/day

16.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

During the year 2003, a greater number of earthquakes took place than is usually recorded per year. The map below shows the locations of some major earthquakes of 2003. Which claim is the most likely reason that there were no major earthquakes recorded in the interior of the continent of Africa?

The entire continent of Africa is located on a single continental tectonic plate.

There are no faults in Africa.

The landmass of Africa is too great to be affected by earthquakes.

The plate boundary inside Africa is too small to form earthquakes.

17.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The three compositional layers of Earth are the core, the mantle, and the crust. Which phrase best describes the crust?

the layer of Earth on which the tectonic plates move

the hot, slow-flowing layer of Earth’s interior above the core

the thin and solid outermost layer of Earth

the innermost layer of Earth’s interior below the mantle

18.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The diagram shows what happens when two plates of continental lithosphere collide. What can be concluded about the type of surface event that will happen when this type of subsurface event occurs?

The continental crust will merge with the lithosphere at the area where the plates collide, becoming one layer.

The continental crust on both sides of the plates will squeeze together, forming a mountain range.

When the plates collide, the lithosphere will crumble, forming a deep rift in the ocean floor.

The material of the asthenosphere merges with the lithosphere, forming a fault line.

19.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of these best describes the lithosphere?

The lithosphere is made up of the uppermost mantle and crust.

The lithosphere is made up of rock that does not have a solid shape.

The lithosphere is made up of mostly iron that is very hot and highly compressed.

The lithosphere is made up of soft, putty like, rock where convection currents occur.

20.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which describes the primary cause for the formation of volcanoes and mountains?

the movement of the inner layers of Earth

the rotation of Earth around the Sun

the movement of the crustal plates

the force of gravity from the Moon

21.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Plate tectonics is a well-supported idea that explains how the Earth’s plates move across its surface carrying the continents and oceanic crust along with them. Plate tectonics is an example of what scientific term?

a theory

an observation

a law

a model

22.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The motion of tectonic plates can cause both slow and rapid changes in Earth’s surface. Which is an example of a rapid change?

formation of an ocean trench

mountain range formation

seafloor spreading

earthquake

23.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

What is magma?

volcanic ash

molten rock

solid rock

blocks

24.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which claim explains what happens at a divergent tectonic plate boundary?

Two tectonic plates collide with one another, causing subduction and/or mountain building.

Two tectonic plates pull away from one another, decreasing rock deformation.

Two tectonic plates pull away from one another, forming a rift or ridge.

Two tectonic plates move horizontally past one another along Earth’s surface, forming long fault lines.

25.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Plate tectonics is the movement of Earth’s rigid plates, also known as the

continental crust

oceanic crust

mantle

lithosphere

26.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The motion of Earth’s rigid plates, known as plate tectonics, is driven by the flow of hot rock in the

crust

mantle

outer core

inner core

27.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

How are volcanic arcs created?

plates spread apart

plates collide and crumble

one plate sinks under the other

plates slide past each other

28.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Oceanic crust is thinner and more dense than continental crust. At a subduction zone, the plate with ____________

sinks under the plate with ____________.

continental crust; oceanic crust

oceanic crust; continental crust

continental crust; continental crust

oceanic crust; oceanic crust

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