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- 1. Multiple Choice
The outermost layer of the Earth has two types of crust. Which of the following statements best describes the crust?
The thickest layer of Earth, with a dense continental crust and a less dense oceanic crust.
The thickest layer of Earth, with a dense oceanic crust and a less dense continental crust.
The thinnest layer of Earth, with a dense continental crust and a less dense oceanic crust.
The thinnest layer of Earth, with a dense oceanic crust and a less dense continental crust.
- 2. Multiple Choice
A layer of the earth that is made up of a solid and liquid part, composed of mostly iron and nickel, makes up roughly one-third of the Earth’s mass. Which question can be answered using the information above?
Which of the following statements describes the core of Earth?
Which of the following statements describes the crust of Earth?
Which of the following statements describes the mantle of Earth?
Which of the following statements describes the lithosphere of Earth?
- 3. Multiple Choice
As you descend through the Earth’s layers, from the crust down, temperature and pressure _________________________.
both increase
both decrease
approach zero
stay the same
- 4. Multiple Choice
Earth is composed of four layers. Many scientists believe that as Earth cooled, the denser materials sank to the center and the less dense materials rose to the top. Which layer is the coolest and the least dense?
crust
mantle
outer core
inner core
- 5. Multiple Choice
The table above contains information about Earth’s layers in no specific order. Which of the following questions can best be answered by using the data provided in the table? How do we know liquid nickel and iron are the outermost layer and molten rock is the innermost layer?
How do we know liquid nickel and iron are the outermost layer and molten rock is the innermost layer?
How do we know molten rock is the outermost layer and liquid nickel and iron the innermost layer?
How do we know solid nickel and iron are the outermost layer and solid rock the innermost layer?
How do we know solid rock is the outermost layer and solid nickel and iron the innermost layer?
- 6. Multiple Choice
Which layer of the Earth does the lithosphere float upon?
lithosphere
asthenosphere
mesosphere
outer core
- 7. Multiple Choice
Which of the following provides the best explanation as to why convection currents in the mantle cause tectonic plate movement?
Warm, less dense molten material rises while cool, more dense material sinks creating convection currents which cause the tectonic plates to move.
Cool, less dense molten material rises while warm, more dense material sinks creating convection currents which cause the tectonic plates to move.
Warm, more dense molten material rises while cool, less dense material sinks creating convection currents which cause the tectonic plates to move.
Cool, more dense molten material rises while warm, less dense material sinks creating convection currents which cause the tectonic plates to move.
- 8. Multiple Choice
Cool, more dense molten material rises while warm, less dense material sinks creating convection currents which cause the tectonic plates to move.
Volcanic Islands
Volcanic Mountain Range
Deep Ocean Trench
Earthquakes
- 9. Multiple Choice
Using the picture below, where are earthquakes least likely to occur and why?
Location 1 will not experience earthquakes, because it is far from plate boundaries or fault lines.
Location 2 will not experience earthquakes, because it is close to plate boundaries or fault lines.
Location 2 will not experience earthquakes, because it is far from plate boundaries or fault lines.
Location 1 will not experience earthquakes, because it is close to plate boundaries or fault lines.
- 10. Multiple Choice
What does the theory of plate tectonics predict about the location of earthquakes and volcanoes?
They are evenly distributed across Earth’s surface
They occur mostly on the ocean floor
They occur mostly on the continents
They occur mostly at plate boundaries
- 11. Multiple Choice
The diagram to the right shows a type of boundary that can occur from the movement of tectonic plates. What type of boundary is the diagram showing and what most commonly occurs at this boundary?
The diagram shows a convergent boundary which creates mountains.
The diagram shows a divergent boundary which creates a rift valley.
The diagram shows a transform boundary which can create earthquakes
This diagram shows a reverse boundary which creates a mid-ocean-ridge.
- 12. Multiple Choice
A break in Earth’s crust is ________________.
a plate
an epicenter
a fault
a fold
- 13. Multiple Choice
The risk of earthquake and volcanic eruptions is high along the Pacific coast of the United States because:
there have been no earthquakes there lately.
serious earthquakes are rare east of the Rockies
satellites have detected increasing elevation of the ground surface.
that’s where the Pacific and North American plates meet.
- 14. Multiple Choice
Which explanations best describes which geological feature occurs between two pieces of continental crust at a convergent boundary?
A mid-ocean ridge will form because seafloor spreading is occurring.
A rift valley will form because two plates are pulling apart.
A deep sea trench will occur because the more dense plate will subduct.
A mountain range will occur because the plates are the same density and neither one will subduct.
- 15. Multiple Choice
Most geologists think that the movement of Earth's plates is caused by _____________.
subduction
earth's magnetic field
earthquakes in the crust
convection currents
- 16. Multiple Choice
In which layer of the Earth do convection currents take place?
inner core
outer core
asthenosphere
crust
- 17. Multiple Choice
An example of convection is:
A lava lamp’s contents flowing
A metal spoon heating up in a pot on the stove
The Sun’s rays heating Earth
Walking on hot sand
- 18. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is TRUE about Earth’s plates?
They are separated by oceans.
They are piled on top of one another within the Earth
They are surrounded by melted rock and do not touch each other.
They fit closely together with each plate touching all the plates that surround it.
- 19. Multiple Choice
Divergent boundaries found on land can create _________________.
rift valleys
mid-continent ridges
volcanic island arcs
trenches
- 20. Multiple Choice
The deep undersea features that form in the ocean floor when two oceanic plates converge are called _____________.
mid-ocean ridges because this is where seafloor spreading takes place.
mid-ocean ridges because this is where subduction takes place.
deep ocean trenches because this is where subduction takes place.
deep ocean trenches because this is where sea-floor spreading takes place.
- 21. Multiple Choice
In the diagram above, tectonic plate movement has created a volcanic mountain range. Which of the following provides the best explanation why this happened?
An oceanic plate converged with a continental plate, and both plates subducted causing lava to rise up through a weak spot in Earth’s crust to create a volcanic mountain range.
An oceanic plate converged with a continental plate, and neither plate subducted causing lava to rise up through a weak spot in Earth’s crust to create a volcanic mountain range.
An oceanic plate converged with a continental plate. The more dense continental plate sank below the less dense oceanic plate causing magma to rise up through a weak spot in Earth’s crust to create a volcanic mountain range.
An oceanic plate converged with a continental plate. The more dense continental plate sank below the less dense oceanic plate causing magma to rise up through a weak spot in Earth’s crust to create a volcanic mountain range.
- 22. Multiple Choice
Refer to the model above. Use the model to choose a claim that describes how plate tectonics both creates and destroys Earth's crust. Which claim best describes how plate tectonics both creates and destroys Earth’s crust?
New crust is created at the subduction zone and old crust is destroyed/recycled at the mid-ocean ridge.
New crust is being created as the Earth is getting bigger.
New crust is created at the mid-ocean ridge and old crust is destroyed/recycled at a subduction zone.
No new crust is being created and the Earth is getting smaller.
- 23. Multiple Choice
Why did most geologists reject Alfred Wegener's idea of continental drift?
Geologists were afraid of a new idea.
Wegener was interested in what Earth was like millions of years ago.
Wegener used several different types of evidence to support his hypothesis.
Wegener could not identify a force that could move the continents.
- 24. Multiple Choice
Which of the following DOES NOT support the theory of continental drift?
South America fits together against Africa like pieces of a puzzle.
Mountain ranges in South America and Africa line up.
There are fossils on different continents that are the same.
The North Pole and Greenland are covered with ice.
- 25. Multiple Choice
Using the diagrams above, what is the best argument (claim) to support how fossils show evidence of the changing surface of Earth?
Many organisms are so common that they can be found all over the Earth.
Animals have been known to travel long distances so these observations are not important.
In the past, continents were not located where they are today but were joined together.
Rocks are so common that none of these pieces of evidence can be used to give an explanation.
- 26. Multiple Choice
Which of the following would provide evidence that climates on Earth have changed over time?
a fern, a tropical plant fossil, was found in Antarctica
a spider fossil was found in Georgia
a fossilized seashell was found on the beach
a fossilized footprint was found in the swamp
- 27. Multiple Choice
How does fossil evidence support Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift?
Similar fossils found on far apart landmasses suggest that the continents were once a single landmass called Pangea (supercontinent).
Fossil evidence suggests that the continents have always been in their current positions.
No similarities exist between fossils on different continents.
Plant and animal fossils show evidence of changes in Earth’s polarity.
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