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Plate Tectonics Test
Maps of ancient land and water patterns, based on investigations of rocks and fossils, make clear how Earth’s plates have moved great distances,
collided, and spread apart. (MS-ESS2-3)
1. Which shows each of the following layers in order from the outermost layer?
a.
b.
c.
d.
mantle, outer core, crust, and inner core
inner core, outer core, crust, and mantle
crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
mantle, crust, outer core, inner core
2. The Aleutian Islands off of the coast of Alaska lie at the edge of the Pacific Oceanic Plate. These islands
move at a rate of about 5 cm per year. The islands are moving because __________.
a. The North American plate is sinking into the ocean
b. Earthquakes have pushed the plate as they shake the crust
c. The Pacific plate is moving due to changes in the Earth’s mantle
d. They are moving across a volcanic hot spot
3. Over the last 250 million years the continents, which were once joined into one large land mass,
moved into their current configuration. These movements were cause by
a. Lithospheric plates moving from convective flow in the mantle
b. The slow erosion of the continents by oceans, rivers, and lakes
c. Large volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and impacts from asteroids
d. The slow movement of the continents floating on the ocean
4. Convection currents within the Earth's mantle are BEST described as __________.
a. A circulation pattern of warmer molten rock rising and cooler magma sinking
b. The regular pattern of ocean currents that drive Earth’s weather systems
c. The regular pattern of weather systems that drive Earth’s ocean currents
d. A circulation pattern of cooler molten rock rising and warmer magma sinking
5. The lithosphere is divided into segments called __________.
a. Plates
b. Partials
c. Countries
d. Mountains
6. Which scientist is credited with the continental drift hypothesis?
a. J. Tuzo Wilson
b. Alfred Wegener
c. Harry Hess
d. W. Jason Morgan
7. What is the name of the supercontinent pictured in
the illustration?
a. Laurasia
b. Gondwanaland
c. North America
d. Pangea
8. Which of these is a source of evidence for the plate
tectonics theory?
a. The fit of the continents
b. The current climate
c. The strength of earthquakes
d. The speed at which Earth rotates
9. Fossils of the fern Glossopteris have been found in
the continents of South America, Africa, Asia, and Antarctica. The seeds of this fern were too small to
be dispersed by wind. Which is best indicated by the presence of Glossopteris fossils on these
continents?
a. The northern climate regions were not suitable for plate growth.
b. Fossils were much better preserved in southern continents.
c. The landmasses were joined together in pre-historic times.
d. Glossopteris was versatile enough to adapt to all climates.
10. Seafloor spreading occurs along certain boundaries in the ocean. Which are most likely to form at the
boundary where the seafloor is spreading?
a. Continental shelves
b. Mid-ocean ridges
c. Subduction zones
d. Strike-slip faults
11. At mid-ocean ranges, new
a. Crust
b. Water
c. Core
d. Mantle
is created
12. What causes the sea floor to spread apart at mid-ocean ranges?
a. The Earth is growing in size (though we don’t know why) and the mid-ocean ranges are where
the crust has cracked to allow the Earth to get bigger.
b. The waves in the ocean pull the plates away from each other. This happens at the mid-ocean
ranges
c. The Earth’s magnetic field is so strong it pushes apart the iron filled rocks at the mid-ocean
ranges
d. Hot magma rises through the boundary at the mid-ocean ranges, creating new rock and
pushing apart the plates
13. The oldest oceanic crust would be found in which location?
a. At the edge of a continent
b. Half way between a ridge and a trench
c. At a mid-ocean ridge
d. At a deep sea trench
14. Which of the following is used as evidence of seafloor spreading?
a. Fossil evidence
b. Rock clues
c. Climate clues
d. Magnetic pole reversals
15. Which is a source of evidence for the plate tectonic theory?
a. Distribution of ancient climate zones
b. Distribution of rock types
c. Distribution of fossils
d. All answer choices
16. Scientists discovered similar fossils in rock masses on continents located on both sides of the Atlantic
Ocean. How does this discovery provide evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics?
a. The discovery of the fossils does not provide evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics.
b. The presence of similar fossils in the rock on both sides of the ocean suggests that the rock
masses had been connected in the past
c. The location of the fossils in the rock suggests that similar organisms existed at approximately
the same time period in history
d. The presence of similar fossils in the rock on both sides of the ocean proves the concept of seafloor spreading.
17. The type of tectonic plate boundary involving a collision between two tectonic plates is
a. Normal
b. Transform
c. Convergent
d. Divergent
18. Divergent tectonic plate boundaries most commonly form
a. Continental mountains
b. Non-volcanic islands
c. Ocean trenches
d. Ocean ridges
19. The theory of plate tectonics provides the current explanation for the way in which
a. Tides are produced
b. Rocks are formed
c. Continents move
d. Stars change
20. A satellite image can help scientists locate the area on land where two plates have diverged by
showing the existence of
a. Grassy plains
b. Rift valleys
c. Mountains
d. Plateaus
21. What causes the tectonic plates of Earth to continually move?
a. Rotation of the solid core
b. Strong winds and storms
c. Volcanic and seismic activity in the crust
d. Convection currents in the mantle.
Use the diagram to answer questions 22 and 23.
22. What type of plate boundary is most likely to occur at point A in the diagram?
a. Transform
b. Divergent
c. Reverse
d. Convergent
23. Which of the following can be explained at Point B in the diagram?
a. Plates move apart and volcanoes form.
b. Plates move past each other sideways.
c. Plates are not moving.
d. Plates move toward each other and volcanoes form.
Use the picture above to answer questions 24 and 25.
24. Which of the following correctly identifies the plate boundaries above?
a. A – Convergent, B-Divergent, C – Transform
b. A – Divergent, B – Transform, C – Convergent
c. A – Divergent, B – Convergent, C – Transform
d. A – Transform, B - Convergent, C – Divergent
25. Which of the following choices correctly describes the landforms that may result by each type of plate
boundary?
a. A – mountains, B – rift valley , C – mid ocean trench
b. A – mid ocean trench, B - mountains , C - earthquakes
c. A – mountains, B - volcanos , C - trench
d. A – volcanos, B - earthquakes , C – mid ocean ridge