Deck 2: Plate Tectonics and the Ocean Floor

Question 1

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)Gondwanaland
B)paleomagnetism
C)rift valley
D)paleogeology
E)Laurasia
F)subduction zone
G)Pangaea
H)Panthalassia
depression along a ridge axis

Answer 1

Answers: C

Question 2

The relatively young age of the seafloor supports the idea that subduction must take place.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Fast-moving spreading zones tend to be more gently sloping than slow-moving ridges.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)transform fault
B)spreading center
C)subduction zone
trench

Question 5

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)Gondwanaland
B)paleomagnetism
C)rift valley
D)paleogeology
E)Laurasia
F)subduction zone
G)Pangaea
H)Panthalassia
sloping area from a trench along a downward moving plate

Question 6

Water depth decreases as you move away from the mid-ocean ridge.

Question 7

Paleomagnetism confirms that at particular times in the geologic past Earth has had more than one magnetic north pole.

Question 8

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)transform fault
B)spreading center
C)subduction zone
seafloor magnetic stripes

Question 9

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)transform fault
B)spreading center
C)subduction zone
mid-ocean ridge

Question 10

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)Gondwanaland
B)paleomagnetism
C)rift valley
D)paleogeology
E)Laurasia
F)subduction zone
G)Pangaea
H)Panthalassia
ancient precursor of the Pacific Ocean

Question 11

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)transform fault
B)spreading center
C)subduction zone
island arc

Question 12

At divergent plate boundaries, usually only shallow depth earthquakes can be found.

Question 13

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)Gondwanaland
B)paleomagnetism
C)rift valley
D)paleogeology
E)Laurasia
F)subduction zone
G)Pangaea
H)Panthalassia
study of magnetism over geologic time

Question 14

The oldest rocks are located at mid-ocean ridges.

Question 15

The magnetic field of the Earth reverses itself each time that magma erupts at a mid-ocean ridge.

Question 16

Deep-sea trenches are found at convergent plate boundaries.

Question 17

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)Gondwanaland
B)paleomagnetism
C)rift valley
D)paleogeology
E)Laurasia
F)subduction zone
G)Pangaea
H)Panthalassia
supercontinent 250 million years ago

Question 18

New crust is formed at trenches and older crust is subducted at oceanic ridges.

Question 19

The magnetic north pole has remained very close to the geographic North Pole throughout all of geologic time.

Question 20

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)transform fault
B)spreading center
C)subduction zone
seafloor spreading

Question 21

Mantle plumes are columnar areas of hot molten rock that arise from within the lithosphere.

Question 22

The Wilson Cycle uses plate tectonic processes to show the life cycles of ocean basins during their growth, formation, and destruction over geologic time.

Question 23

The book The History of Ocean Basins, which contained the idea of seafloor spreading, was written by geologist:

A)Harry Hess.
B)Frederick Vine.
C)Alfred Wegener.
D)Drummond Matthews.
E)John Tuzo Wilson.

Question 24

A rift valley may be associated with divergent plate boundaries.

Question 25

Evidence for continental drift includes:

A)the fit of the continents.
B)matching sequences of rocks and mountain chains.
C)past glacial activity.
D)the distribution of organisms.
E)all of the above.

Question 26

Charles Darwin was the first person to propose a hypothesis on the origin of coral reefs.

Question 27

Fossil remains of organisms on land and in sediments can be used to:

A)indicate the relative age of the sediments.
B)provide evidence for plate movement.
C)suggest ancient climate characteristics.
D)support the idea that landmasses were joined.
E)all of the above.

Question 28

Fossils of ancient polar plants are currently found near the equator because the:

A)entire earth had polar conditions at the time the plants were living.
B)plants lived near the poles, but landmasses have drifted to current locations.
C)plants probably were tolerant of both tropical and polar conditions.
D)plants were distributed to current locations by ancient glacial ice sheets.
E)poles were at the equator at times in the geologic past.

Question 29

The first person to advance the idea of mobile continents or continental drift was:

A)Harry Hess.
B)Frederick Vine.
C)Alfred Wegener.
D)Drummond Matthews.
E)John Tuzo Wilson.

Question 30

Iceland is geologically active because it is located along the mid-Atlantic ridge.

Question 31

Climate distribution on Earth is primarily controlled by:

A)Earth's geologic history.
B)latitude.
C)longitude.
D)presence or absence of glacial debris.
E)plants and animals that live in an area.

Question 32

The origin of many seamounts and tablemounts is related to volcanic activity occurring at hotspots.

Question 33

Wegener used all of the following provide evidence for continental drift except:

A)age of selected continental rocks.
B)apparent polar wandering.
C)location of coral reef fossils.
D)seafloor magnetic pattern.
E)shape of continental margins.

Question 34

Convergent plate boundaries occur when tectonic plates move in opposite directions.

Question 35

The majority of the world's hotspots are associated with plate boundaries.

Question 36

Areas of intense volcanic activity that remain in more or less the same location over long periods of geologic time and are unrelated to plate boundaries are called hotspots.

Question 37

The three stages in the geologic development of coral reefs are fringing, barrier, and patch.

Question 38

Frederick Vine and Drummond Matthews determined that new ocean floor was being produced at ocean ridges by examining:

A)apparent polar wandering.
B)fossils in marine sediments.
C)glacial debris at various locations.
D)the location of ancient coral reefs.
E)the magnetic pattern of rocks on the seafloor.

Question 39

The seafloor magnetic pattern is best described as:

A)not related to the location of mid-ocean ridges.
B)parallel to and symmetric about mid-ocean ridges.
C)parallel to, but not symmetric about mid-ocean ridges.
D)perpendicular to and symmetric about mid-ocean ridges.
E)perpendicular to, but not symmetric about mid-ocean ridges.

Question 40

All continents fit together with the least number of overlaps and gaps when the continents are matched along:

A)contours at around 2,000 meters depth.
B)current shorelines.
C)edge of the continental shelf.
D)edges of the deep sea floor.
E)oceanic trenches in subduction zones.

Question 41

volcanoes on the seafloor that are flat-topped because of wave erosion are called:

A)hotspots.
B)tablemounts.
C)seamounts.
D)abyssal hills.
E)mantle plumes.

Question 42

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. Gondwanaland
B) Panamerica
C) Pangaea
D) Panthalassia
E) Tethys Sea

Question 43

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. divergent plate boundary
B) oceanic-continental convergence
C) oceanic-oceanic convergence
D) transform plate boundary
E) hot spot

Question 44

Coral reefs that initially develop along the margin of an island or continent where environmental conditions are suitable are called:

A)fringing reefs.
B)barrier reefs.
C)atolls.
D)patch reefs.

Question 45

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of a:

A)convergent plate boundary (continent-continent).
B)convergent plate boundary (continent-oceanic).
C)convergent plate boundary (oceanic-oceanic).
D)divergent plate boundary.
E)transform fault boundary.

Question 46

Coral reefs:

A)are most common in the tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean basin.
B)can be found at latitudes above 60°.
C)form when underwater volcanoes are thrust upward during a tectonic event.
D)include atolls, barrier, and fringing reefs.
E)were first described by Christopher Columbus during his voyage to the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola.

Question 47

The San Andreas Fault:

A)is a continental transform fault.
B)is an oceanic transform fault.
C)is associated with deep focus earthquakes.
D)is located in the Juan de Fuca Plate.

Question 48

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. ice age
B) paleomagnetism
C) seafloor spreading
D) age of the ocean floor
E) distribution of earthquakes

Question 49

Deep ocean trenches are associated with:

A)rift valleys.
B)subduction zones.
C)submarine canyons.
D)transform faults.
E)turbidity currents.

Question 50

Moving from an oceanic ridge to an oceanic trench, the thickness of the lithosphere:

A)decreases in proportion to the distance.
B)is unrelated to the distance from the ridge.
C)increases in proportion to the distance.
D)randomly varies.
E)remains the same.

Question 51

Tectonic plates are pieces of the ________ that float on the more fluid ________ below.

A)crust; lithosphere
B)asthenosphere; lithosphere
C)lithosphere; asthenosphere
D)mantle; crust
E)lithosphere; mesosphere

Question 52

Which of the following is characteristic of oceanic-continental convergent plate boundaries?

A)andesitic volcanoes
B)fracture zones
C)hot spots
D)mid-ocean ridges
E)volcanic island arcs

Question 53

Large volcanoes on the seafloor that are cone-shaped on top because they never reached sea level are called:

A)hotspots.
B)tablemounts.
C)seamounts.
D)guyots.
E)mantle plumes.

Question 54

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. Alfred Wegener
B) Harry Hess
C) Drummond Matthews
D) Frederick Vine
E) Stanley Miller

Question 55

The study of historical changes of continental shapes and positions is called:

A)paleomagnetism.
B)paleoclimatology.
C)sedimentology.
D)paleogeography.

Question 56

Which of the following is characteristic of continental-continental convergent plate boundaries?

A)hot spots
B)uplifted mountain ranges
C)mid-ocean ridges
D)volcanic island arcs

Question 57

The first scientist to propose the origin of coral reefs based upon subsidence (sinking)of volcanic islands was:

A)Harry Hess.
B)Charles Darwin.
C)Alfred Wegener.
D)Drummond Matthews.
E)John Tuzo Wilson.

Question 58

Which of the following is characteristic of oceanic-oceanic convergent plate boundaries?

A)fracture zones
B)hot spots
C)mid-ocean ridges
D)volcanic island arcs

Question 59

The Hawaiian Islands are located where the Pacific plate is:

A)being subducted beneath the North American plate.
B)being subducted beneath Japan.
C)being thrust over the North American plate.
D)diving under Japan.
E)moving over a hot spot or mantle plume.

Question 60

Which of the following statements is true of the lithosphere?

A)The lithosphere is composed of outer mantle material.
B)The lithosphere is composed of igneous rock.
C)The lithosphere is composed of metamorphic rock.
D)The lithosphere is composed of the crust and the uppermost portion of the mantle.
E)The lithosphere is composed of the inner portion of the mantle and the outer core.

Question 61

What are the lines of evidence that Alfred Wegener used to support the idea of continental drift? Why did scientists of his day doubt that continents drifted?

Question 62

Why does a map of worldwide earthquakes closely match the locations of worldwide plate boundaries?

Question 63

How does convection in the asthenosphere explain ocean basin features, heat flow, and the thickness of the lithosphere?

Question 64

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. Aleutian Islands
B) Andes Mountains
C) Hawaiian Islands
D) Japan
E) Mariana Trench

Question 65

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. hydrothermal vents
B) island arc
C) mountains
D) oceanic trench
E) volcanoes

Question 66

How can plate tectonics be used to help explain the differences between a seamount and a tablemount?

Question 67

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. transform fault
B) Sand Andreas Fault
C) oceanic transform fault
D) Juan de Fuca Ridge
E) Mariana Trench

Question 68

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. rift valley
B) oceanic trench
C) rifting
D) seafloor spreading
E) divergent plate boundary

Question 69

Discuss changes in the lithosphere that occur between an oceanic ridge and an oceanic trench.

Question 70

Briefly discuss four important lines of evidence that support the theory of continental drift.

Question 71

How is the age of the ocean sediments related to the distance from a mid-ocean ridge?

Question 72

How has seismic activity been used in our understanding of plate boundaries?

Question 73

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. Aleutian Islands
B) Canary Islands
C) Galapagos Islands
D) Hawaiian Islands
E) Iceland

Question 74

Describe the formation of the magnetic patterns in rocks on the seafloor.

Question 75

Answer: Earthquakes are sudden releases of energy usually caused by the movement of lithospheric plates or volcanic eruptions. The global distribution of earthquakes, such as the pattern shown in Figure 2.13, indicates that most occur along oceanic trenches, reflecting the energy released during the process of subduction. Other earthquakes occur along divergent plate boundaries at seafloor spreading centers along the global oceanic ridge system. Comparison of earthquake activity with the boundaries of plates indicates a high degree of correspondence.
Diff: 3
Skill: Application
Section: 2.2 What Evidence Supports Plate Tectonics?
Essent'l Concept: 2.2 Describe the evidence that supports plate tectonics

How are convergent and divergent plate boundaries related to constructive and destructive plate margins?

Question 76

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. convergent plate boundary
B) volcanic arc
C) island arc
D) rift valley
E) continental arc