Question 1

The three major types of plate boundaries are ____________________, ____________________, and ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The three major types of plate boundaries...

Question 2

Climatic and geographic barriers provide boundaries for ___________________, which are regions with a distinct assemblage of plants and animals.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Climatic and geographic barriers provide boundaries for...

Question 3

Rift valleys are associated with ____ plate boundaries.
A) divergent
B) transform
C) continental-continental convergent
D) oceanic-oceanic convergent
E) oceanic-continental convergent

Accepted Answer

Rift valleys are formed when two tectonic plates move apart or diverge. As the plates move apart, magma rises to the surface, creating a new crust. Eventually, the new crust cools and solidifies, creating a narrow valley with steep walls called a rift valley. This process occurs along divergent plate boundaries, where two plates are moving away from each other. Examples of rift valleys include the East African Rift Valley and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Question 4

The study of paleomagnetism is possible because ____.
A) the magnetic minerals in rocks create Earth's magnetic field
B) most rocks contain no magnetic minerals
C) the magnetic minerals in rocks disrupt Earth's magnetic field
D) the magnetic minerals align toward the north magnetic pole at the Curie point
E) Earth's magnetic poles reverse on a regular and predictable time scale

Accepted Answer

The study of paleomagnetism is possible because the magnetic minerals in rocks align toward the north magnetic pole at the Curie point. This alignment, which occurs as the rocks cool, can provide information about the direction of Earth's magnetic field at the time the rocks were formed.

Question 5

The present-day magnetic polarity of the Earth is called ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The present-day magnetic polarity of the Earth...

Question 6

One gravity-driven mechanism for plate movement is _______________________, which is caused by the higher elevation of ocean ridges in comparison to surrounding crust.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One gravity-driven mechanism for plate movement is...

Question 7

Earth has____ major tectonic plates.
A) 2
B) 5
C) 7
D) 12
E) 20

Accepted Answer

The Earth's major tectonic plates are the African, Antarctic, Eurasian, Indo-Australian, North American, Pacific, and South American plates. These are the largest and most significant plates, which form the Earth's lithosphere and interact with each other to cause earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountain ranges.

Question 8

The three types of convergent plate boundaries are ____________________, ____________________, and ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The three types of convergent plate boundaries...

Question 9

Which mechanism provides heat to Earth's interior?
A) gravitational contraction
B) meteorite bombardment
C) radioactive decay
D) subduction
E) core pressurization

Accepted Answer

Radioactive decay provides the heat that drives Earth's interior processes. As unstable isotopes, such as uranium and thorium, undergo spontaneous decay, they release energy in the form of heat, which is transferred to the surrounding rock. This process generates the heat that is responsible for driving mantle convection, plate tectonics, and volcanic activity.

Question 10

Harry Hess used oceanographic research data to propose the theory of ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Harry Hess used oceanographic research data to...

Question 11

The first fossil evidence associated with the hypothesis of continental drift was ____ flora.
A) Glossaurus
B) Pecopteris
C) Neuropteris
D) Glossopteris
E) Messopteris

Accepted Answer

The first fossil evidence associated with the hypothesis of continental drift was Glossopteris flora. This fossilized plant was found in the Southern Hemisphere, including South America, Africa, Australia, India, and Antarctica, indicating that these landmasses were once connected.

Question 12

Which line of evidence was not used by Alfred Wegener to support continental drift?
A) continental fit
B) similarity of rock sequences
C) continuity of mountain ranges on opposite continents
D) fossil evidence
E) paleomagnetic data

Accepted Answer

Alfred Wegener, when proposing the theory of continental drift, did not use paleomagnetic data as part of his evidence. Paleomagnetism became a key piece of evidence for plate tectonics later on, after Wegener's time.

Question 13

Paleomagnetism measures the ____________________ and ____________________ of remnant magnetism in rocks.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Paleomagnetism measures the ____________________ and ____________________ of...

Question 14

The oldest ocean crust is most likely to be found ____.
A) at mid-ocean ridges
B) at the bottom of rift valleys
C) in the middle of the ocean
D) adjacent to continental margins
E) in the deepest parts of the ocean

Accepted Answer

The oldest ocean crust is most likely to be found adjacent to continental margins, as it has had more time to cool and become more dense as it moves away from the spreading center.

Question 15

At deep sea trenches, ____________________ crust is subducted into the ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of At deep sea trenches, ____________________ crust is...

Question 16

The temperature at which iron-bearing minerals gain their magnetic property is called their ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The temperature at which iron-bearing minerals gain...

Question 17

Who was the first person to suggest that all of the continents had originally been joined together as the supercontinent Pangaea?
A) Alexander du Toit
B) Frank Taylor
C) Alfred Wegener
D) Edward Suess
E) Harry Hess

Accepted Answer

Alfred Wegener was the first person to propose the theory of continental drift and the existence of Pangaea in 1912.

Question 18

The Earth's present magnetic field is described as "normal," meaning that the north magnetic pole is located ____, and the south magnetic pole is located ____.
A) at the south geographic pole; at the north geographic pole
B) in the Antarctic; in the Arctic
C) at the north geographic pole; at the south geographic pole
D) in the southern hemisphere; in the northern hemisphere
E) at the highest altitude; at the lowest altitude

Accepted Answer

The normal magnetic field means that the north magnetic pole is located at the geographic North Pole, and the south magnetic pole is located at the geographic South Pole.

Question 19

In analyzing continental drift, the name given to the northern supercontinent was ____.
A) Laurasia
B) Laurentia
C) Baltica
D) Gondwana
E) northern Pangaea

Accepted Answer

The name given to the northern supercontinent was Laurasia.

Question 20

In a(n) ____________________ plate boundary, lithosphere is neither created nor destroyed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a(n) ____________________ plate boundary, lithosphere is...

Quiz 3: Plate Tectonics: a Unifying Theory

The three major types of plate boundaries are , , and .

Climatic and geographic barriers provide boundaries for ___________________, which are regions with a distinct assemblage of plants and animals.

Rift valleys are associated with ____ plate boundaries.

The study of paleomagnetism is possible because ____.

The present-day magnetic polarity of the Earth is called ____________________.

One gravity-driven mechanism for plate movement is _______________________, which is caused by the higher elevation of ocean ridges in comparison to surrounding crust.

Earth has____ major tectonic plates.

The three types of convergent plate boundaries are , , and .

Which mechanism provides heat to Earth's interior?

Harry Hess used oceanographic research data to propose the theory of ____________________.

The first fossil evidence associated with the hypothesis of continental drift was ____ flora.

Which line of evidence was not used by Alfred Wegener to support continental drift?

Paleomagnetism measures the and of remnant magnetism in rocks.

The oldest ocean crust is most likely to be found ____.

At deep sea trenches, crust is subducted into the .

The temperature at which iron-bearing minerals gain their magnetic property is called their ____________________.

Who was the first person to suggest that all of the continents had originally been joined together as the supercontinent Pangaea?

The Earth's present magnetic field is described as "normal," meaning that the north magnetic pole is located , and the south magnetic pole is located .

In analyzing continental drift, the name given to the northern supercontinent was ____.

In a(n) ____________________ plate boundary, lithosphere is neither created nor destroyed.