Plate Tectonics Trivia MCQ Quiz!

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  • 1/9 Questions

    Where does seafloor spreading occur?

    • Subduction zones
    • Transform faults
    • Terrain boundaries
    • Divergent boundaries
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About This Quiz

Explore the dynamics of Earth's crust with the 'Plate Tectonics Trivia MCQ Quiz!' This quiz tests your knowledge on tectonic boundaries, faults, and the forces driving plate movements, essential for students and enthusiasts eager to understand geological processes.

Plate Tectonics Trivia MCQ Quiz! - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    What do scientists believe is the force behind the plate tectonics theory?

    • The Sun's gravity

    • Gravity slap pull

    • Convection currents

    • Movement of the plates

    Correct Answer
    A. Convection currents
    Explanation
    Scientists believe that convection currents are the force behind the plate tectonics theory. Convection currents occur in the Earth's mantle, where hot material rises and cooler material sinks. This movement of material creates a circular motion, which in turn causes the plates on the Earth's surface to move. As the hot material rises, it pushes the plates apart, and as the cooler material sinks, it pulls the plates back together. This continuous cycle of convection currents is responsible for the movement and interaction of the Earth's tectonic plates.

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  • 3. 

    Which of the following statement is true?

    • Earthquake can happen because of fault

    • Faults are evidences of ductile deformation in rocks

    • Faults are fractures in rocks with no observable movement

    • The process of mountain building is associated with faults

    Correct Answer
    A. Earthquake can happen because of fault
    Explanation
    Earthquakes can occur due to faults. Faults are fractures in the Earth's crust where rocks on either side have moved relative to each other. When stress builds up along a fault line and exceeds the strength of the rocks, it can result in an earthquake. The sudden release of energy causes seismic waves to radiate from the fault, leading to ground shaking. Therefore, the statement "Earthquake can happen because of fault" is true.

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  • 4. 

    Which of the following is associated with shearing stresses and shallow earthquakes?

    • Subduction zones

    • Transform boundaries

    • Spreading centers

    • Continent-continent convergence

    Correct Answer
    A. Transform boundaries
    Explanation
    Transform boundaries are associated with shearing stresses and shallow earthquakes. At transform boundaries, two tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other. This movement creates friction and stress along the boundary, leading to the accumulation of strain. When the stress exceeds the strength of the rocks, it is released in the form of earthquakes. These earthquakes tend to be shallow because the sliding occurs near the Earth's surface. In contrast, subduction zones, spreading centers, and continent-continent convergence are associated with other types of plate movements and have different earthquake characteristics.

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  • 5. 

    What are the products of horizontally directed, tensional stresses?

    • Normal faults

    • Reverse faults

    • Crustal thickening

    • Thrust faults

    Correct Answer
    A. Normal faults
    Explanation
    Horizontally directed, tensional stresses result in the stretching and pulling apart of rock layers. This creates a space for the rocks to move downward along inclined fault planes, forming normal faults. In normal faults, the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall. Therefore, normal faults are the products of horizontally directed, tensional stresses.

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  • 6. 

    Which of the following best describes compression?

    • Two units experiencing compression breaks easily

    • The two units undergoing compression will collide

    • When two units undergoes compression, it will just slide past each other along the plane of contact

    • When two units collide, the one who is closer to the contact will experience more compressive stress

    Correct Answer
    A. When two units collide, the one who is closer to the contact will experience more compressive stress
    Explanation
    When two units collide, the one who is closer to the contact will experience more compressive stress. This means that the force applied during the collision will cause the unit closer to the contact point to be compressed more than the other unit. Compression refers to the reduction in volume or the squeezing together of particles in a material due to an applied force. In this case, the collision between the units causes the particles in the unit closer to the contact point to be compressed, resulting in increased compressive stress.

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  • 7. 

    The fossil of this aquatic fish-catching reptile was used to support the continental drift hypothesis is ________

    Correct Answer
    Mesosaurus
    Explanation
    Mesosaurus is the correct answer because its fossil was found in both South America and South Africa, which supported the continental drift hypothesis. The presence of the same species in two separate continents indicates that these land masses were once connected and later drifted apart. Mesosaurus was a small aquatic reptile, and its ability to swim across large bodies of water would have been highly unlikely. Therefore, the only plausible explanation for its presence in two distant locations is that the continents were once joined together and later separated.

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  • 8. 

    This evidence explains that the area in the polar region where initially found in the tropical region is ________

    Correct Answer
    glacial evidence, glaciers, climate
    Explanation
    The given evidence suggests that there is a connection between the presence of glaciers in the polar region and the climate. The evidence implies that glaciers were initially found in the tropical region but have now moved to the polar region due to changes in the climate. This supports the idea that glacial evidence and the study of glaciers can provide valuable insights into understanding climate patterns and changes over time.

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  • 9. 

    This is when the continental crust remains buoyant while the oceanic crust starts to sink into the mantle________

    Correct Answer
    oceanic-continental convergence
    Explanation
    Oceanic-continental convergence refers to the collision between oceanic and continental crusts. In this process, the denser oceanic crust sinks beneath the less dense continental crust due to its subduction into the mantle. This subduction causes the oceanic crust to start sinking while the continental crust remains buoyant. This collision leads to the formation of various geological features such as volcanic arcs, mountain ranges, and deep-sea trenches.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 21, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Sep 16, 2020
    Quiz Created by
    Jlcfernandez2974
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