A Practice Quiz On Plate Tectonics

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  • 1/22 Questions

    Who discovered continental drift in 1912?

    • Obama
    • Alfred Wegener
    • Albert Einstein
    • JJ Thompson
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About This Quiz

Earth's crust is divided into several major and minor plates. Play this informative quiz on Plate Tectonics and find out how much you know about it. The quiz contains various questions ranging from easy, medium, to hard levels that will help you enhance your knowledge. Do you know what the hottest layer of Earth is? What causes plates to move? Get answers to all these and much more in this quiz. All the best!

A Practice Quiz On Plate Tectonics - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    Geologists use the name ________ to refer to the giant landmass that existed 335 million years ago when all land was connected as one.

    • Pangaea

    • Laurassia

    • Gondwana

    • Pathalassa

    Correct Answer
    A. Pangaea
    Explanation
    Pangaea is the correct answer because it refers to the giant landmass that existed 335 million years ago when all land was connected as one. This term is commonly used by geologists to describe the supercontinent that included all of Earth's current continents.

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  • 3. 

    The theory that describes the formation, movements, and interactions of these plates is called

    • Plate tectonics

    • The Lithosphere

    • Rift Valley

    • Volcanoes

    Correct Answer
    A. Plate tectonics
    Explanation
    Plate tectonics is the correct answer because it is the theory that explains the formation, movements, and interactions of Earth's tectonic plates. This theory states that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large and small plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere. These plates move slowly over time, causing various geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges. Plate tectonics has revolutionized our understanding of Earth's geology and helps explain the distribution of continents and ocean basins.

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  • 4. 

    Which is the hottest layer on the Earth?

    • Mantle

    • Core

    • Crust

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. Core
    Explanation
    The core is the hottest layer on Earth. It is composed of two parts: the outer core and the inner core. The outer core is primarily made of liquid iron and nickel, while the inner core is solid due to the immense pressure. The temperature in the outer core can reach up to 5,500 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest layer. The high temperature in the core is generated by the radioactive decay of elements and the residual heat from the formation of the Earth.

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  • 5. 

    Which layer is under the crust?

    • The inner core

    • The mantle

    • The outer core

    • There is no layer below the crust.

    Correct Answer
    A. The mantle
    Explanation
    The mantle is the layer that is located directly under the crust. It is a thick layer of solid rock that extends down to about 2,900 kilometers below the Earth's surface. The mantle is composed of various types of rocks and is responsible for the movement of tectonic plates. It is also where most of the Earth's heat is generated.

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  • 6. 

    The core is

    • Made of rock

    • Very cool

    • Very hot

    • Blue in color

    Correct Answer
    A. Very hot
    Explanation
    The core is very hot because it is the central part of the Earth where immense heat is generated through radioactive decay and residual heat from the planet's formation. The core is primarily composed of molten iron and nickel, and temperatures can reach up to 5700 degrees Celsius (10,000 degrees Fahrenheit) at its innermost region. This extreme heat contributes to the convection currents within the core, which in turn drive the movement of tectonic plates and generate Earth's magnetic field.

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  • 7. 

    How do we know about the interior of the Earth?

    • We have sent robots down to the core.

    • We have giant ex-ray machines.

    • Earthquakes/seismic waves.

    • We have sensors that can take pictures of the layers.

    Correct Answer
    A. Earthquakes/seismic waves.
    Explanation
    The interior of the Earth is not directly accessible, so we cannot send robots down to the core or use giant X-ray machines to observe it. However, earthquakes and seismic waves provide valuable information about the Earth's interior. When an earthquake occurs, seismic waves travel through the Earth and can be detected and analyzed by seismographs. By studying the behavior of these waves, scientists can infer the composition, density, and structure of the Earth's interior, including the different layers such as the crust, mantle, and core.

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  • 8. 

    Which layer is below the outer core?

    • The crust

    • The mantle

    • The inner core

    • There is no layer below the outer core.

    Correct Answer
    A. The inner core
    Explanation
    The inner core is the layer below the outer core. The Earth's layers consist of the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. The inner core is located at the very center of the Earth and is primarily composed of solid iron and nickel. It is the hottest and most dense layer, with temperatures reaching up to 5,500 degrees Celsius. The outer core, on the other hand, is a layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core.

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  • 9. 

    A boundary between two plates that are moving toward each other is called.

    • Divergent Boundary

    • Convergent Boundary

    • Deep-sea trench

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. Convergent Boundary
    Explanation
    A convergent boundary is a boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving towards each other. At this boundary, the plates collide and can cause various geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountain ranges. This type of boundary is characterized by the destruction or consumption of one of the plates as it is forced beneath the other plate in a process called subduction. Deep-sea trenches can also be formed at convergent boundaries where one plate is subducted beneath another, leading to the formation of a trench in the ocean floor.

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  • 10. 

    What is the Earth's 'internal heat source'?

    • Mantle

    • Crust

    • Core

    Correct Answer
    A. Core
    Explanation
    The Earth's 'internal heat source' is the core. The core is the innermost layer of the Earth and is primarily composed of iron and nickel. It is extremely hot, with temperatures reaching up to 5,500 degrees Celsius. The heat generated by the core is a result of the radioactive decay of elements and residual heat from the formation of the Earth. This heat is responsible for driving the movement of tectonic plates, volcanic activity, and the creation of Earth's magnetic field.

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  • 11. 

    Which layer is below the mantle?

    • The outer core

    • There is no layer below the mantle.

    • The inner core

    • The crust

    Correct Answer
    A. The outer core
    Explanation
    The outer core is the layer below the mantle. The Earth's structure consists of several layers, and the outer core is one of them. It is located beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core. The outer core is primarily composed of liquid iron and nickel, and it plays a crucial role in generating the Earth's magnetic field.

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  • 12. 

    A boundary between two plates that are sliding past eachother is called

    • Collision boundary

    • Fusion boundary

    • Sliding boundary

    • Transform boundary

    Correct Answer
    A. Transform boundary
    Explanation
    A transform boundary is a boundary between two tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally. At these boundaries, the plates neither collide nor separate, but rather move in opposite directions. This movement can result in earthquakes as the plates grind against each other. The San Andreas Fault in California is an example of a transform boundary.

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  • 13. 

    What causes the plates to move?

    • Ocean currents

    • Large machines

    • Movement in the core

    • Convection in the mantle

    Correct Answer
    A. Convection in the mantle
    Explanation
    The movement of tectonic plates is primarily caused by convection in the mantle. The mantle is a layer of hot, semi-fluid rock beneath the Earth's crust. Heat from the Earth's core causes the mantle to become less dense and rise towards the surface, while cooler mantle material sinks back down. This circular motion creates convection currents that drag the tectonic plates along with them. As the plates are pushed and pulled by these currents, they collide, separate, or slide past each other, resulting in various geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountains and ocean trenches.

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  • 14. 

    If the Earth was a peach, the pit would be the

    • Mantle

    • Core

    • Crust

    Correct Answer
    A. Core
    Explanation
    If the Earth was compared to a peach, the pit would be equivalent to the core. The core of the Earth is the innermost layer, made up of mostly iron and nickel. It is responsible for generating the Earth's magnetic field and is believed to be extremely hot and under immense pressure. Comparing the Earth to a peach helps to visualize the core as the central and essential part, just like the pit is the central and essential part of a peach.

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  • 15. 

    Which type of convergent boundary creates mountains?

    • Continental vs. continental

    • Continental vs. oceanic

    • Oceanic vs. oceanic

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. Continental vs. continental
    Explanation
    When two continental plates collide at a convergent boundary, neither plate is dense enough to be subducted under the other, so they instead crumple and fold, creating mountains. This process is known as continental collision. Therefore, the correct answer is continental vs. continental.

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  • 16. 

    What layer has convection currents?

    • Inner core

    • Crust

    • Mantle

    • Outer core

    Correct Answer
    A. Mantle
    Explanation
    Convection currents occur in the mantle. The mantle is the layer of the Earth located between the crust and the outer core. It is made up of hot, semi-fluid rock that is constantly moving due to the heat generated from the Earth's core. This movement creates convection currents, where hotter material rises towards the surface, cools down, and then sinks back down. These currents play a crucial role in the movement of tectonic plates and the overall dynamics of the Earth's interior.

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  • 17. 

    The crust is

    • Flexible

    • A liquid and a solid

    • Metallic

    • Solid rock

    Correct Answer
    A. Solid rock
    Explanation
    The crust refers to the outermost layer of the Earth's surface. It is composed of solid rock, which is the correct answer given. This solid rock layer is made up of various types of rocks, such as granite, basalt, and sedimentary rocks. The crust is relatively thin compared to the other layers of the Earth, and it is where all landforms, mountains, and continents are formed.

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  • 18. 

    What was Wegener's evidence that continental drift actually happened?

    • Fossils of Mesosaurus

    • Similarities in the shapes of Africa and South America

    • Distinctive rock formations

    • All of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. All of the above
    Explanation
    Wegener's evidence that continental drift actually happened includes fossils of Mesosaurus, similarities in the shapes of Africa and South America, and distinctive rock formations. The presence of Mesosaurus fossils on both continents suggests that they were once connected. The matching shapes of Africa and South America further support the idea of continental drift. Additionally, the presence of similar rock formations on different continents indicates that they were once part of the same landmass. Therefore, all of the mentioned evidence supports the concept of continental drift.

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  • 19. 

    What are the pieces of the Earth's crust called?

    • Rocks

    • Plates

    • Puzzle pieces

    • Continents

    Correct Answer
    A. Plates
    Explanation
    The pieces of the Earth's crust are called plates. These plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. They float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere below them and constantly move, causing earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountains. The theory of plate tectonics explains how these plates interact and contribute to the dynamic nature of the Earth's surface. Continents are part of these plates, but the term "plates" is a more comprehensive and accurate description of the Earth's crust.

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  • 20. 

    A boundary between two plates that are sliding past each other is called.

    • A rift

    • Rift valley

    • Transform Boundary

    • Convergent Boundary

    Correct Answer
    A. Transform Boundary
    Explanation
    A boundary between two tectonic plates that are sliding past each other is called a "transform boundary" or a "transform fault." Transform boundaries are characterized by horizontal motion where the plates move horizontally alongside one another in opposite directions. This movement can result in earthquakes along the boundary due to the friction and stress between the plates. One of the most famous examples of a transform boundary is the San Andreas Fault in California, where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate are sliding past each other.

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  • 21. 

    Which layer is the thickest of Earth's layers?

    • Outer core

    • Mantle

    • Crust

    • Inner core

    Correct Answer
    A. Mantle
    Explanation
    The mantle is the layer of the Earth that lies between the crust and the outer core. It is the thickest layer, accounting for approximately 84% of the Earth's volume. The mantle is composed of solid rock, but it is capable of flowing over long periods of time due to its high temperature and pressure. This layer plays a crucial role in the movement of tectonic plates and the convection currents that drive plate tectonics.

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  • 22. 

    A material similar to the mantle's material would be

    • Wood

    • Copper

    • Silly putty

    • Glass

    Correct Answer
    A. Silly putty
    Explanation
    Silly putty is the correct answer because it is a material that shares similar properties with the mantle's material. Silly putty is a soft, malleable substance that can be easily deformed and molded, just like the mantle, which is a semi-solid layer beneath the Earth's crust. Wood, copper, and glass do not possess the same characteristics as the mantle, making silly putty the most suitable option.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 18, 2025
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Apr 08, 2014
    Quiz Created by
    Bpadilla
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