Plate Tectonics Quiz Questions And Answers

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  • 1/15 Questions

    What is Pangaea?

    • A supercontinent that existed in early geologic time
    • Scientist's name
    • Continental drift is also called Pangaea.
    • A fossil fuel
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About This Quiz

What do you know about plate tectonics? Can you attempt these plate tectonics quiz questions and answers and make them all correct? Try the quiz and check your knowledge for the same. Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that explains about dynamics of Earth's outer shell—the lithosphere that is divided into large slabs of solid rock, called plates. Take this quiz on plate tectonics and test as many times as you would like to improve your score!

Plate Tectonics Quiz Questions And Answers - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    What type of plate boundary has the plates moving away from each other?

    • Transform

    • Subduction

    • Convergent

    • Divergent

    Correct Answer
    A. Divergent
    Explanation
    Divergent plate boundaries occur when two tectonic plates move away from each other. This movement creates a gap or rift between the plates, allowing magma from the mantle to rise and form new crust. This process is known as seafloor spreading and leads to the formation of mid-ocean ridges. Divergent plate boundaries are characterized by volcanic activity, earthquakes, and the creation of new crust.

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  • 3. 

    What type of plate boundary has the two plates sliding past each other?

    • Transform

    • Subduction

    • Convergent

    • Divergent

    Correct Answer
    A. Transform
    Explanation
    Transform plate boundaries occur when two plates slide past each other horizontally. This movement can cause earthquakes as the plates grind against each other. This type of plate boundary does not involve the creation or destruction of crust, unlike convergent and divergent boundaries. Therefore, transform is the correct answer for the given question.

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  • 4. 

    Scientists found that the continents were moving apart from each other due to magma rising out of mid-ocean ridges, and they called this

    • Sea floor spreading

    • Sea floor rising

    • Changing sea floor

    • Underwater volcanos

    Correct Answer
    A. Sea floor spreading
    Explanation
    Scientists discovered that the continents were drifting apart because of the magma that was emerging from mid-ocean ridges. This phenomenon was termed "sea floor spreading" as it referred to the process of the ocean floor expanding and creating new crust as the continents moved away from each other.

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  • 5. 

    The Earth's continents were once connected in one giant continent called:

    • Eurasia

    • Indo-Australia

    • Pangaea

    • Pacifica

    Correct Answer
    A. Pangaea
    Explanation
    Pangaea is the correct answer because it refers to the theory that all of Earth's continents were once connected as a single landmass. This supercontinent existed around 300 million years ago and eventually broke apart into the continents we know today.

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  • 6. 

    How do scientists learn about the interior (center) of the earth?

    • GPS

    • Seismic Waves

    • Beltometers

    • Particulate Array

    Correct Answer
    A. Seismic Waves
    Explanation
    Scientists learn about the interior of the earth through seismic waves. Seismic waves are vibrations that travel through the earth's layers, caused by earthquakes or other disturbances. By studying the behavior of these waves as they travel through the earth, scientists can gather information about the composition, density, and structure of the different layers of the earth's interior. This helps them understand the processes and dynamics that occur deep within the earth, such as plate tectonics and the formation of mountains and volcanoes.

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  • 7. 

    Wegener's old theory, called sea floor spreading, was found too simplistic because it did not explain how the continents would move. It was replaced by a theory called:

    • Plate Tectonics

    • Crustal Forces

    • Paleomagnetism

    • Weather forces

    Correct Answer
    A. Plate Tectonics
    Explanation
    Wegener's old theory of sea floor spreading was considered too simplistic because it did not provide an explanation for how the continents would move. The theory of Plate Tectonics, on the other hand, not only explains the movement of continents but also accounts for a range of geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges. Plate Tectonics suggests that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere, and the movement of these plates is responsible for shaping the Earth's surface.

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  • 8. 

    Volcanoes occur in similar locations to earthquakes, and are common along plate boundaries. Sixty percent of volcanoes occur surrounding the Pacific Ocean, a location called:

    • "The hot zone"

    • "The Ring of Fire"

    • "The Volcano Zone"

    • All of these

    Correct Answer
    A. "The Ring of Fire"
    Explanation
    Volcanoes are commonly found along plate boundaries, where tectonic plates interact. The Pacific Ocean has a large number of plate boundaries, making it a hotspot for volcanic activity. This region is known as "The Ring of Fire" due to the high concentration of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes that occur there. Therefore, the correct answer is "The Ring of Fire."

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  • 9. 

    Scientists found that the continents were moving apart from each other due to magma rising out of mid-ocean ridges, and they called this:

    • Sea floor spreading

    • Sea floor rising

    • Changing sea floor

    • Underwater volcanos

    Correct Answer
    A. Sea floor spreading
    Explanation
    Sea floor spreading is the correct answer because scientists have discovered that the continents are moving apart from each other as a result of magma rising out of mid-ocean ridges. This process leads to the creation of new oceanic crust and the spreading of the sea floor.

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  • 10. 

    Plate tectonics can also be the direct cause of forming:

    • Lakes

    • Streams

    • Mountains

    • Oceans

    Correct Answer
    A. Mountains
    Explanation
    Plate tectonics refers to the movement and interaction of large sections of the Earth's crust, known as tectonic plates. These plates can collide, separate, or slide past each other, resulting in various geological features. When two plates collide, they can cause the crust to buckle and fold, leading to the formation of mountains. This process is known as orogeny. The collision of plates can create immense pressure, causing rocks to deform and uplift, resulting in the formation of mountain ranges. Therefore, plate tectonics is directly responsible for the formation of mountains.

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  • 11. 

    What drives plate movement?

    • Plate boundaries

    • Ocean currents

    • Convection currents

    • The sun

    Correct Answer
    A. Convection currents
    Explanation
    Convection currents drive plate movement. Convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of a fluid. In the Earth's mantle, heat from the core causes the molten rock to rise, creating convection currents. These currents push the tectonic plates apart at mid-ocean ridges and cause them to collide at subduction zones. This movement of the plates leads to various geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges. Therefore, convection currents play a crucial role in driving plate tectonics and shaping the Earth's surface.

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  • 12. 

    Plate tectonics is our current theory of how the movement of continental masses relates to the movement of ocean basins. This movement explains many phenomena, such as:

    • Earthquakes

    • Volcanoes

    • Weather patterns

    • All of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. All of the above
    Explanation
    Plate tectonics is the theory that explains the movement of continental masses and ocean basins. This movement is responsible for various phenomena, including earthquakes, volcanoes, and weather patterns. The theory suggests that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large plates that move and interact with each other. These interactions at plate boundaries result in the release of energy, causing earthquakes and volcanic activity. Additionally, the movement of plates influences weather patterns by affecting ocean currents and atmospheric circulation. Therefore, the correct answer is "All of the above" because plate tectonics explains all of these phenomena.

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  • 13. 

    Plate tectonics, or the movement of pieces of Earth's crust, is thought to be caused by:

    • Volcanoes

    • Earthquakes

    • Convection currents in Earth's mantle

    • Hot spots

    Correct Answer
    A. Convection currents in Earth's mantle
    Explanation
    Plate tectonics, the movement of Earth's crust, is believed to be caused by convection currents in the mantle. The mantle is the layer of hot, semi-fluid rock beneath the Earth's crust. Convection currents occur when heat from the Earth's core causes the mantle to heat up and rise, then cool and sink back down. This continuous cycle creates a circulating motion that can push and pull the Earth's crust, leading to the movement of tectonic plates. Volcanoes, earthquakes, and hot spots are all related to plate tectonics but are not the direct cause of plate movement.

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  • 14. 

    Plate margins are places where much activity occurs. Earthquakes occur, for example, along convergent margins, where plates are:

    • Moving apart

    • Sliding past each other

    • Colliding

    • Overlapping

    Correct Answer
    A. Colliding
    Explanation
    Plate margins are places where much activity occurs, including earthquakes. Earthquakes occur along convergent margins, where plates are colliding. When two plates collide, they can create intense pressure and friction, leading to the release of energy in the form of an earthquake. This collision can cause the plates to buckle, fold, or break, resulting in seismic activity. Therefore, the correct answer is "Colliding."

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  • 15. 

    The Earth's crust is divided into 7 major plates, which include all of the continents. Along which two plates do we see major earthquake activity?

    • Pacific and North/South American

    • Pacific and Eurasian/Indian

    • South American and African

    • A and B

    Correct Answer
    A. A and B
    Explanation
    The Earth's crust is divided into 7 major plates, and the Pacific Plate is one of them. The Pacific Plate is known for its high seismic activity, as it is surrounded by several other plates and experiences frequent subduction zones and earthquakes. The North/South American Plate is also involved in major earthquake activity, especially along the western coast of the Americas where it interacts with the Pacific Plate. Therefore, the correct answer is A and B, as both the Pacific and North/South American Plates are associated with significant earthquake activity.

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  • Current Version
  • Aug 26, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Jun 30, 2010
    Quiz Created by
    Emily_saker
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