Name: 
 

Plate Tectonics Practice Test



True/False
Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false.
 

1. 

The crust is the Earth's only solid layer.
 

2. 

The asthenosphere is the thinnest layer.
 

3. 

There is no relationship between plate tectonics and volcanoes.
 

Modified True/False
Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false.  If false, change the identified word or phrase to make the sentence or statement true.
 

4. 

The transfer of heat by the movement of heated fluid is called conduction. _________________________

 

5. 

Alfred Wegener provided evidence from landforms and climate in support of his theory of the shrinking Earth. _________________________

 

6. 

Oceanic crust near the mid-ocean ridge is younger than oceanic crust farther away from the ridge. _________________________

 

7. 

With the range of data available, geologists cannot predict exactly where and when earthquakes will occur. _________________________

 

Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

8. 

The type of tectonic plate boundary involving a collision between two tectonic plates is
a.
divergent.
c.
convergent.
b.
transform.
d.
normal.
 

9. 

Continental mountain ranges are usually associated with
a.
divergent boundaries.
c.
convergent boundaries.
b.
transform boundaries.
d.
normal boundaries.
 

10. 

Which layer of the Earth is made up of tectonic plates?
a.
core
c.
asthenosphere
b.
mesosphere
d.
lithosphere
 

11. 

Which of the following appears to cause movement of Earth's tectonic plates?
a.
convection currents below the lithosphere
b.
energy from volcanic activity
c.
magnetic-pole reversals
d.
faults in mountain ranges
 

12. 

The outermost, rigid layer of the Earth is called the
a.
mesosphere.
c.
asthenosphere.
b.
lithosphere.
d.
outer core.
 

13. 

The ____ is made of solid rock that flows very slowly.
a.
lithosphere
c.
asthenosphere
b.
mesosphere
d.
outer core
 
 
Examine the diagram below, and answer the questions that follow.
 

14. 

In the diagram above, which of the following has formed at A?
a.
an ocean trench
c.
a transform boundary
b.
a mid-ocean ridge
d.
none of the above
 

15. 

In the diagram above, which of the following has formed at B?
a.
a folded mountain
c.
a volcanic mountain
b.
a fault-block mountain
d.
none of the above
 

16. 

In the diagram above, which type of boundary is occurring at A?
a.
a divergent boundary
c.
a strike-slip boundary
b.
a transform boundary
d.
a convergent boundary
 

17. 

Which of the following was NOT used as evidence to support the theory of continental drift?
a.
the existence of convection currents
b.
the similarity of fossils found on continental coasts
c.
the close fit of continental coastlines
d.
the matching of glacial grooves on different continents
 

18. 

How do geologists observe Earth’s interior?
a.
by studying constructive forces
b.
by studying destructive forces
c.
by directly looking under the many layers
d.
by recording and studying seismic waves
 

19. 

Most geologists rejected Alfred Wegener’s idea of continental drift because
a.
they were afraid of a new idea.
b.
Wegener was interested in what Earth was like millions of years ago.
c.
Wegener used several different types of evidence to support his hypothesis.
d.
Wegener could not identify a force that could move the continents.
 

20. 

The process by which the ocean floor sinks beneath a deep-ocean trench and back into the mantle is known as
a.
convection.
b.
continental drift.
c.
subduction.
d.
conduction.
 

21. 

A rift valley forms where two plates
a.
sink back toward the mantle.
b.
diverge.
c.
slide past each other.
d.
converge.
 

22. 

The result of plate movement can be seen at ____.
a.
abyssal plains
c.
plate centers
b.
ocean margins
d.
plate boundaries
 
 

Figure 4F-1
 

23. 

According to Figure 4F-1, what type of plate boundary occurs between the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate?
a.
transform boundary
b.
divergent boundary
c.
convergent oceanic-continental plate boundary
d.
convergent oceanic-oceanic plate boundary
 

24. 

According to Figure 4F-1, what type of plate boundary occurs between the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate?
a.
convergent oceanic-continental plate boundary
b.
convergent oceanic-oceanic plate boundary
c.
convergent continental-continental plate boundary
d.
transform boundary
 

25. 

A theory that helps to explain the causes of both earthquakes and volcanoes is the theory of
a.
pyroclastics.
c.
climatic fluctuation.
b.
plate tectonics.
d.
mantle plumes.
 

26. 

Most earthquakes occur along or near the edges of the Earth's
a.
oceans.
c.
rivers.
b.
tectonic plates.
d.
continents.
 

27. 

Scientists discovered changes in Earth's interior by studying ____.
a.
tsunamis
c.
changes in seismic waves
b.
tides
d.
all of the above
 

Matching
 
 
Match each term with the correct statement below.
a.
mid-ocean ridge
d.
subduction zone
b.
convergent boundary
e.
continental drift
c.
asthenosphere
 

28. 

Earth's thick, plasticlike layer is the _____.
 

29. 

Plates move together at a(n) _____.
 

30. 

One plate is forced under another in a(n) _____.
 

31. 

A(n) _____ is an underwater mountain chain.
 

32. 

The main points of evidence for _____ are fossils, rocks, and climate.
 

Short Answer
 
 
Use the diagram to answer each question.

 

33. 

Which type of plate boundary occurs at X?
 

34. 

What is happening at Z?
 

35. 

Which type of plate boundary occurs at Y?
 



 
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