Name ____________________________________________ Core __________________ Date ________________________
The Supercontinent
same type all found in Africa, South America, and
India. Scientists who believe this theory also look at
fossils found along the Atlantic coast of South
America that match fossils found on the Atlantic
shores of Africa.
Another piece of evidence that supports the
theory of continental drift is coal can be found
underneath the cold and dry Antarctic ice cap, though
coal can only form in warm and wet conditions. This
could mean that Antarctica was once together with
Step back in time 135 million years. The
the other continents as part of Pangaea, and was once
Earth looked different then. Scientists believe Africa
in a warm and humid region. Coal was formed before
was once joined with what is today South America
Antarctica drifted away to its present cold and dry
India, Australia, and Antarctica in a super continent
climate. This is why coal can be found buried under
called Pangaea.
the thick layer of ice and snow.
If you look at Africa and South America on a
Even now, scientists believe that continental
world map, you can see where the two continents
drift continues and that the shape of the Earth’s
might have fit together like pieces of a super
surface is still changing. They believe it will be
continental jigsaw puzzle.
changing forever as long as the mantle underneath
Scientists believe that slowly over millions
the Earth's crust gets heated and convection currents
and millions of years Pangaea began to break apart.
in the magma keeps dragging the plates.
Pieces drifted away from one another.
The Pangaea theory was treated with much
The explanation of how continents move is
skepticism when it was first raised by scientists. But
known as the theory of continental drift. Support for
since then, there has been much evidence to support
the theory comes from discoveries of rocks of the
this theory.
Name ____________________________________________ Core __________________ Date _____________________
Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the choice the best completes the statement. (2 points each)
1) 135 million years ago the Earth looked…
b) North America, Europe, and India
a) The same as it does today
c) Russia, South America, and China
b) Very different
d) Africa, South America, and India
c) Not much different
d) Somewhat different
2) The explanation of how continents move is
4) Coal can be found in Antarctica under…
a) A thin layer of ice and snow
b) The mountains
known as the theory of…
c) A thick layer of ice and snow
a) Country drift
d) The ocean floor
b) Continental float
5) When the Pangaea theory was first raised it was
c) Continental drift
treated with much…
d) Continental separation
a) Skepticism
3) Support for the Pangaea theory comes from
b) Admiration
discoveries of rocks of the same type found in…
c) Enthusiasm
a) India, Australia, and Japan
d) Respect
Directions: In the space below draw a picture of the world today. (5 points)