Content Benchmark E.12.C.2
Students understand the concept of plate tectonics including the evidence that supports it
(structural, geophysical and paleontological evidence). E/S
Sample Test Questions
1st Item Specification: Describe how convection in Earth’s mantle has changed the locations
and shapes of continents based on tectonic plate movement.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
1. Use the diagrams below to answer the question.
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
Diagram 3
Diagram 4
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/sciarch/psestestja04.pdf)
Which diagram correctly shows how mantle convection currents are most likely moving
beneath colliding lithospheric plates?
A. Diagram 1
B. Diagram 2
C. Diagram 3
D. Diagram 4
2. Which part of Earth’s interior is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic
plates to move?
A. Rigid mantle
B. Asthenosphere
C. Outer core
D. Inner core
3. The movement of tectonic plates is inferred by many scientists to be driven by
A. tidal motions in the hydrosphere.
B. density differences in the troposphere.
C. convection currents in the asthenosphere.
D. solidification in the lithosphere.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
4. The cross section below shows the direction of movement of an oceanic plate over a mantle
hot spot, resulting in the formation of a chain of volcanoes labeled A, B, C, and D. The
geologic age of volcano C is shown.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es806.pdf)
What are the most likely geologic ages of volcanoes B and D?
A. B is 5 million years old and D is 12 million years old.
B. B is 2 million years old and D is 6 million years old.
C. B is 9 million years old and D is 9 million years old.
D. B is 10 million years old and D is 4 million years old.
5. Base your answer to the question on the map below, which shows Earth’s Southern
Hemisphere and the inferred tectonic movement of the continent of Australia over geologic
time. The arrows between the dots show the relative movement of the center of the continent
of Australia. The parallels of latitude from 0° to 90° south are labeled.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es-607.pdf)
The geographic position of Australia on Earth’s surface has been changing mainly because
A. the gravitational force of the Moon has been pulling on Earth’s landmasses forcing
them to move.
B. the tilt of Earth’s axis has changed several times shifting Earth’s landmasses.
C. Earth’s rotation has spun Australia into different locations.
D. temperature differences have been creating convection currents in Earth’s interior
moving landmasses.
2nd Item Specification: Identify the evidence for seafloor spreading.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
6. Which information indicates that new seafloor rock is forming along the mid-ocean ridge and
then moving horizontally away from the ridge?
A. Most volcanoes are located under ocean water and found near the continental shelves.
B. Paleomagnetic studies of the ocean floor demonstrate that the orientation of Earth’s
magnetic field has remained constant.
C. Fossils of marine organisms can be found at high elevations on continents.
D. The age of the seafloor rock increases as the distance from the mid-ocean ridge
increases.
7. Base your answer to the question on the cross section below, which shows an underwater
mountain range in the Atlantic Ocean. The oceanic bedrock is composed mainly of basalt.
Points X and Y are locations in the bedrock that have been diverging at the same rate. The
movement of the North American Plate and Eurasian Plate is shown by the two arrows.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/earthsci/es-108.pdf)
Which statements best describe the age and magnetic orientation of the basalts found at
locations X and Y?
A. The basalt at location X is younger than the basalt at location Y. Both locations have
the same magnetic orientation.
B. The basalts at location X and Y are the same age. Both locations have the same
magnetic orientation.
C. The basalt at location X and Y are the same age. Location X has normal magnetic
orientation and location Y has reversed magnetic orientation.
D. The basalt at location X is older than the basalt at location Y. Location X has reversed
magnetic orientation and location Y has normal magnetic orientation.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
8. Base your answers to question on the map below. The map shows the continents of Africa
and South America, the ocean between them, and the ocean ridge and transform faults.
Locations A and D are on the continents. Locations B and C are on the ocean floor.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/sciarch/psesja03.pdf)
Graph 1
Graph 2
Graph 3
Graph 4
Which graph best shows the relative age of the ocean-floor bedrock from location B to
location C?
A. Graph 1
B. Graph 2
C. Graph 3
D. Graph 4
9. The diagram below represents the pattern of normal and reversed magnetic polarity and the
relative age of the igneous bedrock composing the ocean floor on the east side of the MidAtlantic Ridge. The magnetic polarity of the bedrock on the west side of the ridge has been
deliberately left blank.
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
Diagram 3
Diagram 4
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es805.pdf)
Which diagram best shows the magnetic pattern and relative age of the igneous bedrock on
the west side of the ridge?
A. Diagram 1
B. Diagram 2
C. Diagram 3
D. Diagram 4
3rd Item Specification: Identify the three major types of tectonic plate boundaries.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
10. Use the diagrams below to answer the question.
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
Diagram 3
Diagram 4
v
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/sciarch/psestestau03.pdf)
Which cross section best represents the crustal plate motion that is the primary cause of the
volcanoes and deep rift valleys found at the mid-ocean ridges?
A. Diagram 1
B. Diagram 2
C. Diagram 3
D. Diagram 4
11. Use the diagram to answer the following question.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es107.pdf)
Which type of plate boundary is shown in the diagram?
A. Divergent
B. Transform
C. Convergent
D. Universal
12. Use the diagram below to answer the question.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/sciarch/psestestju03.pdf)
Which type of plate boundary occurs along the San Andreas Fault?
A. Transform
B. Universal
C. Convergent
D. Divergent
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
13. Base your answers to the question on the map below, which shows the location of mid-ocean
ridges and the age of some oceanic bedrock near these ridges. Letters A through D are
locations on the surface of the ocean floor.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/sciarch/psestestju03.pdf)
Oceanic bedrock on either side of a mid-ocean ridge is supporting evidence that at the ridges,
tectonic plates are
A. diverging.
B. converging.
C. locked into place.
D. being subducted.
14. Base your answers to the question on the diagram below, which shows details of a section of
a rift valley in the center of a mid-ocean ridge. The vertical lines in the diagram represent
faults and fractures within the ocean floor bedrock.
m
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/psesaug04.pdf)
Which type of crustal plate boundary is shown in this diagram?
A. Transform
B. Divergent
C. Convergent
D. Universal
Content Benchmark E.12.C.2
Students understand the concept of plate tectonics including the evidence that supports it
(structural, geophysical and paleontological evidence). E/S
Answers to Sample Test Questions
1. A, DOK Level 1
2. B, DOK Level 1
3. C, DOK Level 1
4. A, DOK Level 2
5. D, DOK Level 2
6. D, DOK Level 1
7. B, DOK Level 1
8. B, DOK Level 2
9. A, DOK Level 2
10. D, DOK Level 1
11. C, DOK Level 1
12. A, DOK Level 1
13. A, DOK Level 2
14. B, DOK Level 2