2008-2009
Plate Tectonics Unit Test Key
A. Multiple Choice: Choose the letter that best answers the statement or question. ( 2 pts)
1. Using the map below and the triangulation
method, approximately where is the epicenter
of this earthquake?
a.Y
b.X
c. Z
d.W
2. A break in the Earth’s crust where slabs rub
against each other during movement is a(n)
a. epicenter b. fracture c. fold d. fault
3. Which is not a type of stress?
a. tension b. compression
c. shifting d. shearing
4. Which type of earthquake waves are fast, compressional waves?
a. S-waves
b. P-waves
c. surface waves
5. Volcanoes are ________ in that they add new rock to existing land.
a. destructive b. explosive
c. constructive
d. exclusive
6. Which of the following is recorded data from seismic activity?
a. thermometer b. seismograph c. seismogram
d. seismonitor
7. Which statement best supports the continental drift theory?
a. all oceans are salty.
b. igneous rocks are found on all continents.
c. fossils of the same species of extinct land plants have been found in both South America and Africa
d. early humans migrated to north American over a bridge form eastern Asia.
8. At the boundary between where a continental plate and an oceanic plate collide, what generally happens?
a. The oceanic plate is forced down under the continental plate.
b. The two plates just stop moving.
c. Mountains develop on edge of the oceanic plate.
d. The continental plate slips under the ocean plate.
9. During an earthquake, what are the vibrations of energy that spread outward in all directions called?
a. sound waves
b. energy waves
c. tectonic waves
d. seismic waves
10. Rocks closest to the mid-ocean ridge are ____________ the rocks farther away from it.
a. older than
b. same age as
c. younger than
B. True/ False: Write the words True or False. If false, write false and change it to make it true. (3 pts)
11. The type of stress that pushes rock together is shearing. False; compression
12. Hurricanes produce giant sea waves called tsunamis. False; Earthquakes
13. Continental crust is made of rock that is more dense than oceanic crust. False; less dense
14. Volcanoes are common in the Ring of Fire. True
15. The epicenter is the point on the Earth’s surface where an earthquake begins.True
2008-2009
16. The mid-ocean ridge is a divergent boundary that occurs on land. False; under the ocean/under water
C. Matching: Match the term to the best definition or description. (2 pts)
D 17. scientist that studies earthquakes
a. continental crust
J 18. made of solid, iron and nickel
b. outer core
G 19. sinking of plates to form volcanic islands
c. surface
I 20. process of adding new rock material to existing oceanic crust
d. seismologist
C 21. most destructive seismic wave
e. oceanic crust
E 22. made of basalt
f. secondary
B 23. made of molten, iron and nickel
g. subduction
A 24. made of granite
h. convection
H 25. the process of hot material rising, cooling and sinking, and heating
i. seafloor spreading
F 26. wave that moves in a side-to-side motion
j. inner core
D. Discussion/Essay (6 pts)
27. Make a chart listing the 3 types of seismic waves, how each wave moves, and what states of matter they can
move through.
Seismic Wave
P-wave
S-wave
Moves
Push, pull; compression
Side to side; up and down
State of Matter
Solids, liquids, gases
solids
Surface
Rolls like the ocean
Only Earth’s surface
28. What is the Ring of Fire, where is it located, and why do volcanoes form here?
Area around Pacific Ocean where many convergent plate boundaries are located. Because of this
many Earthquakes and volcanoes occur in this area.
29. In words or with pictures….name three faults and indicate the plate boundary and stress related to each.
Strike-slip
Reverse
Normal
Shearing
Compression
Tension
Transform
Convergent
Divergent
30. Draw and label a diagram showing convection currents (use the following words in the diagram: sinking,
rising, cooling, heating)
E. Application:
31. Answer the questions based on the following information. Assume the difference of speed between P and S
waves is 10 miles/second. Calculate the following: (2 pts)
City
arrival time for P wave
Detroit
3:40:29
Denver
3:41:07
New Orleans
3:40:18
arrival time for S wave
3:41:29
3:42:45
3:41:07
time difference
a. 60 seconds
c. 98 seconds
e. 49 seconds
distance
b. 600 miles
d. 980 miles
f. 490 miles
32. Using the info above, locate and circle the epicenter on the US map. (3pts) North of New Orleans