NAME_________________________
PLATE TECTONIC UNIT TEST
Mr. Fecteau & Ms. Kemp
Science 101
Instructions:
This test is not to stress you to baldness. Take your time.
If you need additional time, then that is fine. Circle or fill in
the best answer that fits.
1. Which of Earth’s layers has the highest temperature?
a. crust
b. mantle
c. core
2. Which of Earth’s layers is the thinnest?
a. crust
b. mantle
c. core
3. Which choice names Earth’s layers in order from 1 to 4?
a. crust, outer core, inner core, mantle
b. crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
c. mantle, inner core, outer core, crust
4. Circle the letter of the sentence that correctly describes how convection currents move
inside Earth.
a. Denser materials rise, while less dense materials sink.
b. Denser materials sink, while less dense materials rise.
c. Denser materials move up or down, while less dense materials move
sideways.
5. Convection currents in the _______________ drive the movement of Earth’s tectonic
plates.
a. Crust
b. Outer core
c. Asthenosphere
6. Which type of crust is the most dense?
a. Continental
b. Oceanic
7. Earth’s magnetic field is created by
a. different densities of crust on Earth
b. the liquid outer core
c. convection currents in the asthenosphere
8. Alfred Wegener proposed a theory in which he said continents had slowly moved apart
over time. What is the name of that theory?
a. Plate Tectonics
b. Sea-floor Spreading.
c. Continental Drift.
9. Which of the following is NOT evidence for Alfred Wegener’s theory?
a. Continents match up like pieces of a puzzle.
b. Tropical plant fossils are found in cold regions today.
c. There is evidence that all plates move in the same directions.
10. What is the name of Alfred Wegener’s supercontinent?
a. Gondwana
b. Pangaea
c. Eurasia
11. Subduction is a recycling of Earth’s crust which happens
a. During an earthquake.
b. at mid ocean ridges.
c. under folded mountains (volcanoes).
12. A boundary where two plates push together (head to head) is called a
a. divergent boundary.
b. convergent boundary.
c. transform boundary.
13. At which type of plate boundary do earthquakes occur?
a. convergent
b. divergent
c. transform
d. all of the above
14. The point on the Earth’s surface directly above the point at which an earthquake occurs is
called the
a. focus
b. epicenter
15. Which plate boundary feature is most likely to cause the formation of volcanoes?
a. earthquakes
b. compression
c. subduction
d. stress
16. What is the name of the region of volcanoes which surrounds the Pacific Ocean?
a. Mid Atlantic Ridge
b. Ring of Fire
c. Hot Spot
17. Which of the following is a hot spot volcano?
a. Mt. Saint Helens, Washington
b. Mauna Loa, Hawaii
Thinking about Plate Tectonics
~*use the picture below to answer the following*~
18. Interpreting Diagrams: Which kind of plate boundary occurs at A?
a. convergent boundary
b. divergent boundary
c. transform boundary
19. Interpreting Diagrams: Which kind of plate boundary occurs at C?
a. convergent boundary
b. divergent boundary
c. transform boundary
20. Applying Concepts: Which process happens at boundary A?
a. sea-floor spreading
b. subduction
c. converging
21. Applying Concepts: Which process happens at boundary C?
a. sea-floor spreading
b. subduction
c. converging
Thinking about Earthquakes
22. What is the difference between P and S wave arrival times in each city? (Subtract P
waves from S waves)
a.) Chicago:
_______min._______sec.
b.) Savannah: _______min._______sec.
c.) Seattle:
_______min._______sec.
23. Use your answers from the previous question to determine each city’s distance from
epicenter?
Hint: (Plot your answers by looking at the left side, numbered 1 - 9 minutes, on
the graph. Once you have found the time, follow the graph’s horizontal line
across until it intersects the bold graph line. This will provide you with the
amount of km from the epicenter.)
a.) Chicago:
_________km
b.) Savannah: _________km
c.) Seattle:
_________km
24. Measuring: Draw circles
on the map to show the
distance from Chicago,
Savannah, and
Seattle to the earthquake’s epicenter.
*Roughly 1 inch = 1000km
25. Interpreting Diagrams: Place an “E” on the map at the earthquake’s epicenter.
Thinking about Volcanoes
26. Interpreting Diagrams: What kind of plate boundary is shown in the diagram?
a. divergent boundary
b. convergent boundary
c. transform boundary
27. Inferring: What causes magma to form at this plate boundary?
a. The oceanic plate sinks beneath the continental plate and melts.
b. The continental plate gets warmer and melts.
c. The continental plate pushes magma up from the mantle.
~* SHORT ANSWER *~
28. Describe in complete detail two reasons as to why the plate tectonic theory is supported
-puzzle like fit of continents
-fossils matching across oceans
29. Why is seismic activity such a constant occurrence near Japan?
-many plate boundaries converge in area
-plates are constantly moving
30. Describe the different kinds of plate tectonic boundaries and what happens at each type
of plate boundary
-convergent
-divergent
-transfor
31. What do you think the world would be like if there were no plate boundaries?
-answers may vary...
32. Write your own question that you would like to explain and answer it.
-Answers may vary
33. Draw a normal fault and explain it.
~*ANSWER KEY*~
1. __C__
2. __A___
3. __B___
4. __B___
5. __C___
6. __B___
7. __B___
8. __C___
9. __C___
10. __B___
11. __C___
12. __B___
13. __C___
14. __B__
15. __C__
16. __B___
17. __B___
18. __B___
19. __A___
20. __A___
21. __B___
22. a.)3min 20sec
b.) 4min 5sec
c.) 2min 25sec
23. a.) 2000km
b.) 2650km
c.) 1400km
24. See Figure
25. See Figure
26. __B___
27. __A___
28. See Question
29. See Question
30. See Question
31. See Question
32. See Question
33. See Question
Sources:
Test:
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