Plate Tectonics
Plate Tectonics
Preview
•  Multiple Choice
•  Short Response
•  Reading Skills
•  Interpreting Graphics
Standardized Test Prep
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice
1.  Which of the following factors is most important when
determining the type of collision that forms when two
lithospheric plates collide?
A.
B.
C.
D.
the density of each plate
the size of each plate
the paleomagnetism of the rock
the length of the boundary
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
1.  Which of the following factors is most important when
determining the type of collision that forms when two
lithospheric plates collide?
A.
B.
C.
D.
the density of each plate
the size of each plate
the paleomagnetism of the rock
the length of the boundary
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
2.  At locations where sea-floor occurs, rock is moved away
from a mid-ocean ridge. What replaces the rock as it
moves away?
F.
G.
H.
I.
molten rock
older rock
continental crust
compacted sediment
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
2.  At locations where sea-floor occurs, rock is moved away
from a mid-ocean ridge. What replaces the rock as it
moves away?
F.
G.
H.
I.
molten rock
older rock
continental crust
compacted sediment
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
3.  Which of the following was a weakness of Wegener s
proposal of continental drift when he first proposed the
hypothesis?
A.
B.
C.
D.
an absence of fossil evidence
unsupported climatic evidence
unrelated continent features
a lack of proven mechanisms
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
3.  Which of the following was a weakness of Wegener s
proposal of continental drift when he first proposed the
hypothesis?
A.
B.
C.
D.
an absence of fossil evidence
unsupported climatic evidence
unrelated continent features
a lack of proven mechanisms
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
4.  Which of the following statements describes a specific
type of continental growth?
F.  Continents change not only by gaining material but
also by losing material.
G.  Terranes become part of a continent at convergent
boundaries.
H.  Ocean sediments move onto land because of seafloor spreading.
I.  Rifting adds new rock to a continent and causes the
continent to become wider.
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
4.  Which of the following statements describes a specific
type of continental growth?
F.  Continents change not only by gaining material but
also by losing material.
G.  Terranes become part of a continent at convergent
boundaries.
H.  Ocean sediments move onto land because of seafloor spreading.
I.  Rifting adds new rock to a continent and causes the
continent to become wider.
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Short Response
5.  What is the name for the process by which the Earth s
crust breaks apart?
rifting
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Short Response, continued
6.  What is the name for the layer of plastic rock directly
below the lithosphere?
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Short Response, continued
6.  What is the name for the layer of plastic rock directly
below the lithosphere?
the asthenosphere
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Reading Skills
Read the passage below. Then, answer questions 7–9.
The Himalaya Mountains
The Himalaya Mountains are a range of mountains that is 2,400
km long and that arcs across Pakistan, India, Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim,
and Bhutan. The Himalaya Mountains are the highest mountains on
Earth. Nine mountains in the chain, including Mount Everest, the
tallest above-water mountain on Earth, rise to heights of more than
8,000 m above sea-level. Mount Everest stands 8,850 m tall.
The formation of the Himalaya Mountains began about 80 million
years ago. A tectonic plate carrying the Indian subcontinent collided
with the Eurasian plate. The Indian plate was denser than the
Eurasian plate. This difference in density caused the uplifting of the
Eurasian plate and the subsequent formation of the Himalaya
Mountains. This process continues today. The Indian plate
continues to push under the Eurasian plate. New measurements
show that Mount Everest is moving to the northeast by as much as
10 cm per year.
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Reading Skills, continued
7.  According to the passage, what geologic process
formed the Himalaya Mountains?
A.
B.
C.
D.
divergence
continental drift
strike-slip faulting
convergence
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Reading Skills, continued
7.  According to the passage, what geologic process
formed the Himalaya Mountains?
A.
B.
C.
D.
divergence
continental drift
strike-slip faulting
convergence
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Reading Skills, continued
8.  Which of the following statements is a fact according to
the passage?
F.  The nine tallest mountains on Earth are located in
the Himalaya Mountains.
G.  The Himalaya Mountains are the longest mountain
chain on Earth.
H.  The Himalaya Mountains are located within six
countries.
I.  The Himalaya Mountains had completely formed by
80 million years ago.
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Reading Skills, continued
8.  Which of the following statements is a fact according to
the passage?
F.  The nine tallest mountains on Earth are located in
the Himalaya Mountains.
G.  The Himalaya Mountains are the longest mountain
chain on Earth.
H.  The Himalaya Mountains are located within six
countries.
I.  The Himalaya Mountains had completely formed by
80 million years ago.
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Reading Skills, continued
9.  Which plate is being subducted along the fault that
formed the Himalaya Mountains?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Indian plate is being subducted.
The Eurasian plate is being subducted.
Both plates are being equally subducted.
Neither plate is being subducted.
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Reading Skills, continued
9.  Which plate is being subducted along the fault that
formed the Himalaya Mountains?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Indian plate is being subducted.
The Eurasian plate is being subducted.
Both plates are being equally subducted.
Neither plate is being subducted.
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Interpreting Graphics
Use the map below to answer questions 10 and 11. The
map shows the locations of the Earth s major tectonic plate
boundaries.
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Interpreting Graphics, continued
10.  What type of boundary is found between the South
American plate and the African Plate?
A.
B.
C.
D.
convergent
divergent
transform
subduction
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Interpreting Graphics, continued
10.  What type of boundary is found between the South
American plate and the African Plate?
A.
B.
C.
D.
convergent
divergent
transform
subduction
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Interpreting Graphics, continued
11.  What type of boundary is found between the South
American plate and the African plate? What surface
features are most often at boundaries of this type?
Answers should include: the boundary between the
South American plate and the African plate is a
divergent boundary; most divergent boundaries are
located on the ocean floor and produce mid-ocean
ridges and underwater mountain ranges
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Interpreting Graphics, continued
Use the graphic below to answer questions 12 and 13. The
graphic shows a strike-slip fault along a transform
boundary.
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Interpreting Graphics, continued
12. What type of crustal interaction is indicated by the letter
E?
F.
G.
H.
I.
continental rifting
sea-floor spreading
divergence
subduction
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Interpreting Graphics, continued
12. What type of crustal interaction is indicated by the letter
E?
F.
G.
H.
I.
continental rifting
sea-floor spreading
divergence
subduction
Plate Tectonics
Standardized Test Prep
Interpreting Graphics, continued
13.  Describe how a transform boundary differs from the
boundaries shown by letters D and E in terms of plate
movement and magmatic activity.
Answers should include: unlike the plates at a
convergent boundary, shown by letter E, or divergent
boundary, shown by letter D, plates at a transform
boundary move past one another, not into or away from
one another; transform boundaries produce a number
of earthquakes, but they do not produce magma or
cause mountain formation