Plate Tectonics: Earth's Crust on the Move - Interactive Learning Quizzes

Question 1

Which process describes the horizontal movement of Earth's crust across the mantle?

Accepted Answer

Plate tectonics

Answer

Convection

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Divergence

Question 2

What triggers earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Sudden energy release due to tectonic plate movement

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Landslides

Answer

Strong winds

Question 3

Which part of Earth has the greatest depth?

Accepted Answer

Inner core

Answer

Crust

Answer

Mantle

Answer

Outer core

Question 4

Which type of volcano has steep, cone-shaped slopes and frequent activity?

Accepted Answer

Stratovolcano

Answer

Shield volcano

Answer

Cinder cone

Answer

Caldera

Question 5

What was the name of the supercontinent that existed approximately 250 million years ago?

Accepted Answer

Pangaea

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Pangea Ultima

Question 6

What is the primary force driving plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents within the mantle

Answer

Earth's rotation

Answer

Gravitational pull of the moon

Answer

Movement of ocean currents

Question 7

What process involves one tectonic plate sinking beneath another?

Accepted Answer

Subduction

Answer

Divergence

Answer

Accretion

Answer

Collision

Question 8

Which type of seismic wave travels through both solids and liquids?

Accepted Answer

P-wave

Answer

S-wave

Answer

Surface wave

Answer

Body wave

Question 9

What causes earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

The sudden release of energy when rocks along a fault break and slip

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Landslides

Answer

Tsunamis

Question 10

Which of the following is the largest tectonic plate?

Accepted Answer

Pacific Plate

Answer

North American Plate

Answer

Eurasian Plate

Answer

African Plate

Question 11

Which of the following instruments is used to measure seismic waves?

Accepted Answer

Seismograph

Answer

Thermometer

Answer

Barometer

Answer

Anemometer

Question 12

What is the boundary called where two plates slide past each other?

Accepted Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Subduction boundary

Question 13

Which of these best describes how Earth's crust moves according to plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

In large, solid pieces called plates

Answer

Randomly

Answer

In small, irregular chunks

Answer

It doesn't move at all

Question 14

Which of these is a major cause of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Sudden movement of tectonic plates

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Landslides

Answer

Hurricanes

Question 15

What is the name of the melted rock found under Earth's crust called?

Accepted Answer

Magma

Answer

Liquid rock

Answer

Solid rock

Answer

Gas rock

Question 16

What is the name of the process that creates new oceanic crust?

Accepted Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Folding

Question 17

Which of the following mountain ranges formed when two continental plates collided?

Accepted Answer

Himalaya Mountains

Answer

Andes Mountains

Answer

Alps Mountains

Answer

Rocky Mountains

Question 18

What tool do scientists use to measure the strength of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Seismograph

Answer

Barometer

Answer

Thermometer

Answer

Anemometer

Question 19

What is the scientific theory that explains the movement of Earth's crust and the formation of geological features?

Accepted Answer

Plate tectonics theory

Answer

Continental drift theory

Answer

Seafloor spreading theory

Question 20

When two plates move apart, which of the following is most likely to occur?

Accepted Answer

Rift valleys

Answer

Earthquakes

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Mountain ranges

Question 21

Which process creates new oceanic crust at the boundary where two plates move apart?

Accepted Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Collision

Answer

Volcanism

Question 22

Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates slide past each other horizontally?

Accepted Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Subduction zone

Question 23

Which of the following describes a key feature of continental drift theory?

Accepted Answer

The movement of continents over time

Answer

The formation of new oceans

Answer

The subduction of oceanic crust

Answer

The collision of continental plates

Question 24

What was the name of the supercontinent that existed millions of years ago and contained all of Earth's landmasses?

Accepted Answer

Pangea

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Rodinia

Question 25

What tool helps scientists track the movement of Earth's plates?

Accepted Answer

Seismograph

Answer

Barometer

Answer

Telescope

Answer

Microscope

Question 26

Which of the following is **not** evidence supporting continental drift?

Accepted Answer

The movement of continents

Answer

Matching fossils on different continents

Answer

Similar rock formations on different continents

Answer

Differences in the types of plants and animals on different continents

Question 27

What is the name of the boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other?

Accepted Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Subduction zone

Question 28

Which of the following is a type of volcanic eruption that produces large volumes of runny lava?

Accepted Answer

Pahoehoe

Answer

Aa

Answer

Pelean

Answer

Strombolian

Question 29

What is the process by which rocks are changed into new types of rocks under heat and pressure?

Accepted Answer

Metamorphism

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Weathering

Answer

Deposition

Question 30

What is the name of the instrument used to record the movement of the ground during an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

Seismograph

Answer

Barometer

Answer

Anemometer

Answer

Thermometer

Question 31

What is the name of the supercontinent that existed about 250 million years ago?

Accepted Answer

Pangea

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Rodinia

Question 32

What is the name of the theory that explains the movement and interactions of Earth's tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Plate tectonics

Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Continental drift

Question 33

What is the primary cause of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Sudden movement along a fault in Earth's crust

Answer

Magma rising to the surface

Answer

Collapse of underground caverns

Answer

Undersea volcanic eruptions

Question 34

Which of the following is a characteristic of convergent plate boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Formation of mountain ranges

Answer

Creation of rift valleys

Answer

Movement of plates away from each other

Answer

Movement of plates sliding past each other

Question 35

What was the name of the supercontinent that existed millions of years ago?

Accepted Answer

Pangea

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Atlantis

Question 36

What is the term for the boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving apart?

Accepted Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Subduction zone

Question 37

What is the primary driving force behind the movement of tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents in Earth's mantle

Answer

The Earth's rotation on its axis

Answer

The pull of the Moon's gravity

Answer

Gravity

Question 38

What is the name of the instrument used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Seismograph

Answer

Barometer

Answer

Anemometer

Answer

Thermometer

Question 39

What theory seeks to explain the shifting of Earth's crust?

Accepted Answer

Plate Tectonics

Answer

Continental Drift

Answer

Seafloor Spreading

Answer

Subduction

Question 40

What was Alfred Wegener's most significant contribution to the theory of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Proposed continental drift

Answer

Discovered large plates on the ocean floor

Answer

Developed seafloor spreading theory

Answer

Measured the speed of continental movement

Question 41

What is the process by which molten rock from Earth's mantle rises to the surface and forms new crust?

Accepted Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Collision

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Faulting

Question 42

What is the name of the instrument used to detect and record earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Seismograph

Answer

Thermometer

Answer

Barometer

Answer

Anemometer

Question 43

What is the name of the theory that explains the movement and interaction of Earth's tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Plate tectonics

Answer

Continental drift

Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Subduction

Question 44

Which of the following is an advantage of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Formation of new landmasses

Answer

Increased frequency of earthquakes

Answer

Destruction of ecosystems

Answer

Release of greenhouse gases

Question 45

Which of the following is a potential risk associated with plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Volcanic activity

Answer

Hurricanes

Answer

Climate change

Answer

Asteroid impacts