Question 1

The continental crust of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska are much different from the rest of the United States. What process would account for these varied differences?

Accepted Answer

Plateaus, isolated segments of seafloor,

Question 2

Mid-ocean ridges are almost free of sediment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Our Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old. The oldest continental crust was recently found in Australia and contained pieces of zircon that dates back to about 4.4 billion years. The oldest oceanic crust dates back to only 180 to 200 million years old. What would account for the large discrepancy in age between the oldest continental crust and the oldest oceanic crust?

Accepted Answer

Young Earth formed by the accretion of c

Question 4

Alfred Wegener used the differences in mountain age, composition, and structure on both sides of the Atlantic to support his theory of continental drift.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The magnetic striping of the seafloor is considered evidence of seafloor spreading and .

Accepted Answer

A)  periodic interruptions in mantle convection 
B)  subduction occurring in rift valleys 
C)  changes in Earth's axis of rotation 
D)  periodic reversals in the polarity of Earth's magnetic field 
A)  periodic interruptions in mantle convection 
B)  subduction occurring in rift valleys 
C)  changes in Earth's axis of rotation 
D)  periodic reversals in the polarity of Earth's magnetic field

Question 6

Why was Alfred Wegener's idea of continental drift dismissed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Someone else had already introduced his idea to the scientific community. 
B)  Many of his evidences did not support drifting continents. 
C)  Continents have not moved since Earth was created. 
D)  The evidence at the time seemed to suggest a solid mantle that did not allow drifting of continents to be possible. 
A)  Someone else had already introduced his idea to the scientific community. 
B)  Many of his evidences did not support drifting continents. 
C)  Continents have not moved since Earth was created. 
D)  The evidence at the time seemed to suggest a solid mantle that did not allow drifting of continents to be possible.

Question 7

What are the primary elements in Earth's continental crust?

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen, uranium, and  thorium 
B)  oxygen, silicon, and  uranium 
C)  oxygen, silicon, and  aluminum 
D)  iron, aluminum, and  carbon 
A)  oxygen, uranium, and  thorium 
B)  oxygen, silicon, and  uranium 
C)  oxygen, silicon, and  aluminum 
D)  iron, aluminum, and  carbon

Question 8

What kind of observational evidence did Alfred Wegener use to propose his theory of continental drift and the idea that the continents were once connected as the single landmass, Pangaea?

Accepted Answer

In a lecture in 1912, Alfred Wegener, a

Question 9

The  type of plate boundary can be determined by evaluating the depths of earthquakes. What seismic trend would occur at ocean-continent convergent boundaries?

Accepted Answer

A)  The depth of earthquakes would increase as you move from oceanic crust toward continental crust. 
B)  The depth of earthquakes could decrease as you move from oceanic crust toward continental crust. 
C)  Earthquake depths would remain constant as you move from oceanic crust to continental crust. 
D)  Only shallow earthquakes would occur along ocean - continent convergent boundaries. 
A)  The depth of earthquakes would increase as you move from oceanic crust toward continental crust. 
B)  The depth of earthquakes could decrease as you move from oceanic crust toward continental crust. 
C)  Earthquake depths would remain constant as you move from oceanic crust to continental crust. 
D)  Only shallow earthquakes would occur along ocean - continent convergent boundaries.

Question 10

Buoyancy is the ability of an object to float in a fluid by .

Accepted Answer

A)  weighing less than the water surrounding it 
B)  displacing a volume of water equal in weight to its own weight 
C)  having a lot of air within its body 
D)  displacing a volume of water which weighs slightly less than its own weight 
A)  weighing less than the water surrounding it 
B)  displacing a volume of water equal in weight to its own weight 
C)  having a lot of air within its body 
D)  displacing a volume of water which weighs slightly less than its own weight

Question 11

Scientists believe the breakup of Pangaea occurred about .

Accepted Answer

A)  1 million years ago 
B)  25 million years ago 
C)  200 million years ago 
D)  750 million years ago 
A)  1 million years ago 
B)  25 million years ago 
C)  200 million years ago 
D)  750 million years ago

Question 12

Some plateaus, ocean ridges, ancient island arcs, and parts of continental crust are too buoyant to be subducted. These are, instead, squeezed and sheared onto the face of a continent, forming .

Accepted Answer

A)  Wadati-Benioff zones 
B)  terranes 
C)  rift valleys 
D)  sea mounts 
A)  Wadati-Benioff zones 
B)  terranes 
C)  rift valleys 
D)  sea mounts

Question 13

New crust is being generated .

Accepted Answer

A)  in the deep ocean trenches 
B)  at convergent plate boundaries 
C)  at divergent plate boundaries 
D)  at the centers of tectonic plates 
A)  in the deep ocean trenches 
B)  at convergent plate boundaries 
C)  at divergent plate boundaries 
D)  at the centers of tectonic plates

Question 14

The oceanic crust is primarily made of basalt.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

A boundary in which crustal plates slide laterally past one another is called a .

Accepted Answer

A)  transform fault 
B)  convergent zone 
C)  divergent zone 
D)  rift valley 
A)  transform fault 
B)  convergent zone 
C)  divergent zone 
D)  rift valley

Question 16

The mid-ocean ridges are .

Accepted Answer

A)  subduction zones 
B)  ocean - ocean convergent boundar ies 
C)  divergent plate boundaries 
D)  ocean - continent convergent plate boundaries 
A)  subduction zones 
B)  ocean - ocean convergent boundar ies 
C)  divergent plate boundaries 
D)  ocean - continent convergent plate boundaries

Question 17

What would cause continental crust to become thinner in mountainous regions?

Accepted Answer

A)  erosion, isostatic uplift, and further erosion 
B)  volcanic eruptions 
C)  subduction of continental crust beneath oceanic crust 
D)  extension and contraction of asthenosphere 
A)  erosion, isostatic uplift, and further erosion 
B)  volcanic eruptions 
C)  subduction of continental crust beneath oceanic crust 
D)  extension and contraction of asthenosphere

Question 18

Which statement best describes ocean sediments near mid-ocean ridges?

Accepted Answer

A)  The layers of sediment reach 150 to 200 feet in thickness near mid-ocean ridges. 
B)  Ocean sediments are greater than 200 million years in age at mid-ocean ridges. 
C)  Ocean sediments are nearly absent near mid-ocean ridges. 
D)  The layers alternate between fine-grained sediments and lava beds near mid-ocean ridges. 
A)  The layers of sediment reach 150 to 200 feet in thickness near mid-ocean ridges. 
B)  Ocean sediments are greater than 200 million years in age at mid-ocean ridges. 
C)  Ocean sediments are nearly absent near mid-ocean ridges. 
D)  The layers alternate between fine-grained sediments and lava beds near mid-ocean ridges.

Question 19

California's San Andreas fault is which type of plate boundary?

Accepted Answer

A)  divergent plate boundary 
B)  transform plate boundary 
C)  ocean - continent convergent plate boundary 
D)  continent - continent convergent plate boundary 
A)  divergent plate boundary 
B)  transform plate boundary 
C)  ocean - continent convergent plate boundary 
D)  continent - continent convergent plate boundary

Question 20

There are three types of plate convergences: continent-continent, ocean-continent, and ocean-ocean convergent plate boundaries.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

The continental crust of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska are much different from the rest of the United States. What process would account for these varied differences?

Mid-ocean ridges are almost free of sediment.

Alfred Wegener used the differences in mountain age, composition, and structure on both sides of the Atlantic to support his theory of continental drift.

The magnetic striping of the seafloor is considered evidence of seafloor spreading and .

Why was Alfred Wegener's idea of continental drift dismissed?

What are the primary elements in Earth's continental crust?

What kind of observational evidence did Alfred Wegener use to propose his theory of continental drift and the idea that the continents were once connected as the single landmass, Pangaea?

The type of plate boundary can be determined by evaluating the depths of earthquakes. What seismic trend would occur at ocean-continent convergent boundaries?

Buoyancy is the ability of an object to float in a fluid by .

Scientists believe the breakup of Pangaea occurred about .

Some plateaus, ocean ridges, ancient island arcs, and parts of continental crust are too buoyant to be subducted. These are, instead, squeezed and sheared onto the face of a continent, forming .

New crust is being generated .

The oceanic crust is primarily made of basalt.

A boundary in which crustal plates slide laterally past one another is called a .

The mid-ocean ridges are .

What would cause continental crust to become thinner in mountainous regions?

Which statement best describes ocean sediments near mid-ocean ridges?

California's San Andreas fault is which type of plate boundary?

There are three types of plate convergences: continent-continent, ocean-continent, and ocean-ocean convergent plate boundaries.

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The Ocean Floor

Water and Ocean Structure

Atmospheric Circulation

Ocean Circulation

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Exam 2: Plate Tectonics

The continental crust of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska are much different from the rest of the United States. What process would account for these varied differences?

Mid-ocean ridges are almost free of sediment.

Alfred Wegener used the differences in mountain age, composition, and structure on both sides of the Atlantic to support his theory of continental drift.

The magnetic striping of the seafloor is considered evidence of seafloor spreading and .

Why was Alfred Wegener's idea of continental drift dismissed?

What are the primary elements in Earth's continental crust?

What kind of observational evidence did Alfred Wegener use to propose his theory of continental drift and the idea that the continents were once connected as the single landmass, Pangaea?

The type of plate boundary can be determined by evaluating the depths of earthquakes. What seismic trend would occur at ocean-continent convergent boundaries?

Buoyancy is the ability of an object to float in a fluid by .

Scientists believe the breakup of Pangaea occurred about .

Some plateaus, ocean ridges, ancient island arcs, and parts of continental crust are too buoyant to be subducted. These are, instead, squeezed and sheared onto the face of a continent, forming .

New crust is being generated .

The oceanic crust is primarily made of basalt.

A boundary in which crustal plates slide laterally past one another is called a .

The mid-ocean ridges are .

What would cause continental crust to become thinner in mountainous regions?

Which statement best describes ocean sediments near mid-ocean ridges?

California's San Andreas fault is which type of plate boundary?

There are three types of plate convergences: continent-continent, ocean-continent, and ocean-ocean convergent plate boundaries.

An Ocean World

The Ocean Floor

Water and Ocean Structure

Atmospheric Circulation

Ocean Circulation

Waves and Tides

Coasts

Life in the Ocean

Marine Communities

Uses and Abuses of the Ocean

Filters