question

Paleomagnetism is the study of the ____________________ magnetism in rocks.

answer

remnant

question

When magma cools, the magnetic iron-bearing minerals align themselves with the Earth's magnetic field and record ____________________ and ____________________.

answer

strength, direction of the North Pole

question

The temperature at which iron-bearing minerals gain their magnetic property is the ____________________.

answer

Curie point

question

Paleomagnetic data plotted on a map suggested that the magnetic pole had moved through time; this phenomenon was called ____________________.

answer

apparent polar wandering

question

Magnetic stripes in oceanic basalts are ____________________ and ____________________ around ocean ridges.

answer

parallel, symmetrical

question

Radiometric dating shows that the oldest ocean crust is ____________________ years old, and the oldest continental crust is ____________________ years old.

answer

180 million, 3.96 billion

question

At deep sea trenches, ____________________ is subducted back into the ____________________.

answer

lithosphere, mantle

question

At mid-oceanic ridges, hot magma rises from the ____________________ and forms new ____________________.

answer

mantle, seafloor

question

The three kinds of boundaries there can be between adjacent plates are ____________________, ____________________, and ____________________.

answer

divergent, convergent, transform

question

At divergent plate boundaries, plates are moving ____________________. At these locations, new ____________________ forms.

answer

apart, lithosphere

question

Where divergent plate boundaries form beneath continental masses, low areas known as ____________________ form.

answer

rift valleys

question

At a convergent plate boundary, oceanic crust is ____________________.

answer

destroyed

question

The three types of convergent plate boundaries are ____________________-____________________, ____________________-____________________, and ____________________-____________________.

answer

oceanic-oceanic, oceanic-continental, continental-continental

question

Volcanoes are found at these two types of plate boundaries: ____________________ and ____________________.

answer

divergent, convergent

question

The type of plate boundary that runs through California is called ____________________, and the name of this plate boundary is ____________________.

answer

transform, the San Andreas Fault

question

The names of the plates on either side of the plate boundary that passes through California are ____________________ and ____________________.

answer

Pacific, North American

question

Mountain building events occur along ____________________-____________________ or ____________________-____________________ plate boundaries.

answer

oceanic-continental, continental-continental

question

The type of plate boundary at which many of the world's major metallic ore deposits are associated is ____________________.

answer

convergent

question

One of the most general conclusions to be drawn from plate tectonic theory is that ____. a. the Earth is gradually losing heat b. the Earth's geography has continually changed c. the Earth is slowly expanding d. the Earth is slowly shrinking e. all the ocean basins are gradually enlarging

answer

B

question

Plate tectonic processes have influenced which of the following? a. the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes b. the locations of ore deposits and mountain systems c. climatic patterns and ocean circulation d. the geographic distribution, evolution, and extinction of life forms e. all of these

answer

E

question

The first person to suggest that all of the continents had originally been joined together as the supercontinent Pangaea was who? a. Alexander du Toit, 1937 b. Frank Taylor, 1910 c. Alfred Wegener, 1912 d. Snider- Pelligrini, 1858 e. Harry Hess, 1962

answer

C

question

The name given to the northern supercontinent was ____. a. Laurasia b. Luentia c. Laurotia. d. Laurentia e. northern Pangaea

answer

A

question

The southern supercontinent consisted of which current continents? a. South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, and India b. Africa, South America, Antarctica, and Australia c. South America, Africa, India, and Australia d. South Africa, India, Africa, and Australia e. South America, Central America, India, Antarctica, Africa, and Australia

answer

A

question

Which group of fossils is considered evidence for the former existence of Gondwana? a. Glossaurus b. Pecopteris c. Neuropteris d. Glossopteris e. Messopteris

answer

D

question

Glacially deposited strata were important in the development of continental drift theory because ____. a. the distribution of glacial deposits indicated that the entire Earth must have been glaciated b. the distribution of coal-swamp deposits indicated that the entire Earth must have been very warm c. the glacial deposits indicated that there must have been many very large glaciers on several continents d. the glacial deposits indicated that all of the southern continents must have been closer to the South Pole and contiguous e. the glacial deposits indicated that climate can change dramatically over geologic time

answer

D

question

That the northern continents were once joined and located along the equator was shown by what? a. the coal-age plant fossils of North America and Europe b. the Glossopteris flora c. the distribution of mountain ranges d. the distributions of Permian and Triassic reptiles e. the distributions of northern hemisphere glacial tillites

answer

A

question

Which of the following was not evidence for Wegener's continental drift hypothesis? a. glacial deposits of Gondwana continents b. fit of African and South American shorelines c. paleomagnetic striping of the oceanic crust d. fossil plant and animal distributions e. similar rock sequences and mountain ranges

answer

C

question

The proposal that the coastline fit of South America and Africa was evidence of continental drift was criticized because it could have been due to what? a. chance b. shoreline erosion c. the sinking of a land bridge d. ocean currents e. the distribution of resistant rock types

answer

B

question

If the continents were once joined together, rocks and mountain ranges on the margins of each should have ____. a. formed under the same conditions b. formed the same sequences c. formed at the same time d. the same structural trends and forces e. all of these

answer

E

question

Two sets of mountain ranges, which are continuous once the continents on either side of the Atlantic are joined, are located where? a. eastern North America and Greenland/ Australia and East Africa b. east Africa and Europe/ eastern North America and the Soviet Union c. Australia and Southeast Asia/ Arabia and the Persian Gulf d. South Africa and Brazil/ eastern North America and Great Britain e. Central and South America/ Central and North America

answer

D

question

Glacial deposits gave strong evidence of the existence of Gondwana because ____. a. a single continent in high latitudes was more sensible than low latitude glaciation on several continents b. glacial striations showed that all glaciers on each continent had flowed from a central location c. fossil plants indicated tropical climate in the northern continents d. a single continent in high latitudes was more sensible than low latitude glaciation on several continents AND glacial striations showed that all glaciers on each continent had flowed from a central location e. a single continent in high latitudes was more sensible than low latitude glaciation on several continents AND fossil plants indicated tropical climate in the northern continents

answer

D

question

Fossil evidence linking the Gondwana continents includes which animal fossils? a. lake-dwelling Mesosaurus and large land-dwelling reptile Lystrosaurus and Cynognathus b. freshwater Mesosaurus and dinosaurs Brontosaurus and Tyrannosaurus c. freshwater crocodiles and the large amphibian Eryops d. reptile Dimetrodon and the first bird Archaeopteryx e. lake-dwelling Mesosaurus and the large land-dwelling reptiles Dimetrodon and Edaphosaurus

answer

A

question

Fossil evidence of the links among Gondwana continents was compelling because the species ____. a. should have been found over wide regions if they were able to migrate among continents b. should have exhibited evidence of tolerance for climatic extremes c. should have shown a mechanism for widespread dispersal d. should have been found over wide regions if they were able to migrate among continents AND should have shown a mechanism for widespread dispersal e. all of these

answer

E

question

The transition zone from the exposed land to the ocean floor is called the a. oceanic trench. b. continental margin. c. continental slope. d. abyssal plain.

answer

B

question

A volcanic hill that is on the seafloor and has a flat top is best called a a. guyot. c. aseismic ridge. b. seamount. d. microcontinent.

answer

A

question

The Earth's magnetic field is due to ____. a. the presence of magnetic iron and nickel in the core b. gravity c. the occurrence of magnetite in all rocks d. convection in the liquid outer core e. none of these

answer

D

question

The study of paleomagnetism is possible because ____. a. the magnetic minerals in rocks create the Earth's magnetic field b. most rocks contain no magnetic minerals c. the magnetic minerals in rocks disrupt the Earth's magnetic field d. the magnetic minerals in a cooling lava point toward the north magnetic pole e. none of these

answer

D

question

Certain rock types can be used to determine the locations of past magnetic poles because ____. a. the Earth's magnetic poles have reversed many times during its history b. the magnetic poles and geographic poles differ slightly c. iron-bearing minerals align themselves in the direction of the current magnetic field when the rock cools below the Curie point d. lava flows in Europe all showed that the continent was once located in the southern hemisphere e. the north magnetic poles of each continent are identical for each geological period

answer

C

question

What did the differing paleomagnetic records for each continent show? a. each continent had its own magnetic pole during successive geological periods b. that the magnetic poles for each continent had moved over geological time c. that the magnetic poles have remained in one location and each of the continents has moved d. that both the poles and the continents have moved over time e. none of these

answer

C

question

What do studies of paleomagnetism show? a. the northern and southern hemispheres have reversed position many times b. the ocean basins are young c. each continent once had its own magnetic pole d. the continents remain fixed and the north magnetic pole has moved e. all of these

answer

B

question

Magnetic iron-bearing minerals that crystallize out of magma ____. a. align themselves with the Earth's magnetic field and only record direction b. record the strength of the Earth's magnetic fields c. become easily altered and lose their magnetic properties d. record both direction and strength of the Earth's magnetic field at time of crystallization e. none of these

answer

D

question

Geologists know that oceanic ridges are geologically very active because they ____. a. have high heat flow b. have many small earthquakes c. are the site of recent volcanic eruptions d. have many small earthquakes and are the site of recent volcanic eruptions e. all of these

answer

E

question

That the oceanic crust is geologically young and the parallel magnetic striping pattern of basalts is symmetrical about oceanic ridges was conclusively shown by what? a. radiometric dating of oceanic basalts and sequences from continents b. the unusually thin layer of oceanic sediments and ages of contained fossils c. the existence of the same magnetic anomaly patterns in all ocean basins d. radiometric dating of oceanic basalts and sequences from continents AND the unusually thin layer of oceanic sediments and ages of contained fossils e. all of these

answer

D

question

The fact that no oceanic crust older than 180 million years (Jurassic) has been found indicates what? a. The break-up of Pangaea must have occurred before the Jurassic Period. b. The ocean basins must be older than Jurassic age. c. The movement of continents must have begun no earlier than the Jurassic Period. d. The break-up of Pangaea must have begun at about the same time as these oldest basalts were formed. e. The movement of continents must have begun no earlier than the Jurassic Period AND The break-up of Pangaea must have begun at about the same time as these oldest basalts were formed.

answer

D

question

The seafloor spreading hypothesis indicates what as the primary cause of continental movement? a. volcanism in the ocean crust b. convergence of tectonic plates c. the formation and destruction of ocean basins d. the convection of mantle heat e. the decay of radioactive isotopes

answer

C

question

Who proposed the idea of seafloor spreading? a. Harry Hess b. Frederick Vine c. Oliver and Sykes d. Fred Taylor e. Hess and Matthews

answer

A

question

What is the driving mechanism for plate tectonics? a. heat deep within the Earth b. tidal forces caused by the moon c. volcanoes and earthquakes at plate boundaries d. a little man with a steering wheel in Tierra del Fuego e. none of these

answer

A

question

What was the driving mechanism proposed by Hess to explain sea floor spreading? a. downwelling oceanic currents b. hydrothermal cells c. thermal convection cells d. motions in the outer core e. thermal convection cells AND motions in the outer core

answer

C

question

Lithospheric plates move on the Earth's surface because ____. a. warm mantle ascends at ridges and cool mantle descends at subduction zones b. convection occurs only in the asthenosphere c. cool mantle ascends at ridges and warm mantle descends at subduction zones d. warm mantle ascends at ridges and cool mantle descends at subduction zones AND convection occurs only in the asthenosphere e. convection occurs only in the asthenosphere AND cool mantle ascends at ridges and warm mantle descends at subduction zones

answer

A

question

Old, cold, and dense oceanic crust is ____. a. created at spreading ridges b. found closest to continental margins c. destroyed at subduction zones d. eventually becomes incorporated into continental crust e. always found on plate margins

answer

C

question

Geologists recognize which three major types of plate boundaries? a. resurgent, divergent, and emergent b. convergent, divergent, and transform c. transcurrent, oblique, and resurgent d. emergent, transform, and convergent e. transform, transcurrent, and translateral

answer

B

question

At divergent plate boundaries, what are the operating forces? a. compressional b. lateral shearing c. tensional d. thrusting e. normal

answer

C

question

At a mid-ocean ridge spreading center, what happens? a. the plates are moving past each other b. the plates are moving away from each other c. the plates are moving toward each other d. one plate is being subducted beneath another e. both plates are being subducted

answer

B

question

Which are not associated with a mid-ocean ridge? a. old ocean crust b. shallow earthquakes c. volcanic eruptions d. transform faults e. hot water

answer

A

question

Geologists locate plate boundaries ____. a. at continental margins b. at volcanoes c. by earthquake epicenters d. at volcanoes AND by earthquake epicenters e. All of these

answer

C

question

The forces operating at continent-continent convergent boundaries are ____. a. transpressional b. compressional c. tensional d. lateral shearing e. compressional and tensional

answer

B

question

When a continental plate diverges from another continental plate what happens? a. a new ocean basin forms b. a large mountain range forms c. a transform fault forms d. there are no earthquakes e. a subduction zone forms

answer

A

question

At transform plate boundaries, ____. a. lithosphere is neither created or destroyed b. plates move laterally past each other c. active volcanism occurs d. plates move laterally past each other AND active volcanism occurs e. all of these

answer

D

question

A transform plate boundary may connect ____. a. a spreading ridge and subduction zone b. two spreading ridges c. two subduction zones d. a spreading ridge and subduction zone OR two spreading ridges e. all of these

answer

E

question

The San Andreas Fault that runs through California ____. a. is a transform fault b. is a plate boundary c. is the location of large earthquakes d. is a transform fault that is the location of large earthquakes e. all of these

answer

D

question

The Emperor Seamount-Hawaiian Island chain a. is a line of active volcanoes. b. is a line of extinct volcanic structures. c. results from volcanism along a mid-ocean ridge. d. records the direction of plate motion.

answer

D

question

Plate tectonics have affected biological evolution by ____. a. causing global climatic change with joining together or breaking apart of large landmasses b. causing more or fewer habitats to develop as continental masses come together or separate c. forming geographic barriers d. forming geographic corridors e. all of these

answer

E

question

Olympus Mars, the largest volcano in the solar system, is a. on Venus. b. a shield volcano. c. covered with an ice cap. d. indicative of active plate tectonics.

answer

B

question

Jupiter's moon, Io, has no impact craters. This means that the moon a. has been protected from meteors by Jupiter b. is geologically active. c. has too little gravity to attract meteors. d. has a liquid sulfur surface.

answer

B

question

The two types of crust are known as lithospheric and oceanic.

answer

F

question

Scientists have proven that there is no supernatural or spiritual realm.

answer

F

question

The solar nebula theory of the formation of the solar system accounts for the differences in composition between the terrestrial and Jovian planets.

answer

T

question

Earth was originally of homogeneous composition.

answer

T

question

According to the theory of organic evolution, all living organisms are related and they descended, with some modifications, from organisms that lived in the past.

answer

T

question

The central thesis of the theory of organic evolution is that there has always been the same diversity of species on Earth in the past as today.

answer

F

question

Natural selection refers to survival of organisms that are best adapted to their environment.

answer

T

question

Natural selection refers to organisms choosing the habitat in which they feel most comfortable.

answer

T

question

In the 19th century, the geologic time scale was first developed using radiometric age dating techniques.

answer

F

question

In the 19th century, the geologic time scale was based primarily on sequence of fossils in the rock record.

answer

T

question

The Principle of Uniformitarianism is based on the idea that modern processes have operated throughout geologic time.

answer

T

question

According to the Principle of Uniformitarianism, processes have occurred at the same rates throughout geologic time.

answer

F

question

Geologists use the Principle of Uniformitarianism as a basis to interpret the past and predict the future.

answer

T

question

In order for geologists to use the Principle of Uniformitarianism to interpret the geologic record, they do not need to study modern geologic processes.

answer

F

question

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2010 Indonesian volcanic eruptions and the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami are all due to plate tectonics.

answer

T

question

Oceanic ridges are geologically stable features where sediments are deposited and nothing much else takes place.

answer

F

question

Earth's magnetic poles, where the lines of force leave and enter the planet, do not coincide with the geographic (rotational) poles).

answer

T

question

The cause of magnetic reversals is a change in the structure of the Earth's inner core.

answer

F

question

Earth's lithosphere is divided into seven major plates and numerous smaller ones.

answer

T

question

Many seemingly unrelated geologic features and events are interrelated by plate tectonics processes.

answer

T

question

Active volcanism on Venus indicates that the planet has a geologically active interior.

answer

F

question

Features associated with ancient continental rift zones include andesite volcanoes and strike slip faulting.

answer

F

question

During the Triassic, a number of rift related fault basins formed along the eastern margin of North America.

answer

T

question

The west coast of South America is a convergent boundary.

answer

T

question

A transform plate boundary underlies the Alps in southern Europe.

answer

F

question

There is a divergent plate boundary within the region of east Africa.

answer

T

question

There is active volcanism on bodies in the solar system besides Earth but only on other planets.

answer

F

question

Hot spots move with continental plates.

answer

F

question

Volcanic island chains that form along the trace of a hot spot are called aseismic ridges.

answer

T

question

To determine the rate of plate motion, geologists date the magnetic anomalies on the seafloor and determine the distance from the ridge axis to that magnetic anomaly. Then they divide the age by the distance to determine the rate of movement.

answer

F

question

Geologists have an excellent understanding of plate movements since before Pangaea came together.

answer

F

question

Slab pull and ridge push facilitate the movement of plates.

answer

T

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