Science Quiz 2 Prep

Fill in the blank: The three main layers of Earth are the crust, ________, and core.

mantle

Which layer is Earth's outermost layer? A. Core B. Mantle C. Crust D. Asthenosphere

C. Crust

What is the geosphere?

All of Earth's layers—the crust, mantle, and core.

Fill in the blank: The innermost region of Earth is the ________ core, which is made of solid iron.

inner

The outer core is primarily: A. Solid iron B. Liquid iron and sulfur C. Solid rock D. Molten crust

B. Liquid iron and sulfur

Fill in the blank: The ability of solid rock to flow is called ________.

plasticity

What is the lithosphere?

The cool, rigid shell that includes Earth's crust and uppermost mantle and is divided into moving plates.

Which layer contains rock that can slowly flow because of extreme heat and pressure? A. Inner core B. Asthenosphere C. Crust D. Outer core

B. Asthenosphere

What is continental drift?

Alfred Wegener's theory that the continents once formed one supercontinent that broke apart and drifted to their present locations.

Fill in the blank: The scientist who proposed continental drift was Alfred ________.

Wegener

Wegener called the ancient supercontinent: A. Panthalassa B. Pangaea C. Lithosphere D. Asthenosphere

B. Pangaea

Fill in the blank: Pangaea means "all ________."

lands

What was Panthalassa?

The single large ocean that surrounded Pangaea; its name means "all seas."

Which two continents provide a famous example of coastlines fitting together like puzzle pieces? A. Australia and Antarctica B. Africa and South America C. Asia and North America D. Africa and Australia

B. Africa and South America

What was Mesosaurus?

A small extinct land reptile whose fossils have been found in western Africa and eastern South America.

Fill in the blank: The extinct plant found in South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica is called ________.

Glossopteris

Finding tropical fossils in Antarctica suggests that Antarctica once had a: A. Colder climate B. Warmer climate C. Drier climate D. Harsher climate

B. Warmer climate

Fill in the blank: The Appalachian Mountains appear to continue in Great Britain and ________.

Scandinavia

Why did many scientists originally reject Wegener's hypothesis? A. Continents obviously never moved B. Fossils contradicted him C. He couldn't explain what force moved the continents D. Pangaea was too small

C. He couldn't explain what force moved the continents

What is seafloor spreading?

The process in which lithospheric plates pull apart and magma rises from the asthenosphere to fill the gaps and form new rock.

What is the theory of plate tectonics?

The theory that the lithosphere is broken into pieces that float and move on the asthenosphere.

Earth's tectonic plates are part of the: A. Core B. Asthenosphere C. Lithosphere D. Lower mantle

C. Lithosphere

Fill in the blank: The part of Earth's crust that forms landmasses is called ________ crust.

continental

Fill in the blank: The crust located beneath oceans and seas is called ________ crust.

oceanic

What is convection?

Heat transfer by the circulation or movement of a gas, liquid, or plastic material.

What is thought to cause tectonic plates to move? A. Ocean waves B. Mantle convection C. Earth's rotation D. Wind

B. Mantle convection

Fill in the blank: Heat rising from Earth's ________ helps create mantle convection.

core

Complete the convection process: Hot mantle material rises → ________ → it moves sideways → it sinks.

it cools

In the lava-lamp mantle-convection model, the lamp's heat source represents Earth's: A. Lithosphere B. Core C. Crust D. Atmosphere

B. Core

In the lava-lamp model, floating foam pieces would represent Earth's: A. Core B. Mantle C. Lithosphere D. Asthenosphere

C. Lithosphere

What is a convergent boundary?

An area where tectonic plates meet and push against or collide with each other.

What is a divergent boundary?

An area where tectonic plates move away from each other.

What is a transform boundary?

An area where tectonic plates slide sideways past each other.

What is a subduction zone?

An area where an oceanic plate sinks into the asthenosphere beneath another plate.

Fill in the blank: An area along plate boundaries and ridges where the crust of the lithosphere is fractured is called a ________ line.

fault

A continental plate colliding with another continental plate most often forms: A. New oceanic crust B. Non-volcanic mountain ranges C. A mid-ocean ridge D. A transform boundary

B. Non-volcanic mountain ranges

When an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate, what can form? A. A subduction zone and volcanoes B. Only a rift valley C. New crust between the plates D. No geologic activity

A. A subduction zone and volcanoes

The Mid-Atlantic Ocean Ridge is an example of which boundary? A. Convergent B. Transform C. Divergent D. Continental

C. Divergent

The San Andreas Fault is an example of which boundary? A. Transform B. Divergent C. Convergent D. Subduction

A. Transform

Fill in the blank: Earthquakes are most common at ________ boundaries, although they can occur at all types of plate boundaries.

transform