Question 1

When an oceanic plate and continental plate converge

Accepted Answer

A) the continental plate is subducted beneath the oceanic plate. 
B) the two plates buckle and uplift the crustal material. 
C) the oceanic plate is subducted beneath the continental plate. 
D) new crustal material is created at the boundary. 
A) the continental plate is subducted beneath the oceanic plate. 
B) the two plates buckle and uplift the crustal material. 
C) the oceanic plate is subducted beneath the continental plate. 
D) new crustal material is created at the boundary. C

Question 2

The Hawaiian Islands were formed as

Accepted Answer

A) new crust was created at an oceanic ridge. 
B) the Pacific plate moved over a hot spot. 
C) the Pacific Plate was subducted beneath part of the North American plate. 
D) two oceanic plates in the Pacific converged. 
A) new crust was created at an oceanic ridge. 
B) the Pacific plate moved over a hot spot. 
C) the Pacific Plate was subducted beneath part of the North American plate. 
D) two oceanic plates in the Pacific converged. B

Question 3

The least dense rocks in Earth are found in

Accepted Answer

A) the continental crust. 
B) oceanic crust. 
C) mantle. 
D) core. 
A) the continental crust. 
B) oceanic crust. 
C) mantle. 
D) core. A

Question 4

The Himalayan Mountains were formed as a result of

Accepted Answer

A) ocean-continent plate divergence. 
B) ocean-continent plate convergence. 
C) continent-continent plate convergence. 
D) the deformation that occurred along a transform boundary. 
A) ocean-continent plate divergence. 
B) ocean-continent plate convergence. 
C) continent-continent plate convergence. 
D) the deformation that occurred along a transform boundary.

Question 5

Evidence shows that Earth's magnetic field is diminishing with time and may reverse orientations by the end of the next

Accepted Answer

A) 200 years. 
B) 2,000 years. 
C) 25 million years. 
D) 4.5 million years. 
A) 200 years. 
B) 2,000 years. 
C) 25 million years. 
D) 4.5 million years.

Question 6

Long, high, and continuous mountain ranges run through the middle of the oceans.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following statements about Earth's core is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Once molten, the core has gradually solidified as it cooled. 
B) P-waves cannot travel through this layer of Earth. 
C) The core makes up about 1/3 of Earth's volume. 
D) The core is mostly made of iron. 
A) Once molten, the core has gradually solidified as it cooled. 
B) P-waves cannot travel through this layer of Earth. 
C) The core makes up about 1/3 of Earth's volume. 
D) The core is mostly made of iron.

Question 8

The driving force behind the movement of oceanic and continental plates may be

Accepted Answer

A) the rotation of Earth on its axis. 
B) movements of Earth's liquid outer core. 
C) adjustment of Earth's crust. 
D) convection cells within the mantle. 
A) the rotation of Earth on its axis. 
B) movements of Earth's liquid outer core. 
C) adjustment of Earth's crust. 
D) convection cells within the mantle.

Question 9

The interior of Earth is molten from the heat produced by the intense bombardment Earth experienced during its formation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The crust beneath the oceans is much younger than continental crust.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

According to the plate tectonics theory, sea-floor spreading occurs at a

Accepted Answer

A) subduction zone. 
B) convergent boundary. 
C) divergent boundary. 
D) transform boundary. 
A) subduction zone. 
B) convergent boundary. 
C) divergent boundary. 
D) transform boundary.

Question 12

P-waves travel through both solid and liquid rock, but S-waves cannot travel through liquid.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

From the study of ancient compasses, it has become apparent that Earth's magnetic polarity reverse every 2,000 years or so.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Geologists think that oceanic crust is different from continental crust because

Accepted Answer

A) seismic waves travel at different speeds through these layers. 
B) oceanic crust is much thinner than continental crust. 
C) S-waves don't travel through oceanic crust while they can through continental crust. 
D) core samples reveal that oceanic crust is largely granite-like materials. 
A) seismic waves travel at different speeds through these layers. 
B) oceanic crust is much thinner than continental crust. 
C) S-waves don't travel through oceanic crust while they can through continental crust. 
D) core samples reveal that oceanic crust is largely granite-like materials.

Question 15

Seismic waves show a sudden increase at the Mohorovicic discontinuity because the

Accepted Answer

A) mantle material is so much hotter than the crust. 
B) composition of minerals on both sides of the layer is different. 
C) mantle is so much thicker than the crustal layer. 
D) mineral structure is different in this layer than in crustal rock. 
A) mantle material is so much hotter than the crust. 
B) composition of minerals on both sides of the layer is different. 
C) mantle is so much thicker than the crustal layer. 
D) mineral structure is different in this layer than in crustal rock.

Question 16

Most of Earth's mass is contained in the

Accepted Answer

A) crust. 
B) mantle. 
C) outer core. 
D) inner core. 
A) crust. 
B) mantle. 
C) outer core. 
D) inner core.

Question 17

Evidence that Earth's magnetic field has undergone numerous reversals can be found

Accepted Answer

A) by noting the different behavior of the needles in ancient compasses. 
B) in the orientation of iron minerals that cooled in once molten rock. 
C) in samples of rock taken from Earth's core. 
D) None of the above. 
A) by noting the different behavior of the needles in ancient compasses. 
B) in the orientation of iron minerals that cooled in once molten rock. 
C) in samples of rock taken from Earth's core. 
D) None of the above.

Question 18

Seismic evidence indicates that rocks of the crust "float" in a molten mantle.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

The mantle is largely composed of ferromagnesian minerals such as olivine.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following statements about seismic waves is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) In a P-wave the material vibrates back and forth in the same direction as the direction of wave motion. 
B) P-waves travel more rapidly than S-waves. 
C) Both P-waves and S-waves travel readily through molten rock. 
D) Seismic waves are reflected at boundaries between rock layers with different densities. 
A) In a P-wave the material vibrates back and forth in the same direction as the direction of wave motion. 
B) P-waves travel more rapidly than S-waves. 
C) Both P-waves and S-waves travel readily through molten rock. 
D) Seismic waves are reflected at boundaries between rock layers with different densities.

Exam 18: Plate Tectonics

When an oceanic plate and continental plate converge

The Hawaiian Islands were formed as

The least dense rocks in Earth are found in

The Himalayan Mountains were formed as a result of

Evidence shows that Earth's magnetic field is diminishing with time and may reverse orientations by the end of the next

Long, high, and continuous mountain ranges run through the middle of the oceans.

Which of the following statements about Earth's core is true?

The driving force behind the movement of oceanic and continental plates may be

The interior of Earth is molten from the heat produced by the intense bombardment Earth experienced during its formation.

The crust beneath the oceans is much younger than continental crust.

According to the plate tectonics theory, sea-floor spreading occurs at a

P-waves travel through both solid and liquid rock, but S-waves cannot travel through liquid.

From the study of ancient compasses, it has become apparent that Earth's magnetic polarity reverse every 2,000 years or so.

Geologists think that oceanic crust is different from continental crust because

Seismic waves show a sudden increase at the Mohorovicic discontinuity because the

Most of Earth's mass is contained in the

Evidence that Earth's magnetic field has undergone numerous reversals can be found

Seismic evidence indicates that rocks of the crust "float" in a molten mantle.

The mantle is largely composed of ferromagnesian minerals such as olivine.

Which of the following statements about seismic waves is not true?

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