Question 1

Along what type of plate boundary does subduction occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  Divergent. 
B)  Convergent. 
C)  Transform.

Question 2

How does plate tectonics influence the composition of ocean water?

Accepted Answer

A)  Submarine volcanoes along mid-ocean ridges lead to chemical reactions between the ocean water and the hot rocks of the seafloor. 
B)  Material from the core seeps into the ocean via submarine volcanoes. 
C)  Oceanic trenches from subduction zones trap salts and minerals thereby changing the overall ocean water composition. 
D)  None of these.

Question 3

Earth's climatic zones and the distribution of plant and animal communities are fundamentally affected by the presence of modern orogens.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

What type of plate boundary is associated with the San Andreas Fault in California?

Accepted Answer

A)  Divergent. 
B)  Convergent. 
C)  Transform.

Question 5

About how old is the oldest craton within the North American continental shield?

Accepted Answer

A)  Greater than 2.5 billion years old. 
B)  About 2 billion years old. 
C)  About 1 billion years old. 
D)  Less than 1 billion years old.

Question 6

Measuring the speed and direction of movement of lithospheric plates requires a fixed frame of reference, such as distant stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

When both plates of a converging pair are capped by low-density continental crust, neither plate will undergo subduction.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Why are the continents about 20 times older than the oldest ocean basins?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because ocean basins form from spreading centers, which produces new oceanic crust. 
B)  Because continental material is low-density and does not get thrust into the subduction zone. 
C)  Both of these are true

Question 9

__________ gravity anomalies result from concentrations of high-density rock under the surface.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________ gravity anomalies result from concentrations of...

Question 10

An assemblage of cratons and orogens is called a

Accepted Answer

A)  Continent. 
B)  Continental shield. 
C)  Ocean basin. 
D)  Subduction zone.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true for the asthenosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  The material that makes up the Himalaya Mountains. 
B)  A brittle layer of crust plus upper mantle. 
C)  The origination point for Earth's internal convection of energy. 
D)  Zone in the upper mantle that is a solid but capable of flowing like a liquid.

Question 12

In seafloor convergence, oceanic crust splits and moves away from spreading ridges.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Since Pangaea, the lithosphere has broken into nine major plates and a large number of smaller plates.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

A __________ is a stable core of very ancient rock.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A __________ is a stable core of...

Question 15

What does the flotation height of an object depend upon?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mass and volume. 
B)  Mass and density. 
C)  Volume and density. 
D)  Size and shape.

Question 16

Through detailed paleomagnetic studies, scientists have been able to determine a chronology of __________ reversals of Earth's magnetic field.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Through detailed paleomagnetic studies, scientists have been...

Question 17

The driving force for lithospheric plate motion is conduction in the mantle.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Apparent polar wandering is best explained by

Accepted Answer

A)  Magnetic reversals. 
B)  The movement of Earth's axis of rotation. 
C)  The movements of the continents. 
D)  In truth, the magnetic poles wander significantly.

Question 19

Which of the following is not evidence supporting plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

A)  Paleoclimatology. 
B)  Magnetic reversals. 
C)  Apparent polar wandering. 
D)  Changes in lunar tides.

Question 20

___________ plate margins are fractures in the lithosphere where two plates slide past each other.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ___________ plate margins are fractures in the...

Exam 5: The Tectonic Cycle

Along what type of plate boundary does subduction occur?

How does plate tectonics influence the composition of ocean water?

Earth's climatic zones and the distribution of plant and animal communities are fundamentally affected by the presence of modern orogens.

What type of plate boundary is associated with the San Andreas Fault in California?

About how old is the oldest craton within the North American continental shield?

Measuring the speed and direction of movement of lithospheric plates requires a fixed frame of reference, such as distant stars.

When both plates of a converging pair are capped by low-density continental crust, neither plate will undergo subduction.

Why are the continents about 20 times older than the oldest ocean basins?

__________ gravity anomalies result from concentrations of high-density rock under the surface.

An assemblage of cratons and orogens is called a

Which of the following statements is true for the asthenosphere?

In seafloor convergence, oceanic crust splits and moves away from spreading ridges.

Since Pangaea, the lithosphere has broken into nine major plates and a large number of smaller plates.

A __________ is a stable core of very ancient rock.

What does the flotation height of an object depend upon?

Through detailed paleomagnetic studies, scientists have been able to determine a chronology of __________ reversals of Earth's magnetic field.

The driving force for lithospheric plate motion is conduction in the mantle.

Apparent polar wandering is best explained by

Which of the following is not evidence supporting plate tectonics?

___________ plate margins are fractures in the lithosphere where two plates slide past each other.