Plate Tectonics: Earth's Crust in Motion - Interactive Learning Quizzes

Question 1

Which of the following is not a recognized type of plate boundary?

Accepted Answer

Oblique-slip

Answer

Convergent

Answer

Divergent

Answer

Transform

Question 2

The primary cause of most earthquakes is:

Accepted Answer

Fault movement

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Landslides

Answer

Sinkholes

Question 3

The theory that Earth's outermost layer is divided into rigid plates moving over a layer of molten rock is known as:

Accepted Answer

Plate tectonics

Answer

Continental drift

Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Pangaea

Question 4

Approximately 250 million years ago, Earth's landmasses were concentrated into a single supercontinent called:

Accepted Answer

Pangea

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Rodinia

Question 5

Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates slide past each other horizontally?

Accepted Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Subduction zone

Question 6

What geological feature results from the collision of two continental plates?

Accepted Answer

Mountain range

Answer

Oceanic trench

Answer

Volcanic island arc

Answer

Rift valley

Question 7

Which major earthquake-prone region is located at the intersection of multiple tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Ring of Fire

Answer

San Andreas Fault

Answer

Mid-Atlantic Rift

Answer

Himalayas

Question 8

Which layer of the Earth is the solid, rocky outer shell?

Accepted Answer

Crust

Answer

Core

Answer

Mantle

Answer

Atmosphere

Question 9

What is the primary driving force behind plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents in the mantle

Answer

Gravitational pull of the moon

Answer

Rotation of the Earth

Answer

Solar radiation

Question 10

Which type of fault occurs when rocks break and slide horizontally past each other?

Accepted Answer

Strike-slip fault

Answer

Normal fault

Answer

Reverse fault

Answer

Thrust fault

Question 11

How does a shield volcano differ from a cinder cone volcano?

Accepted Answer

Shield volcanoes are larger and gentler, while cinder cones are smaller and steeper.

Answer

Shield volcanoes are smaller and steeper, while cinder cones are larger and gentler.

Answer

Both shield volcanoes and cinder cones are steep and explosive.

Answer

Both shield volcanoes and cinder cones are gentle and non-explosive.

Question 12

Which method is used to study the interior of the Earth?

Accepted Answer

Seismic waves

Answer

Magnetic resonance imaging

Answer

Computed tomography

Answer

Electron microscopy

Question 13

The process by which plates move away from each other is known as:

Accepted Answer

Divergence

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Collision

Answer

Obduction

Question 14

Which of the following is considered the primary driving force behind the movement of tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents in the mantle

Answer

Gravitational pull of the Moon

Answer

Centrifugal force

Answer

Solar radiation

Question 15

Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of mountains?

Accepted Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Subduction zone

Question 16

Which type of fault occurs when two plates slide horizontally past each other?

Accepted Answer

Strike-slip fault

Answer

Normal fault

Answer

Reverse fault

Answer

Thrust fault

Question 17

The process of one plate sliding beneath another is called:

Accepted Answer

Subduction

Answer

Accretion

Answer

Collision

Answer

Divergence

Question 18

The boundary between plates that collide head-on is classified as a:

Accepted Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Subduction zone

Question 19

Which instrument is used to measure the intensity of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Seismometer

Answer

Barometer

Answer

Anemometer

Answer

Thermometer

Question 20

The theory of plate tectonics was initially proposed by:

Accepted Answer

Alfred Wegener

Answer

Charles Darwin

Answer

Albert Einstein

Answer

Isaac Newton

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT a type of stress that acts on plate boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Torsion

Answer

Tension

Answer

Shear

Answer

Compression

Question 22

What is the main cause of earthquakes, which are sudden releases of energy below Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

Plate movement

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Landslides

Answer

Tsunamis

Question 23

Which type of mountain is formed when two continental plates collide and their edges crumple and fold?

Accepted Answer

Fold mountains

Answer

Fault-block mountains

Answer

Volcanic mountains

Answer

Dome mountains

Question 24

What is the process by which one tectonic plate slides beneath another, sinking into the Earth's mantle?

Accepted Answer

Subduction

Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Transform boundary

Question 25

What is the name of the instrument used to record and measure the ground motion caused by earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Seismograph

Answer

Barograph

Answer

Anemometer

Answer

Thermometer

Question 26

What is the primary driving force behind the movement of tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents in the Earth's mantle

Answer

Earth's rotation

Answer

Gravity

Answer

Magnetic fields

Question 27

Mid-ocean ridges form at which type of plate boundary and are associated with which geological process?

Accepted Answer

Divergent boundary - Seafloor spreading

Answer

Convergent boundary - Subduction

Answer

Transform boundary - Faulting

Answer

Hot spot - Volcanism

Question 28

Which process describes when one plate slides past another?

Accepted Answer

Transform fault movement

Answer

Collision

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Divergence

Question 29

Which feature is NOT associated with convergent boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Mid-ocean ridges

Answer

Mountain formation

Answer

Volcanic activity

Answer

Earthquakes

Question 30

Which theory explains the movement of Earth's crust?

Accepted Answer

Theory of Plate Tectonics

Answer

Theory of Relativity

Answer

Theory of Evolution

Answer

Quantum Theory

Question 31

Which type of earthquake waves cause the most damage?

Accepted Answer

Surface waves

Answer

P-waves

Answer

S-waves

Answer

Body waves

Question 32

Which mountain range was formed by the collision of two continental plates?

Accepted Answer

The Himalayas

Answer

The Andes

Answer

The Alps

Answer

The Rocky Mountains

Question 33

What was the name of the ancient supercontinent that existed before the continents separated?

Accepted Answer

Pangea

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Rodinia

Question 34

Which rock type forms when molten rock cools and solidifies?

Accepted Answer

Igneous

Answer

Sedimentary

Answer

Metamorphic

Answer

Extrusive

Question 35

When tectonic plates move apart, which process is occurring?

Accepted Answer

Divergence

Answer

Convergence

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Collision

Question 36

Which instrument is used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Seismograph

Answer

Barometer

Answer

Thermometer

Answer

Anemometer

Question 37

What is the process by which oceanic crust is pushed beneath another tectonic plate called?

Accepted Answer

Subduction

Answer

Accretion

Answer

Obduction

Answer

Rift

Question 38

What is the primary cause of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Sudden movement of rock along faults

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Landslides

Answer

Hurricanes

Question 39

Which type of mountain is formed by the collision and uplift of two continental plates?

Accepted Answer

Fold mountain

Answer

Fault-block mountain

Answer

Volcanic mountain

Answer

Plateau

Question 40

What is the term for the theory that explains the movement of the earth's crust?

Accepted Answer

Plate tectonics

Answer

Continental drift theory

Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Subduction hypothesis

Question 41

Which type of fault occurs when tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally?

Accepted Answer

Strike-slip fault

Answer

Reverse fault

Answer

Normal fault

Answer

Thrust fault

Question 42

What is the term for a large, flat-topped mountain formed by the erosion of horizontally layered rock?

Accepted Answer

Mesa

Answer

Canyon

Answer

Butte

Answer

Valley

Question 43

Which type of plate boundary creates new oceanic crust?

Accepted Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Passive margin

Question 44

What was the name of the supercontinent that existed millions of years ago and is believed to have split apart to form the continents we know today?

Accepted Answer

Pangea

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Rodinia

Question 45

According to the theory of plate tectonics, mountain formation primarily occurs through:

Accepted Answer

Subduction and collision

Answer

Erosional processes

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Glacial movement

Question 46

Earthquakes most frequently occur at:

Accepted Answer

Plate boundaries

Answer

Ocean ridges

Answer

Plate interiors

Answer

Volcanic hotspots

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT a piece of evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Lunar phases

Answer

Matching rock formations on different continents

Answer

Distribution of fossils

Answer

Magnetic anomalies

Question 48

The formation of new oceanic crust is a process known as:

Accepted Answer

Divergent boundary formation

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Crustal thickening

Answer

Convergent boundary formation

Question 49

Which of the following is a result of convergent boundary collisions?

Accepted Answer

Mountain belts

Answer

Volcanic island chains

Answer

Trenches

Answer

Mid-ocean ridges

Question 50

The San Andreas Fault is an example of a:

Accepted Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Continental rift

Question 51

Which type of plate boundary forms when two plates slide horizontally past each other?

Accepted Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Subduction zone

Question 52

Which process is primarily responsible for the formation of mountain ranges?

Accepted Answer

Folding and uplifting

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Deposition

Answer

Volcanic activity

Question 53

What type of seismic wave causes the greatest destruction during earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Surface waves

Answer

P-waves

Answer

S-waves

Answer

Body waves

Question 54

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Glaciation

Answer

Earthquakes

Answer

Volcanoes

Answer

Mountain building

Question 55

What was the name of the supercontinent that existed before the continents drifted apart?

Accepted Answer

Pangea

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Rodinia

Question 56

Which type of rock is most commonly found at divergent plate boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Igneous

Answer

Metamorphic

Answer

Sedimentary

Answer

Volcanic

Question 57

What is the term for the process where oceanic crust sinks beneath continental crust?

Accepted Answer

Subduction

Answer

Obduction

Answer

Collision

Answer

Uplift

Question 58

Which of the following is a characteristic of a transform boundary?

Accepted Answer

Earthquake activity

Answer

Volcanic activity

Answer

Formation of mountain ranges

Answer

Creation of new oceanic crust

Question 59

Which geological process involves the creation and recycling of Earth's crust?

Accepted Answer

Plate tectonics

Answer

Metamorphism

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Subduction

Question 60

What is the boundary between two plates that are moving apart referred to as?

Accepted Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Passive margin

Question 61

Which type of mountain is formed when one tectonic plate slides beneath another?

Accepted Answer

Fold mountain

Answer

Fault-block mountain

Answer

Volcanic mountain

Answer

Dome mountain

Question 62

Which of the following is the primary cause of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Rocks suddenly fracturing due to accumulated stress

Answer

Plates moving smoothly past each other

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Tsunamis

Question 63

Which type of earthquake waves cause the greatest damage and travel along the surface?

Accepted Answer

Surface waves

Answer

P-waves

Answer

S-waves

Answer

Body waves

Question 64

The Pacific Ring of Fire is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity

Answer

High mountain ranges

Answer

Extensive coral reefs

Answer

Vast deserts