Continental Drift Answers

Fill in the blanks to complete each statement about continental drift. Continental drift was first proposed by a scientist named Alfred . He theorized that the were once one large landmass that drifted apart very slowly over a long time.

✔ EuropeAfricaSouth America

When did people begin to notice that coastlines of continents fit together like puzzle pieces?

Which statements about Pangaea are true according to widely accepted theories? Check all that apply.Pangaea existed two hundred thousand years ago.The landmass of Pangaea split into separate continents over time.Pangaea was discovered by Christopher Columbus.Pangaea was surrounded by the waters of the ocean.The coastline of Pangaea stayed consistent over time.

Which statements describe evidence of continental drift? Check all that apply.Deserts line up when continents are pushed together.Mountain ranges often appear on the edges of continents.Fossils of the same animals appear on different continents.Tropical plants currently appear in both Antarctica and South America.Wegener’s theories were accepted by most geologists in the 1960s.Explorers discovered the edges of continents they did not know about.

Mountain ranges often appear on the edges of continents. What theory does this support?

✔ oceansmountainsvalleys

Evidence of what feature is found in South Africa, despite South Africa’s relatively mild climate?

0.005 mm/year0.05 mm/year✔ 5 mm/year50 mm/year

✔ tropical plantsmammalsdinosaurs

500,000 meters east50,000 meters west✔ 5,000 meters east500 meters west

volcanic islandsvolcanic mountains✔ new ocean floormountains