Theory of Plate Tectonics Answers

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1
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Iceland is a unique land mass, as it gives scientists the opportunity to study processes that normally occur at a submerged (underground) divergent plate boundary. The diagram shows that two tectonic plates meet in Iceland: the North American and the Eurasian plates, as shown in the diagram below. As these plates drift away from one another, a rift (like those normally found on the ocean floor) will be created. What chain of events will most likely occur to Iceland in the future?

Question illustration
A
The rift will widen between the two plates, and new volcanoes will be pushed up from the sea floor to create a volcanic arc running through Iceland.
B
As the rift increases in size, new crust will be created on either side of it, which will eventually fill with soil and become a low-lying valley running through Iceland.
C
The rift will widen, forming a subduction zone and resulting in an ocean trench and the formation of an island arc that separates the two halves of Iceland.
D
The rift will widen between the plates; new crust will form on either side of the rift, water from the ocean will rush in, and eventually Iceland will split apart.
2
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Marina is creating a flow chart of the mechanics of mantle convection and how it relates to tectonic plate movement. Which words should Marina place in each blank of the flow chart?

Question illustration
A
asthenosphere, ridge push, subduct
B
magma, slab pull, subduct
C
lithosphere, ridge pull, float
D
lithosphere, ridge push, subduct
3

Samuel puts a pot of water on the stove to boil and remembers when his teacher taught the class about convection, which is fluid movement driven by heat. Samuel recalls that convection in the Earth’s mantle involves the movement of

A
water currents.
B
molten materials.
C
tectonic plates.
D
the lithosphere.
4

The theory of plate tectonics describes this process as a gradual movement of the tectonic plates across the Earth’s lithosphere. Using the map of plate motion, predict where the continents would most likely lie 100,000 years in the future.

Question illustration
A
South America and North America would become one continent.
B
South America and Africa would be farther apart.
C
Australia would move toward the South Pole.
D
North America and Europe would be closer together.
5

Based upon the mechanics of mantle convection, which feature will most likely be formed at the blue arrow, and through which mechanism?

Question illustration
A
An island arc will be formed by ridge push.
B
A rift valley will be formed by subduction.
C
An ocean trench will be formed by slab pull.
D
A mid-ocean ridge will be formed by ridge push.
6

Sylvia is designing a new shopping center to be built near a transform boundary. Aware of the dangers of geologic activity along a transform boundary, what would be the best safety feature for Sylvia’s design?

A
Buildings with heat-resistant exteriors that can withstand high temperatures from erupting volcanoes.
B
Shorter buildings designed with some flexibility, enabling them to move without falling apart during an earthquake.
C
Taller buildings that are made of very rigid steel beams that are strong enough to withstand the effects of an earthquake.
D
Taller buildings with very deep foundations that go past the transform boundary’s depth, anchoring them in the event of an earthquake.
7

"Slab pull” is a type of tectonic plate movement that occurs due to the forces of mantle convection and results in the subduction of the lithosphere, causing

A
hot spots.
B
rift valleys.
C
ocean trenches.
D
mid-ocean ridges.
8

Look at the images of the major plates of the Lithosphere.Identify the plate being pointed out by the arrow.

Question illustration
A
Caribbean Plate
B
Eurasian Plate
C
South American Plate
D
Pacific Plate
9

Carlos is looking at a picture of a convergent boundary on which a volcanic arc and a trench are identified. Which type of convergent boundary is Carlos looking at?

A
an oceanic-continental convergent boundary
B
an oceanic-arctic convergent boundary
C
an continental-continental convergent boundary
D
an oceanic-oceanic convergent boundary
10

Alexa is preparing for a presentation by creating note cards identifying keywords that describe various features of each type of plate boundary. Which words apply to all three of the convergent boundaries?

A
mountain ranges form, earthquakes are common, subduction zones form
B
plates move towards each other, volcanoes form, subduction zones form
C
earthquakes are common, plates move toward each other, one plate sinks below other
D
plates slide past each other, earthquakes are common, mountain ranges form

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