1. #1
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
All of the following support the theory of continental drift except that —
A mountain ranges in South America and
Africa line up
B the North Pole and Antarctica are
covered with ice
C the continents seem to fit together like pieces of a puzzle
D there are similar fossils on different continents

2. #2
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
Which of the following major earthquakes did not occur at a boundary between tectonic plates?
A Chillan (Chile) 1939
B San Francisco (U.S.A.) 1906
C South Carolina (U.S.A.) 1886
D Messina (southern Italy) 1908

3. #3
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
What is the fewest number of seismographic stations that must record the arrival time of P and S waves in order for the epicenter of an earthquake to be located?
A 10
B 5
C 3
D 2

4. Even though the Earth’s inner core is hotter than the liquid outer core, it is still solid because —
A the pressure from all of Earth’s layers keeps it in a solid state
B the heat rising from the inner core is melting the outer core
C the outer core is farther from the center, and there is less gravity holding it together
D there is more water in the outer core and it dilutes the materials #4
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics
Student Copy

5. #5
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
Which of these is the best evidence that the Earth’s crust has undergone some major changes?
A The arrival of the vernal equinox
B The amount of available water on Earth
C The location of major rivers
D The presence of marine fossils in mountain rock

6. #6 The edges of moving crustal plates are often defined by —
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
The edges of moving crustal plates are
often defined by —
A intercontinental plains
B Earth’s largest rivers
C ocean basins
D frequent seismic activity

7. #7
An earthquake struck San Diego, California. The above map and table show that the approximate difference in arrival times between the P-wave
and S-wave at Seattle is —
A 2 minutes C 4 minutes
B 3 minutes D 5 minutes
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics
Student Copy

8. #8 The point from which an earthquake originates is called the —
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics
Student Copy #8
The point from which an earthquake originates is called the —
A shock wave
B focus
C fault line
D epicenter

9. #9
Which of the landforms is most likely to result when two continents collide? A C
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy B D

10. #10 What does Pangaea mean? A It is the French word for volcano.
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
#10
What does Pangaea mean?
A It is the French word for volcano.
B It is the name of an ancient supercontinent.
C It is the name of an extinct volcano.
D It is a huge disruption of the Earth’s
atmospheric circulation.

11. #11 The Marianas Trench in the Pacific
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
The Marianas Trench in the Pacific
Ocean is 36,160 feet below sea level.
This deep oceanic trench is caused by —
A two tectonic plates colliding and one plunging below the other
B the collapse of an empty magma chamber in a large volcano
C swift ocean currents eroding away the ocean floor
D excessive boat traffic disrupting the normal sedimentation process

12. #12 One part of California is on the Pacific
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
One part of California is on the Pacific
Plate, while the remainder of the state is on the North American Plate. The two plates are moving to the northwest at different speeds, causing one plate to slide past the other. This movement in plates creates a —
A reverse fault
B thrust fault
C normal fault
D strike-slip fault

13. #13 What is usually responsible for an earthquake?
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
What is usually responsible for an earthquake?
A Weathering along coastlines
B Force changes from the moon pulling on
Earth
C Slippage along faults within Earth’s crust
D Pressure buildup within the mantle

14. #14 Scientists use volcanoes and earthquake activity to establish —
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
Scientists use volcanoes and earthquake activity to establish —
A the density of rock layers
B lines of latitude
C borders between countries
D plate boundaries

15. Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
#15
The diagram above is similar to one drawn by Antonio Snider-Pelligrini in What data was he trying to explain with this diagram?
A The reason for similar fossils in Africa and South America
B The variations in depths of the Atlantic Ocean
C The presence of earthquakes on different continents
D The distance between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres

16. Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
#16
When the sea floor spreads apart, volcanoes and ridges are formed because
A sediments are deposited where the floor spreads, building ridges
B ocean water pushes down on the surrounding sea floor, pushing up ridges
C as the plates pull apart, magma moves to the surface, building ridges
D underwater earthquakes lift the sea floor into long ridges

17. #17
Unit 6: Plate Tectonics Student Copy
Which of the following is not considered a result of the movement of tectonic plates?
A Earthquakes
B Mountain ranges
C Increased volcanic activity
D Karst topography

18. SOL Review Unit #6 Answer Key
1. B 11. A 2. C 12. D 3. C 13. C 4. A 14. D 5. D 15. A 6. D 16. C 7. B 17. D 8. B 9. A 10. B
SOL Review Unit #6 Answer Key