PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

1. The block diagram below represents two parallel

mountain ranges.

Which two geologic processes most likely created this

landscape region?
A) volcanism, followed by metamorphism
B) faulting, followed by deposition
C) folding, followed by erosion
D) glaciation, followed by rifting
2. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below and on your knowledge of Earth
science. The cross section represents the distance and age of ocean-floor bedrock found on both sides
of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

According to the cross section, every 1 million years, the ocean floor bedrock moves approximately
A) 20 km toward the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
B) 20 km away from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
C) 40 km toward the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
D) 40 km away from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

3. The sequence of block diagrams below shows stages of development of a landscape. The stages are
labeled A, B, and C.

Which sequence of geologic processes best describes the events that created each stage shown?
A) erosion subsidence and deposition uplift and faulting
B) uplift and deposition flooding folding and erosion
C) metamorphism erosion and deposition volcanic eruptions
D) uplift and erosion subsidence and erosion folding
4. The geologic cross section below shows bedrock 5. The cross section below shows a portion of Earth's
layers A through D. Line XY is a fault. crust.

Which observation provides the most direct evidence

that crustal plate collision has occurred near this
The fault most likely occurred after region?
A) all bedrock layers were formed A) alternating layers of shale and limestone bedrock
B) layer C formed, but before layer D formed B) absence of an igneous intrusive rock
C) layer A formed, but before layer B formed C) different thicknesses of the sedimentary layers
D) layer B formed, but before layer C formed D) folding of the sedimentary layers
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

6. The photograph below shows deformed rock structure found on Earth's surface.

Deformed rock structure like this is most often caused by

A) crustal plate collisions B) deposition of sediments
C) extrusion of magma D) glacial movement
7. The cross sections of crust below represent two 8. The diagram below shows a cross section of
regions of sedimentary rock layers that have been sedimentary rock layers.
altered.

The sedimentary bedrock in both regions originally

formed as Which statement about the deposition of the
sediments best explains why these layers have the
A) horizontal layers curved shape shown?
B) recrystallized layers
A) Sediments were deposited in horizontal layers
C) faulted layers
and later disturbed by crustal activity.
D) folded layers
B) Sediments were deposited on an uneven curving
seafloor.
C) Sediments were deposited after widespread
volcanic eruptions.
D) Sediments were deposited between two
diverging oceanic plates.
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

9. What is the relative age of a fault that cuts across 11. The diagram below represents a section of the
many rock layers? Earth's bedrock. The arrows show the direction of
forces that are gradually compressing this section.
A) The fault is younger than all the layers it cuts
across.
B) The fault is older than all the layers it cuts
across.
C) The fault is the same age as the top layer it cuts
across.
D) The fault is the same age as the bottom layer it Which diagram represents the most probable result
cuts across. of these forces?
10. The diagram below represents a cross section of a A)
portion of the Earth's crust.

B)

Which past activity in this region is suggested by the

shape of these sedimentary rock layers? C)
A) widespread volcanic activity
B) horizontal sorting
C) glacial deposition
D) crustal movements D)

12. A sandstone layer is tilted at a steep angle. What

probably caused this tilting?
A) The sediments that formed this sandstone layer
were originally deposited at a steep angle.
B) This sandstone layer has changed position
due to crustal movement
C) This sandstone layer has recrystallized due to
contact metamorphism.
D) Nearly all sandstone layers are formed from
wind deposited sands.
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

13. The diagrams below show cross sections of exposed 15. The Himalaya Mountains are located along a portion
bedrock. Which cross section shows the least of the southern boundary of the Eurasian Plate. At
evidence of crustal movement? the top of Mt. Everest (29,028 feet) in the Himalaya
Mountains, climbers have found fossilized marine
A) B)
shells in the surface bedrock. From this observation,
which statement is the best inference about the
origin of the Himalaya Mountains?
A) The Himalaya Mountains were formed by
volcanic activity.
C) D)
B) Sea level has been lowered more than 29,000
feet since the shells were fossilized.
C) The bedrock containing the fossil shells is
part of an uplifted seafloor.
D) The Himalaya Mountains formed at a divergent
14. The diagram below represents bedrock layers found plate boundary.
in an outcrop. Three index fossils are found within
the bedrock layers.

Which evidence best suggests that this outcrop has

undergone crustal movement?
A) The same rock layers appear twice within
the outcrop.
B) The trilobite fossil is not found in all five
layers.
C) The sedimentary layers have the same
thickness.
D) The eurypterid fossil is absent in the middle
layer.
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

16. Base your answer to the following question on "the contour map below. Points A, B, C, D, X, and Y
are locations on the map. Elevations are expressed in feet. The maximum elevation of Basket Dome
is indicated at point X.

"
Fossils of trilobites and eurypterids found in the rock near the top of Basket Dome provide evidence
that this map area has most likely undergone
A) metamorphism from crustal plate collision
B) uplift from crustal plate movement
C) recent flooding from changes in worldwide sea level
D) volcanism from seafloor spreading
17. Fossils of organisms that lived in shallow water can 18. Evidence of crustal subsidence (sinking) is provided
be found in horizontal sedimentary rock layers at by
great ocean depths. This fact is generally interpreted
A) zones of igneous activity at mid-ocean ridges
by most Earth scientists as evidence that
B) heat-flow measurements on coastal plains
A) the cold water deep in the ocean kills C) marine fossiIs on mountaintops
shallow-water organisms D) shallow-water fossils beneath the deep ocean
B) sunlight once penetrated to the deepest parts of
the ocean
C) organisms that live in deep water evolved from
species that once lived in shallow water
D) sections of the Earth's crust have changed
their elevations relative to sea level
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

19. Fossils of marine plants and animals are found in the 23. Rock strata containing fossils of shark's teeth are
bedrock of mountains many thousands of feet above found at an elevation of 5,000 meters. Which
sea level. The most likely reason for this observation process most likely caused the shark's teeth to be
is that located at this elevation?
A) the mountains were part of a mid-ocean ridge A) crustal subsidence
B) the ocean level has dropped several thousand B) ocean floor spreading
feet C) crustal uplift
C) forces within the Earth caused uplift D) continental glaciation
D) transported materials were deposited at high 24. The photograph below shows an escarpment (cliff)
elevations located in the western United States. The directions
20. Which diagram of crustal movement best shows how for north and south are indicated by arrows. A fault
older rock layers may be located on top of younger in the sedimentary rocks is shown on the front of the
rock layers? escarpment.
A) B)

C) D)

21. An observer discovers shallow-water marine fossils

in rock strata at an elevation of 5,000 meters. What
is the best explanation for this observation?
The photograph shows that the fault most likely
A) The level of the ocean was once 5,000 meters formed
higher.
B) Violent earthquakes caused crustal subsidence. A) after the rock layers were deposited, when
C) Marine organisms have evolved into land the north side moved downward
organisms. B) after the rock layers were deposited, when the
D) Crustal uplift has occurred in this area. north side moved upward
C) before the rock layers were deposited, when the
22. Shallow-water fossils are found in rock layers that south side moved downward
are deep beneath the ocean floor. This suggests that D) before the rock layers were deposited, when the
A) shallow-water organisms always migrate to the south side moved upward
deeper waters to die
B) parts of the ocean floor have been uplifted
C) parts of the ocean floor have subsided
D) the surface water cooled off, killing the
organisms
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

25. The diagram below shows land features that have 28. The diagram below shows a portion of the Earth's
been disrupted by an earthquake. crust.

Which type of crustal movement most likely caused The movements indicated by the arrows represent
the displacement of features in this area? the process of
A) vertical lifting of surface rock A) volcanism B) metamorphism
B) folding of surface rock C) folding D) faulting
C) down-warping of the crust
29. The block diagram below represents a geologic cross
D) movement along a transform fault
section of a mountain range.
26. The diagram below shows the bedrock structure
beneath a series of hills.

What action most likely formed this mountain

range?
A) contact metamorphism
B) glacial erosion
C) volcanic eruptions
Which process was primarily responsible for
D) earthquake faulting
forming the hills?
30. Which diagram of rock layers represents the best
A) folding B) faulting evidence of crustal movement?
C) deposition D) vulcanism
A) B)
27. Which observed feature would provide the best
evidence of crustal stability?
A) horizontal sedimentary layers
B) changed benchmark elevations C) D)
C) folded, faulted, and tilted rock strata
D) marine fossils at elevations high above sea level
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

31. The diagram below represents a cross section of a 34. The landscape shown in the diagram below is an
portion of the Earth's crust. area of frequent earthquakes.

This landscape provides evidence for

What do these tilted rock layers suggest?
A) converging convection cells within the rocks of
A) This area has remained fairly stable since the the mantle
sediments were deposited. B) density differences in the rocks of the mantle
B) The sediments were deposited at steep angles C) movement and displacement of the rocks of
and then became rock. the crust
C) Metamorphism followed the deposition of the D) differential erosion of hard and soft rocks of the
sediments. crust
D) Crustal movement occurred sometime after
the sediments were deposited.
32. Which statement about the Earth's crust in California
is best supported by the many faults found in the
crust?
A) The crust has moved in the geologic past.
B) The crust has been inactive throughout the
geologic past.
C) New faults will probably not develop in the
crust.
D) An earthquake epicenter has not been located in
the crust.
33. Which event provides direct evidence of crustal
movement?
A) the erosion of the outside of a river curve
B) the deposition of sediments in the ocean
C) the displacement of rock strata during an
earthquake
D) the weathering of rock to form a residual soil
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 35 through 37 on the passage below and on your knowledge of Earth
science.

Island Arcs

Island arcs are long, curved chains of oceanic islands associated with seismic activity and
mountain-building processes at certain plate boundaries. They occur where oceanic tectonic plates
collide. Along one side of these island arcs, there is usually a long, narrow deep-sea trench.
At island arcs, the denser plate is subducted and is forced into the partially molten mantle under
the less dense plate. The islands are composed of the extrusive igneous rocks basalt and andesite.
The basalt originates most likely from the plastic mantle. The andesite originates most likely from
the melting of parts of the descending plate and sediments that had accumulated on its surface.
35. Which list identifies minerals present in andesite from the greatest percentage by volume to the least
percentage by volume?
A) biotite, plagioclase feldspar, amphibole
B) biotite, amphibole, plagioclase feldspar
C) plagioclase feldspar, biotite, amphibole
D) plagioclase feldspar, amphibole, biotite
36. Most of the basalt that forms island arcs comes from the
A) crust B) rigid mantle C) asthenosphere D) stiffer mantle
37. An island arc is found along the
A) East Pacific Ridge B) Iceland Hot Spot
C) Aleutian Trench D) Peru-Chile Trench

38. Which type of tectonic plate boundary is found

between the South American Plate and the Scotia
Plate?
A) transform
B) convergent
C) divergent
D) complex or uncertain
39. The convection currents responsible for moving
tectonic plates occur in which Earth layer?
A) crust B) rigid mantle
C) stiffer mantle D) asthenosphere
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

40. Which block diagram represents the plate motion that causes the earthquakes that occur along the San
Andreas Fault in California?

A) B)

C) D)

41. Which tectonic feature is associated with a complex

or uncertain plate boundary?
A) Southwest Indian Ridge
B) East African Rift
C) Mariana Trench
D) Galapagos Hot Spot
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 42 through 44 on the passage and diagram below and on your
knowledge of Earth science. The passage describes geologic studies of the Moon. The diagram
represents the Moon's surface and interior, showing the inferred depth of each layer below the Moon's
surface.
Moon Studies

Scientific instruments left on the Moon's surface recorded 12,558 moonquakes in eight years.
Most of these moonquakes originated between 700 km and 1200 km below the Moon's surface.
Scientists infer that most moonquakes are caused by the gravitational forces between the Moon,
Earth, and the Sun.

42. Which planet has an average density most similar to the average density of the Moon?
A) Mercury B) Mars C) Jupiter D) Neptune
43. What is the inferred thickness of the Moon's mantle?
A) 60 km B) 638 km C) 1040 km D) 1738 km
44. The same type of evidence was used to find the inferred depths of both the Moon's interior layers and
Earth's interior layers. What evidence was used to determine the inferred depth of the boundary
between the Moon's mantle and core?
A) seismic data recorded on the Moon's surface
B) magnetic data measured on the Moon's surface
C) convection currents mapped in the Moon's mantle and core
D) temperatures measured in the Moon's mantle and core
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

45. On the map below, points A through D represent locations on Earth's surface.

Which location is positioned over a mantle hot spot?

A) A B) B C) C D) D
46. Rifting of tectonic plates in eastern North America 48. The map below shows California and a section of the
during the Jurassic Period was responsible for the San Andreas Fault.
A) formation of the Catskill delta
B) flrst uplift of the Adirondack Mountains
C) Alleghenian orogeny
D) opening of the Atlantic Ocean
47. Which event followed a massive volcanic eruption
and led to the cooling of global temperatures?
A) thunderstorms that developed near the eruption
B) the release of carbon dioxide and methane
gases
C) the outflow of magma over Earth's surface
D) the addition of ash particles into the What is the primary geologic process occurring
atmosphere along the San Andreas Fault?
A) transform movement
B) spreading movement
C) subduction
D) convergence
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 49 through 51 on

the passage and map below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The map shows the locations of
the Mt. Redoubt volcano and Anchorage, Alaska.

Mt. Redoubt Volcano

In Anchorage, Alaska, scientists are monitoring sensors located on nearby Mt. Redoubt. The
sensors measure seismic activity at the top of the volcano. No one lives near the volcano itself, so
there is no danger to humans from lava flows, but ash can be dangerous when breathed in, and can
damage airplanes and automobiles if the ash is drawn into their engines. When Mt. Redoubt
erupted in 1989, a huge ash cloud reached an approximate height of 7.6 miles above sea level, and
spread ash across Alaska for five months. The ash was composed largely of silica, which cooled
rapidly as the ash rose into the atmosphere. In March 2009, Mt. Redoubt erupted again.

49. How did the huge ash cloud that covered Alaska in 1989 affect the amount of insolation reaching
Earth’s surface and the air temperatures near Earth’s surface?
A) Insolation decreased and temperatures increased.
B) Insolation increased and temperatures decreased.
C) Both insolation and temperatures increased.
D) Both insolation and temperatures decreased.
50. The height of the ash cloud from the 1989 eruption reached an altitude in Earth’s atmosphere located
A) between sea level and the lower troposphere
B) between the troposphere and the stratosphere
C) in the middle of the stratosphere
D) in the middle of the mesosphere
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

51. Mt. Redoubt's seismic activity is due to the interaction of which two tectonic plates?
A) Pacific Plate and Eurasian Plate
B) Eurasian Plate and North American Plate
C) North American Plate and Pacific Plate
D) Philippine Plate and Eurasian Plate

52. The formation of the Canary Islands was primarily

caused by their location near a
A) subduction zone
B) mantle hot spot
C) divergent boundary
D) transform fault
Base your answers to questions 53 and 54 on the map below and on your knowledge of Earth science.
The map shows the coast of the northwestern United States. The Explorer and Gorda ridges and plates
are parts of the Juan de Fuca tectonic system.

53. The Explorer Ridge is the boundary between the Explorer Plate and the
A) North American Plate B) Pacific Plate
C) Juan de Fuca Plate D) Gorda Plate
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

54. The arrow on which map best shows the direction of movement of the Juan de Fuca Plate in relation
to the Juan de Fuca Ridge?
A) B)

C) D)

55. The Aleutian Islands extend westward from southern

Alaska to form the northern boundary of the Pacific
Ocean. These volcanic islands were formed by the
nearby
A) subduction of a continental plate
B) subduction of an oceanic plate
C) divergence of a continental plate
D) divergence of an oceanic plate
56. Earth's internal heat is the primary source of energy
that
A) warms the lower troposphere
B) melts glacial ice at lower altitudes
C) moves the lithospheric plates
D) pollutes deep groundwater with radioactivity
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 57 and 58 on

the block diagram below, which shows a tectonic plate boundary.

57. Compared to the oceanic crust, the continental crust is

A) more dense and more mafic B) more dense and more felsic
C) less dense and more mafic D) less dense and more felsic
58. Which tectonic plate boundary is best represented by this diagram?
A) Nazca Plate and Pacific Plate boundary
B) Scotia Plate and South American Plate boundary
C) Juan de Fuca Plate and North American Plate boundary
D) Antarctic Plate and Indian-Australian Plate boundary
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

59. Base your answer to the following question on

the passage and map below. The map shows sections of the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and
the Gulf of Mexico.

Shipwreck
In 1641, the crew of the ship Concepcion used the Sun and stars for navigation. The crew thought that
the ship was just north of Puerto Rico, but ocean currents had carried them off course. The ship hit a
coral reef and sank off the coast of the Dominican Republic. The Xon the map marks the location of
the sunken ship.

On which tectonic plate is Puerto Rico located?

A) North American Plate B) South American Plate
C) Caribbean Plate D) Cocos Plate
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

60. Which cross section best represents the convection currents in the mantle beneath the Peru-Chile
Trench?
A) B)

C) D)

61. Which surface feature was produced by crustal

movements at a transform plate boundary?
A) East African Rift
B) Aleutian Trench
C) Tasman Hot Spot
D) San Andreas Fault
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

62. Which world map shows the locations where most earthquakes and volcanoes occur on Earth?
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

A)

B)

C)

D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

63. The block diagram below shows the boundary between two tectonic plates.

Which type of plate boundary is shown?

A) divergent B) convergent C) transform D) complex
64. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below, which shows the boundary
between two lithospheric plates. Point X is a location in the continental lithosphere. The depth below
Earth's surface is labeled in kilometers.

Between which two lithospheric plates could this boundary be located?

A) South American Plate and African Plate
B) Scotia Plate and Antarctic Plate
C) Nazca Plate and South American Plate
D) African Plate and Arabian Plate
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

65. Which block diagram best represents the relative direction of plate motion at the San Andreas Fault?
A)

B)

C)

D)

66. The Mariana Trench was most likely created by the 67. At which plate boundary is one lithospheric plate
sliding under another?
A) convergence of the Pacific and Philippine
Plates A) Nazca Plate and Antarctic Plate
B) divergence of the Eurasian and Philippine B) Pacific Plate and Indian-Australian Plate
Plates C) Indian-Australian Plate and Antarctic Plate
C) sliding of the Pacific Plate past the North D) Nazca Plate and Pacific Plate
American Plate
68. When two tectonic plates collide, oceanic crust
D) movement of the Pacific Plate over the Hawaii usually subducts beneath continental crust because
Hot Spot oceanic crust is primarily composed of igneous rock
that has
A) low density and is mafic
B) low density and is felsic
C) high density and is mafic
D) high density and is felsic
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

69. Active volcanoes are most abundant along the 72. The movement of tectonic plates is inferred by many
scientists to be driven by
A) edges of tectonic plates
B) eastern coastline of continents A) tidal motions in the hydrosphere
C) 23.5° N and 23.5° S parallels of latitude B) density differences in the troposphere
D) equatorial ocean floor C) convection currents in the asthenosphere
D) solidification in the lithosphere
70. The map below shows the northern section of the
boundary between the Arabian Plate and the African
Plate. Arrows show the relative direction of plate
motion.

Which type of plate boundary is located at the

Jordan Fault?
A) divergent B) subduction
C) convergent D) transform
71. The edges of most lithospheric plates are
characterized by
A) reversed magnetic orientation
B) unusually rapid radioactive decay
C) frequent volcanic activity
D) low P-wave and high S-wave velocity
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 73 and 74 on "the map below, which shows the risk of damage from
seismic activity in the United States.

"
73. Which New York State location has the greatest risk of earthquake damage?
A) Binghamton B) Buffalo C) Plattsburgh D) Elmira
74. In the United States, most of the major damage expected from a future earthquake is predicted to
occur near a
A) divergent plate boundary, only
B) convergent plate boundary, only
C) mid-ocean ridge and a divergent plate boundary
D) transform plate boundary and a hot spot
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

75. Arrows in the block diagram below show the relative movement along a tectonic plate boundary.

Between which two tectonic plates does this type of plate boundary exist?
A) Nazca Plate and South American Plate
B) Eurasian Plate and Indian-Australian Plate
C) North American Plate and Eurasian Plate
D) Pacific Plate and North American Plate
76. Which coastal area is most likely to experience a
severe earthquake?
A) east coast of North America
B) east coast of Australia
C) west coast of Africa
D) west coast of South America
77. According to tectonic plate maps, New York State is
presently located
A) at a convergent plate boundary
B) above a mantle hot spot
C) above a mid-ocean ridge
D) near the center of a large plate
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 78 through 80 on "the information, map, and cross section below.

The map represents a portion of Earth's surface in the Pacific Ocean. The positions of islands,
earthquake epicenters, active volcanoes, and the Tonga Trench are shown. Lines of latitude and
longitude have been included.
The cross section shows earthquakes that occurred beneath line XY on the map. Depth beneath
Earths surface is indicated by the scale along the left side of the cross section, as are the range of
depths for shallow, intermediate, and deep earthquakes. Distance from the trench is indicated by
the scale along the bottom of the cross section.

"
78. Which cross section has arrows that best represent the relative motion of the crustal plates along the
Wadati-Benioff zone beneath the Tonga Trench?
A) B)

C) D)

79. The greatest number of earthquakes shown in the cross section occurred
A) at sea level B) between sea level and a depth of 100 km
C) at a depth between 100 and 300 km D) at a depth between 300 and 600 km
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

80. The Tonga Trench is located at the tectonic boundary between the Pacific Plate and the
A) Antarctic Plate B) Philippine Plate
C) Indian-Australian Plate D) Nazca Plate

81. The diagram below shows the interaction of two

tectonic plates.

The type of plate boundary represented in the

diagram most likely exists between the
A) Antarctic Plate and the African Plate
B) Antarctic Plate and the Indian-Australian Plate
C) South American Plate and the Nazca Plate
D) South American Plate and the African Plate
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

82. The diagrams below show four major types of fault motion occurring in Earth's crust. Which type of
fault motion best matches the general pattern of crustal movement at California's San Andreas fault?
A)

B)

C)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

83. On the map below, line AB is drawn across several of Earth's tectonic plates in the South Atlantic
Ocean.

Which cross section best represents the plate boundaries and mantle movement beneath line AB?

A) B)

C) D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

84. The diagram below shows some features of Earth's crust and upper mantle.

Which model most accurately shows the movements (arrows) associated with the surface features
shown in the diagram?
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

A)

B)

C)

D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

85. Base your answer to the following question on "the 86. The block diagram below shows the bedrock age as
diagram below, which shows a portion of Earth's measured by radioactive dating and the present
interior. Point A is a location on the interface location of part of the Hawaiian Island chain. These
between layers. volcanic islands may have formed as the Pacific
Plate moved over a mantle hot spot.

"
The arrows shown in the asthenosphere represent the
inferred slow circulation of the plastic mantle by a
process called
A) insolation B) convection
C) conduction D) radiation

This diagram provides evidence that the Pacific

Crustal Plate was moving toward the
A) south B) east
C) southwest D) northwest
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 87 through 89 on the

map below, which shows the location of the
Peru-Chile Trench.

87. Which observation provides the best evidence of the

pattern of crustal movement at the Peru-Chile
Trench?
A) the direction of flow of warm ocean currents
B) the mineral composition of samples of mafic
mantle rock
C) comparison of the rates of sediment deposition
D) the locations of shallow-focus and deepfocus
earthquakes
88. In which diagram do the arrows best represent the
motions of Earth's crust at the Peru-Chile Trench?
A) B)

C) D)

89. The Peru-Chile Trench marks the boundary between

the
A) Pacific Plate and the Antarctic Plate
B) Nazca Plate and the South American Plate
C) North American Plate and the Cocos Plate
D) Caribbean Plate and the Scotia Plate
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 90 through 93 on the map below which shows part of the earthquake
damage field that resulted from the earthquake that occurred in Northridge, in southern California, in
January 1994. Several sites associated with the earthquake and earthquake damage are shown.

90. This earthquake provides evidence for the existence of

A) Earth’s solid outer core B) convection cells in Earth’s outer core
C) faulting of bedrock at Northridge D) magnetic field reversals at Northridge
91. The greatest surface damage occurred in zone IX because
A) the regional seismograph stations were closest to zone IX
B) of local conditions at zone IX
C) zone IX was reached first by earthquake waves
D) zone IX was at the epicenter of the earthquake
92. Which surface location had the least damage?
A) R B) B C) E D) F
93. Which crustal plate boundary is most closely associated with this earthquake?
A) Cocos Plate — Pacific Plate B) Cocos Plate — Nazca Plate
C) North American Plate — Nazca Plate D) North American Plate — Pacific Plate
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

94. Base your answer to the following question on the map below. Letters A through F are locations on
Earth’s surface.

Which location is closest to a divergent plate boundary at an oceanic ridge?

A) A B) B C) C D) E
95. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below, which shows a portion of
Earth’s crust and upper mantle near a mid-ocean ridge.

The geological features of the ocean floor in this region resulted from
A) colliding plates in the lithosphere
B) sinking iron and magnesium in the lithosphere
C) cooler temperatures in the mantle
D) rising convection currents in the mantle
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

96. According to the plate tectonics theory, the

Peru-Chile Trench and the Andes Mountains formed
along the west coast of South America because the
South American Plate
A) collided with the Nazca Plate
B) collided with the North American Plate
C) slid away from the Nazca Plate
D) slid away from the North American Plate
97. The country of Iceland would be closest to the
A) Mid-Atlantic Ridge
B) Mid-Indian Ridge
C) South-East Indian Ridge
D) East Pacific Ridge
98. What type of plate boundary exists between the
African Plate and the Antartic Plate?
A) convergent B) transform
C) divergent D) complex
99. Which of the following is located at a converging
plate boundary?
A) Southwest Indian Ridge
B) Iceland Hotspot
C) Marianas Trench
D) Sandwich Plate
100. On which plate is the Hawaii Hot Spot located?
A) South American B) Antarctic
C) Nazca D) Pacific
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 101 and 102 on the map below. Dots on the map show the distribution
of major earthquake epicenters. The shaded circle labeled A represents a location on Earth's surface.

101. Location A is best described as an area that is

A) within a rift valley at a mid-ocean ridge
B) at the boundary between two diverging plates
C) within a deep-sea trench between two converging plates
D) above a mantle hot spot near the center of a crustal plate
102. Which conclusion can best be inferred from the data shown on this map?
A) Earthquakes generally are evenly distributed over the surface of Earth.
B) Most earthquakes occur west of the Prime Meridian and north of the Equator.
C) Most earthquakes are concentrated in zones along plate boundaries.
D) Most earthquakes occur on continents.

103. At the Aleutian Trench and the Peru-Chile Trench,

tectonic plates are generally
A) moving along a transform boundary
B) moving over a mantle hot spot
C) diverging
D) converging
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

104. The cross section below shows the location of 105. Which diagram best shows the type of plate
earthquakes near a plate boundary. boundary found between the China Plate and the
Philippine Plate?
A)

B)

This distribution of earthquakes near the plate

boundary is most likely caused by C)
A) a transform fault
B) a mantle hot spot
C) subduction of a crustal plate
D) divergence of crustal plates

D)

106. Letters A through D shown on the map below are

locations on Earth's surface.

Which location is closest to a major zone of

frequent earthquakes and volcanic activities?
A) A B) B C) C D) D
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

107. Letters A through D shown on the map below are

locations on Earth's surface.

Which location is closest to a major zone of

frequent earthquakes and volcanic activities?
A) A B) B C) C D) D
108. Locations A, B, C, and D are shown on the map
below.

Which location is closest to a tectonic plate

boundary?
A) A B) B C) C D) D
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

109. Base your answer to the following question on the geologic cross sections below, which represent
bedrock from different areas on Earth.

All the cross sections most likely represent areas of

A) crustal stability B) mountain building
C) seashore erosion D) plateau development
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 110 and 111 on the map below which shows mid-ocean ridges and
trenches in the Pacific Ocean. Specific areas A, B. C, and D are indicated by shaded rectangles.

110. Which map best shows the direction of movement of the oceanic crustal plates in the vicinity of the
East Pacific Rise (ridge)?
A) B)

C) D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

111. The crust at the mid-ocean ridges is composed mainly of

A) granite B) shale C) basalt D) limestone

112. Base your answer to the following question on the 113. Which features are commonly formed at the plate
map below. The map represents the movement of boundaries where continental crust converges with
tectonic plates that resulted in the collision of India oceanic crust?
with Asia. Scientists believe that 71 million years
A) large volcanic mountain ranges parallel to the
ago, India was at position A.
coast at the center of the continents
B) a deep ocean trench and a continental
volcanic mountain range near the coast
C) an underwater volcanic mountain range and
rift valley on the ocean ridge near the coast
D) long chains of mid-ocean volcanic islands
perpendicular to the coast
114. The diagram below shows the collision of an
oceanic plate and a continental plate.

Collisions between oceanic plates and continental

plates are thought to result primarily from
A) hot liquid magma in the inner core
B) convection currents in the mantle
C) volcanic eruptions along coastlines
D) meteor impacts in the ocean basins
115. Contact zones between tectonic plates may produce
Which present-day geologic feature in Nepal trenches. One of these trenches is located at the
resulted from this collision? boundary between which plates?
A) a rift valley A) Australian and Pacific
B) a mountain range B) South American and African
C) an oceanic ridge C) Australian and Antarctic
D) an oceanic trench D) North American and Eurasian
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

116. The map below shows continental and oceanic 117. Base your answer to the following question on the
crustal plates along the west coast of North information and the cross section below. The cross
America. section represents a possible model of the Moon's
interior.

Seismographs left on the Moon by astronauts have

provided enough data to develop a model of the
Moon's interior. Scientists believe that the Moon
has a layered interior and that its crustal thickness
varies greatly from one side of the Moon to the
other.

Which conclusion is best supported by the map?

A) The boundary of the Pacific plate has very few
faults.
B) The Pacific plate has stopped moving.
C) The west coast of North America is composed
of the oldest rocks on the continent.
D) The west coast of North America is a zone
Which inference is best supported by the Moon's
of frequent crustal movement.
apparent absence of continental drift?
A) The Moon's crust is very thin.
B) The Moon has a low-density core.
C) The Moon's mountain ranges are rapidly
weathering.
D) The Moon lacks convection currents in its
mantle.
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

118. Base your answer to the following question on the 122. The diagram below represents a cross section of the
diagram below which shows a coastal area with a Earth's crust at a location where an oceanic plate is
mountain range and a portion of the ocean floor. A converging (colliding) with a continental plate. The
turbidity current through a submarine canyon has arrows indicate the direction of plate motion.
formed a fan-shaped sediment deposit on the ocean Letters W, X, Y, and Z represent locations on the
floor. Earth.

In which region of the ocean is the submarine

canyon located?
For an observer on the Earth's surface, the best
A) tidal zone evidence of this crustal plate collision would
B) continental margin probably be provided by
C) deep ocean basin A) seafloor fossils at location W
D) mid-ocean ridge B) earthquakes and volcanic eruptions near
119. Hot springs on the ocean floor near the midocean location X
ridges provide evidence that C) flooding near location Y
D) horizontal sedimentary layers at location Z
A) convection currents exist in the
asthenosphere 123. Crustal disturbances such as earthquakes and
B) meteor craters are found beneath the oceans volcanic eruptions are best described as
C) climate change has melted huge glaciers A) events that are cyclic and predictable
D) marine fossils have been uplifted to high B) events that are usually related and cannot
elevations be predicted with accuracy
120. What do mid-ocean ridges and hot spots beneath C) unrelated events that follow no pattern
ocean plates have in common? D) phenomena seldom found in the same regions
A) Rising magma moves due to density 124. Which two features are commonly found at
differences divergent plate boundaries?
B) They are located along crustal plate A) mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys
boundaries
B) wide valleys and deltas
C) Local earthquakes originate at great depths
C) ocean trenches and subduction zones
D) Neither is associated with plate motions
D) hot spots and island arcs
121. Where does most present-day faulting of rock
125. Recent volcanic activity in different parts of the
occur?
world supports the inference that volcanoes are
A) in regions of glacial activity located mainly in
B) in the interior areas of continents A) the centers of landscape regions
C) at locations with many lakes B) the central regions of the continents
D) at interfaces between moving parts of the C) zones of crustal activity
crust
D) zones in late stages of erosion
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

126. Which best describes a major characteristic of both

volcanoes and earthquakes?
A) They are centered at the poles.
B) They are located in the same geographic
areas.
C) They are related to the formation of glaciers.
D) They are restricted to the Southern
Hemisphere.
127. Where are earthquakes most likely to take place?
A) along the core-mantle interface
B) where the composition of the Earth tends to be
uniform
C) near the Earth's Equator
D) near a fault zone
128. Which geologic feature is composed of the
youngest crustal bedrock?
A) Peru-Chile Trench
B) Mid-Atlantic Ridge
C) Adirondack Mountains
D) San Andreas Fault
129. Crustal formation, which may cause the widening
of an ocean, is most likely occurring at the
boundary between the
A) African Plate and the Eurasian Plate
B) Pacific Plate and the Philippine Plate
C) Indian-Australian Plate and the Antarctic
Plate
D) South American Plate and the North American
Plate
130. Oceanic crust is sliding beneath the Aleutian
Islands in the North Pacific Ocean, forming the
Aleutian Trench at a
A) convergent plate boundary between the
Pacific Plate and the North American Plate
B) convergent plate boundary between the Pacific
Plate and the Juan de Fuca Plate
C) divergent plate boundary between the Pacific
Plate and the North American Plate
D) divergent plate boundary between the Pacific
Plate and the Juan de Fuca Plate
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

131. The cross section below represents a pattern of magnetic field reversals preserved in the igneous
bedrock of the oceanic crust east of the Mid-Atlantic ridge.

Which cross section best represents the magnetic field pattern west of the Mid-Atlantic ridge?
A)

B)

C)

D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 132 through 134 on

the passage below.

Crustal Activity at Mid-Ocean Ridges

Mid-ocean ridges are found at one type of tectonic plate boundary. These ridges consist of
extensive underwater mountain ranges split by rift valleys. The rift valleys mark places where two
crustal plates are pulling apart, widening the ocean basins, and allowing magma from the
asthenosphere to move upward. In some cases, mid-ocean ridges have migrated toward nearby
mantle hot spots. This explains why mid-ocean ridges and mantle hot spots are found together at
several locations.
132. The map below shows a part of Earth’s surface. Points A through D are locations on the ocean floor.

At which location is the temperature of the ocean floor bedrock most likely highest?
A) A B) B C) C D) D
133. Which mantle hot spot is located closest to a mid-ocean ridge?
A) Canary Islands B) Easter Island C) Hawaii D) Tasman
134. Which type of tectonic plate boundary is located at mid-ocean ridges?
A) convergent B) transform C) divergent D) complex
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

135. The diagram below shows the magnetic polarity preserved by minerals within the bedrock of the
oceanic crust near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Letters A, B, C, and D represent locations in the
ocean-floor bedrock.

The most recently formed bedrock is found at location

A) A B) B C) C D) D
136. The map below shows a portion of Earth's surface. Points X and Y are locations on the lithosphere.

Which cross section shows the inferred movement of material in the asthenosphere beneath points X
and Y?
A) B)

C) D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 137 through 139 on "

the map of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge shown below. Points A through D are locations on the ocean floor.
Line XY connects locations in North America and Africa.

"
137. The boundary between which two tectonic plates is most similar geologically to the plate boundary
at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?
A) Eurasian and Indian-Australian B) Cocos and Caribbean
C) Pacific and Nazca D) Nazca and South American
138. Samples of ocean-floor bedrock were collected at points A, B, C, and D. Which sequence show the
correct order of the age of the bedrock from from oldest to youngest?
A) D C B A B) A D B C
C) C B D A D) A B D C
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

139. In which cross section do the arrows best show the convection occurring within the asthenosphere
beneath line XY?
A) B)

C) D)

140. Which observation about the Mid-Atlantic Ridge 143. Convection currents in the plastic mantle are
region provides the best evidence that the seafloor believed to cause divergence of lithospheric plates
has been spreading for millions of years? at the
A) The bedrock of the ridge and nearby seafloor A) Peru-Chile Trench
is igneous rock. B) Mariana Trench
B) The ridge is the location of irregular volcanic C) Canary Islands Hot Spot
eruptions. D) Iceland Hot Spot
C) Several faults cut across the ridge and nearby
seafloor.
D) Seafloor bedrock is younger near the ridge
and older farther away.
141. Which two tectonic plates are separated by a
mid-ocean ridge?
A) Indian-Australian and Eurasian
B) Indian-Australian and Pacific
C) North American and South American
D) North American and Eurasian
142. In which Earth layer are most convection currents
that cause seafloor spreading thought to be located?
A) crust B) asthenosphere
C) outer core D) inner core
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 144 through 146 on "the diagram below, which shows details of a
section of a rift valley in the center of a mid-ocean ridge. The vertical lines in the diagram represent
faults and fractures within the ocean floor bedrock.

"
144. Which type of crustal plate boundary is shown in this diagram?
A) divergent B) convergent C) universal D) transform
145. The dark-colored lava flows shown in the diagram were pushed from the magma chamber onto the
surface of the ocean floor. Which characteristics are present in thesolid rock that formed when the
lava flows cooled?
A) generally small grain size and mafic composition
B) generally small grain size and felsic composition
C) generally large grain size and mafic composition
D) generally large grain size and felsic composition
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

146. What will be the primary result of the continuation of the geologic processes indicated at this
location?
A) Earths magnetic field will reverse direction.
B) Continental crust will be forced downward.
C) Earths circumference will increase.
D) New oceanic crust will form.

147. The diagram below shows a tectonic plate 148. Which diagram correctly shows how mantle
boundary. convection currents are most likely moving beneath
colliding lithospheric plates?
A)

B)

Which mantle hot spot is at a plate boundary like

the one shown in this diagram?
A) Hawaii Hot Spot
C)
B) Yellowstone Hot Spot
C) Galapagos Hot Spot
D) Canary Hot Spot

D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

149. Which cross section below best represents the

crustal plate motion that is the primary cause of the
volcanoes and deep rift valleys found at mid-ocean
ridges?

A)

B)

C)

D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 150 through 152 on "the map below, which shows the location of
mid-ocean ridges and the age of some oceanic bedrock near these ridges. Letters A through D are
locations on the surface of the ocean floor.

"
150. The age of oceanic bedrock on either side of a mid-ocean ridge is supporting evidence that at the
ridges, tectonic plates are
A) diverging B) converging
C) locked in place D) being subducted
151. Rising convection currents in the asthenosphere would most likely be under location
A) A B) B C) C D) D
152. What is the most probable age, in millions of years, of the bedrock at location B?
A) 5 B) 12 C) 48 D) 62
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 153 and 154 on "the map below. The map shows the continents of
Africa and South America, the ocean between them, and the ocean ridge and transform faults.
Locations A and D are on the continents. Locations B and C are on the ocean floor.

"
153. Which graph best shows the relative age of the ocean-floor bedrock from location B to location C?
A) B)

C) D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

154. The hottest crustal temperature measurements would most likely be found at location
A) A B) B C) C D) D

Base your answers to questions 155 through 157 on "

the diagram below. The diagram shows a model of the relationship between Earth's surface and its
interior.

"
155. According to the diagram, the deep trench along the west coast of South America is caused by
movement of the oceanic crust that is
A) sinking beneath the continental crust B) uplifting over the continental crust
C) sinking at the Mid-Atlantic ridge D) colliding with the Atlantic oceanic crust
156. The motion of the convection currents in the mantle beneath the Atlantic Ocean appears to be mainly
making this ocean basin
A) deeper B) shallower C) wider D) narrower
157. Mid-ocean ridges (rifts) normally form where tectonic plates are
A) converging B) diverging
C) stationary D) sliding past each other

158. The youngest bedrock is most likely found at which location?

A) A B) B C) C D) D
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

159. The map below shows the Atlantic Ocean divided A)

into zones A, B, C, and D. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge
is located between zones B and C.

B)

Which graph best represents the geologic age of the

surface bedrock on the ocean bottom? C)

D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 160 and 161 on "the map below which shows the locations of
deep-sea core drilling sites numbered 1 through 4. The approximate location of the diverging plate at
the East Pacific Ridge is shown by a dashed line. Point A is located on the East Pacific Ridge.

"
160. At point A, the East Pacific Ridge is the boundary between the
A) Cocos Plate and the North American Plate
B) South American Plate and the Nazca Plate
C) Pacific Plate and the South American Plate
D) Pacific Plate and the Nazca Plate
161. At which drilling site would the oldest igneous bedrock most likely be found?
A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4

Base your answers to questions 162 and 163 on the cross section of two crustal plates and the
boundary between them shown below. The arrows indicate the direction of rock movement.

162. Which geologic events occur most often at this mid-oceanic ridge plate boundary?
A) magnetic pole reversals and cooling of ocean water
B) meteorite impacts and tilting of shorelines
C) hydrospheric pollution and adiabatic heating
D) earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

163. The mid-oceanic ridge portion of this cross section best represents
A) convergence of the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate
B) divergence of the African Plate and the South American Plate
C) subduction of the Philippine Plate by the China Plate
D) transform faulting between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate

164. Which cross-sectional diagram of Earth’s 166. The cross section below shows the ocean floor
asthenosphere best shows the convection currents between two continents. Points A through D
that would cause crustal plate X to drift away from represent locations on the ocean floor where
crustal plate Y? samples of oceanic crust were collected.
A) B)

C) D)

165. The diagram below shows a cross section of a

portion of Earth. The inferred motions of crustal
plates are shown. Letters A through D represent The youngest rock sample most likely was
locations at Earth's surface. collected from location
A) A B) B C) C D) D

Which letter represents the location of the

mid-Atlantic Ridge?
A) A B) B C) C D) D
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

167. Which cross-sectional diagram of a portion of the 168. The diagram below represents a partial cross
crust and mantle best shows the pattern of mantle section of a model of the Earth. The arrows show
convection currents that are believed to cause the inferred motions within the Earth.
formation of a mid-ocean ridge?
A)

B)

Which property of the oceanic crust in regions F

and G is a result of these inferred motions?
C)
A) The crystal size of the rock decreases
constantly as distance from the mid-ocean
ridge increases.
B) The temperature of the basaltic rock increases
as distance from the mid-ocean ridge
increases.
D)
C) Heat-flow measurements steadily increase as
distance from the mid-ocean ridge increases.
D) The age of the igneous rock increases as
distance from the mid-ocean ridge
increases.
169. Which information indicates that new seafloor rock
is forming along a mid-ocean ridge and then
moving horizontally away from the ridge?
A) Most volcanoes are located under ocean water.
B) Seafloor rock is older than continental rock.
C) Fossils of marine organisms can be found at
high elevations on continents
D) The age of seafloor rock increases as the
distance from the mid-ocean ridge
increases.
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

170. The scale below shows the age of the sea-floor

crust in relation to its distance from the
Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Crust that originally formed at the Mid-Atlantic

Ridge is now 37 kilometers from the ridge.
Approximately how long ago did this crust form?
A) 1.8 million years ago
B) 2.0 million years ago
C) 3.0 million years ago
D) 4.5 million years ago
Base your answers to questions 171 and 172 on the map and profile shown below. The map shows the
major areas of the North Atlantic Ocean. Letters A, B, C, and D represent locations on the ocean
floor. The profile represents the ocean bottom from point X in North America along the dashed line to
point Y in Africa. Note that the profile is vertically exaggerated.

171. Which statement about the age of ocean-floor rocks is correct?

A) All ocean-floor rocks are generally the same age.
B) Rocks at location C are generally older than rocks at locations A and B.
C) Rocks at location C are generally younger than rocks at locations A and B.
D) Igneous rocks at location D are generally younger than rocks at location C.
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

172. Classification of the ocean bottom into the areas shown is based on the
A) distance from continental landmasses B) topography of the ocean floor
C) age of ocean-bottom rocks D) type of ocean-bottom sediments

173. Seafloor spreading is occurring at the boundary 176. Which inference can best be made from the
between the diagram?
A) African plate and Antarctic plate A) The orientation of the Earth's magnetic
B) Nazca plate and South American plate field has reversed with time.
C) China plate and Philippine plate B) The size of the continents has changed with
D) Australian plate and Eurasian plate time.
C) The elevation of sea level has changed with
Base your answers to questions 174 through 178 on
time.
the diagram below which shows the magnetic
D) The amount of fossil material preserved in the
orientation of igneous rock on the seafloor on the
igneous rock has changed with time.
east (right) side of a mid-ocean ridge. The pattern on
the west (left) side of the ridge has been omitted. The 177. According to the diagram, what is the approximate
age of the igneous rock and its distance from the rate of seafloor spreading?
ridge center are shown.
A) 1 km/million years
B) 2 km/million years
C) 40 km/million years
D) 50 km/million years
178. Which diagram below best represents the pattern of
magnetic orientation in the seafloor on the west
(left) side of the ocean ridge?
A) B)

174. As distance from the center of the ridge increases,

the age of the rocks
C) D)
A) decreases B) increases
C) remains the same
175. The occurrence of high-heat floors at the ridge
center provides evidence of the
A) destruction of oceanic crust
B) destruction of continental crust
C) existence of ancestral mountains
D) existence of rising mantle convection
currents
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 179 and 180 on the 181. Diagrams I and II show the same region of the
diagrams below of geologic cross sections of the Earth's surface at two different times in the
upper mantle and crust at four different Earth geologic past.
locations, A, B, C, and D. Movement of the crustal
sections (plates) is indicated by arrows, and the
locations of frequent earthquakes are indicated by *.
Diagrams are not drawn to scale.

Which statement best explains the basic cause of

the changes that occurred in this region?
A) Meteor impact on the crust caused widening
of the valley.
179. Which diagram represents plate movement B) Mantle convection currents caused crustal
associated with transform faults such as those movement.
causing California earthquakes? C) Climate changes caused flooding.
D) Temperature changes caused melting of polar
A) A B) B C) C D) D
ice caps.
180. Which location best represents the boundary
182. The border between the South American plate and
between the African plate and the South American
the African plate is best described as
plate?
A) converging and located at an oceanic ridge
A) A B) B C) C D) D
B) converging and located at an oceanic trench
C) diverging and located at an oceanic ridge
D) diverging and located at an oceanic trench
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

183. The diagram below represents a cross section of a 185. Which features are most often found at crustal plate
portion of the Earth's crust and mantle. LettersA, B, boundaries like those shown on the map?
C, D and X identify locations within the crust.
A) meandering rivers and warm-water lakes
B) plains and plateaus
C) geysers and glaciers
D) faulted bedrock and volcanoes
186. Geologic studies of the San Andreas fault indicate
that
A) many earthquakes occur along the San
The age of oceanic crust increases along a line Andreas fault
between location X and location B) the North American plate and the Pacific plate
A) A B) B C) C D) D are locked in dynamic equilibrium
C) the subduction zone is the boundary at which
Base your answers to questions 184 through 188 on the crustal plates are drifting apart
the map below, which shows crustal plate boundaries
D) the age of the bedrock increases as distance
located along the Pacific coastline of the United
from the fault increases
States. The arrows show the general directions in
which some of the plates appear to be moving slowly. 187. Which feature is located at 20º North latitude and
109º West longitude?
A) San Andreas fault
B) East Pacific rise
C) Baja California
D) Juan de Fuca Ridge
188. What would a study of the East Pacific rise (a
mid-ocean ridge) indicate about the age of the
basaltic bedrock in this area?
A) The bedrock is youngest at the ridge.
B) The bedrock is oldest at the ridge.
C) The bedrock at the ridge is the same age as the
bedrock next to the continent.
D) The bedrock at the ridge is the same age as the
bedrock at the San Andreas fault.

184. The best way to find the direction of crustal

movement along the San Andreas fault is to
A) study the Earth's present magnetic field
B) observe erosion along the continental coastline
C) measure gravitational strength on opposite
sides of the fault
D) match displaced rock types from opposite
sides of the fault
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 189 through 192 on 190. Which diagram below best shows the pattern of
the information and diagram below. normal and reversed polarity on the west side of the
mid-ocean ridge?
At intervals in the past, the Earth's magnetic field
A)
has reversed. The present North magnetic pole was
once the South magnetic pole, and the present South
magnetic pole was once the North magnetic pole. A
record of these changes is preserved in the igneous B)
rocks that formed at mid-ocean ridges and moved
away from the ridges.
The diagram below represents the pattern of C)
normal and reversed magnetic polarity in the igneous
rocks composing the ocean crust on the east side of a
mid-ocean ridge.
D)

191. The igneous material along this mid-ocean ridge

was found to be younger than the igneous material
farther from the ridge. This fact supports the theory
of
A) crustal subsidence
B) seafloor spreading
189. The younger extrusive igneous rocks on the ocean C) superposition
floor have a higher heat flow rate than older D) dynamic equilibrium
extrusive igneous rocks. Which graph best shows
192. Approximately how many million years were
the relationship between heat flow rate and distance
required to form the material shown between A and
from the mid ocean ridge?
B in the diagram?
A) B)
A) 2.5 B) 1.8 C) 1.1 D) 0.7

C) D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 193 through 197 on "the diagram below which is a cross section of
the major surface features of the Earth along the Tropic of Capricorn (23½º S) between 75º W and 15º
E longitude. Letters A through G represent locations on the Earth's crust.

"
193. Which diagram shows the most probable direction of movement of the crustal plates and the
inferred mantle convection currents under position A?
A) B)

C) D)

194. A mid-ocean ridge is located near position

A) A B) E C) C D) D
195. What is the approximate width of the Atlantic Ocean at this location?
A) 1,200 km B) 2,600 km C) 3,500 km D) 4,400 km
196. Which two locations in the diagram have bedrock of approximately the same age, which has been
separated by seafloor spreading?
A) A and C B) C and E C) D and F D) E and F
197. Which location is closest to the Prime Meridian (0º longitude)?
A) A B) F C) G D) D
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

198. The diagram below represents a cross section of the

Atlantic Ocean from the eastern coast of South
America to the western coast of Africa along the
Equator.

At what point would evidence of a rising

convection current in the mantle most likely be
found?
A) A B) B C) C D) E
199. The map below shows the current location of New
York State in North America.

Approximately how many million years ago (mya)

was this New York State region located at the
equator?
A) 59 mya B) 119 mya
C) 359 mya D) 458 mya
200. Which landmass is moving northward with
Australia as part of the same tectonic plate'?
A) India B) Antarctica
C) North America D) South America
201. The Indian-Australian tectonic plate is moving
A) away from the Philippine Plate
B) away from the Fiji Plate
C) toward the Pacific Plate
D) toward the Antarctic Plate
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

202. Which map best indicates the probable locations of continents 100 million years from now if
tectonic plate movement continues at its present rate and direction?
A)

B)

C)

D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 203 and 204 on "the map below, which shows Earth's Southern
Hemisphere and the inferred tectonic movement of the continent of Australia over geologic time. The
arrows between the dots show the relative movement of the center of the continent of Australia. The
parallels of latitude from 0° to 90° south are labeled.

"
203. The geographic position of Australia on Earth's surface has been changing mainly because
A) the gravitational force of the Moon has been pulling on Earth's landmasses
B) heat energy has been creating convection currents in Earth's interior
C) Earth's rotation has spun Australia into different locations
D) the tilt of Earth's axis has changed several times
204. During which geologic time interval did Australia most likely have a warm, tropical climate because
of its location?
A) Cambrian B) Carboniferous C) Late Permian D) Eocene
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

205. Based on the theory of plate tectonics, it is inferred

that over the past 250 million years North America
has moved toward the
A) northwest B) southwest
C) southeast D) northeast
206. The large coal fields found in Pennsylvania provide
evidence that the climate of the northeastern United
States was much warmer during the Carboniferous
Period. This change in climate over time is best
explained by the
A) movements of tectonic plates
B) effects of seasons
C) changes in the environment caused by humans
D) evolution of life
207. Which mountain range resulted from the collision
of North America and Africa, as parts of Pangea
joined together in the late Pennsylvanian Period?
A) Appalachian Mountains
B) Acadian Mountains
C) Taconic Mountains
D) Grenville Mountains
208. The inferred latitude of Pennsylvania 362 million
years ago was closest to
A) where it is now B) the North Pole
C) the Equator D) 45° south
209. According to plate tectonic theory, during which
geologic time interval did the continents of North
America and Africa separate, resulting in the initial
opening of the Atlantic Ocean?
A) Mesozoic Era B) Paleozoic Era
C) Proterozoic Eon D) Archean Eon
210. During which era did the initial opening of the
present-day Atlantic Ocean most likely occur?
A) Cenozoic B) Mesozoic
C) Paleozoic D) Late Proterozoic
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 211 through 213 on the map and data table below. The map shows the
locations of volcanic islands and seamounts that erupted on the seafloor of the Pacific Plate as it
moved northwest over a stationary mantle hotspot beneath the lithosphere. The hotspot is currently
under Kilauea. Island size is not drawn to scale. Locations X, Y and Z are on Earth's surface.

211. Which lithospheric plate boundary features are located at Y and Z?

A) trenches created by the subduction of the Pacific Plate
B) rift valleys created by seafloor spreading of the Pacific Plate
C) secondary plates created by volcanic activity within the Pacific Plate
D) mid-ocean ridges created by faulting below the Pacific Plate
212. According to the data table, what is the approximate speed at which the island of Kauai has been
moving away from the mantle hotspot, in kilometers per million years?
A) 1 B) 10 C) 100 D) 1,000
213. Approximately how far has location X moved from its original location over the hotspot?
A) 3,600 km B) 2,500 km C) 1,800 km D) 20 km
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

214. The map below shows the present-day locations of 215. Base your answer to the following question on the
South America and Africa. Remains of Mesosaurus map below, which shows seismograph recording
, an extinct freshwater reptile, have been found in stations at locations A, B, and C. Location D is an
similarly aged bedrock formed from lake sediments earthquake epicenter. The distances from locations
at locations X and Y. A and B to this epicenter are given in kilometers.

Which statement represents the most logical

conclusion to draw from this evidence?
How does the age of the ocean-floor bedrock
A) Mesosaurus migrated across the ocean from change as the distance east or west of location D
location X to location Y. increases?
B) Mesosaurus came into existence on several
widely separated continents at different times. A) The age decreases, because D is in an oceanic
trench.
C) The continents of South America and
Africa were joined when Mesosaurus lived. B) The age decreases, because D is on a
mid-oceanic ridge.
D) The present climates at locations X and Y are
similar. C) The age increases, because D is in an oceanic
trench.
D) The age increases, because D is on a
mid-oceanic ridge.
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

216. The diagram below shows how scientists think 218. The theory of continental drift suggests that the
some of Earth's continents were joined together in
A) continents moved due to changes in the
the geologic past.
Earth's orbital velocity
B) continents moved due to the Coriolis effect
caused by the Earth's rotation
C) present-day continents of South America and
Africa are moving toward each other
D) present-day continents of South America
and Africa once fit together like puzzle
parts

When do scientists think these continents were

joined together?
A) during the Tertiary Period, only
B) from the Cretaceous Period through the
Tertiary Period
C) from the Devonian Period through the
Triassic Period
D) during the Cambrian Period, only
217. The dots on the map below show the present
locations of living coral reefs. Site X indicates an
area of fossil coral reefs preserved in rocks formed
during the Jurassic Period.

Which inference is best supported by this map?

A) The climate at site X during the Jurassic
Period was colder than the present climate at
site X.
B) Site X was covered by warm ocean water
during the Jurassic Period.
C) Site X has drifted southward since the Jurassic
Period.
D) The coral at site X evolved from
ocean-dwelling animals into land-dwelling
animals after the Jurassic Period.
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

219. Base your answer to the following question on "the Earth Science Reference Tables, the core section
below, and your knowledge of Earth Science. The core section shows the subsurface bedrock
geology for a location north of Buffalo, New York.

"
Based on studies of fossils found in the Trenton group, scientists have estimated that the climate of
New York State during this part of the Ordovician Period was much warmer than the present
climate. Which statement best explains this change in climate?
A) The North American Continent was nearer to the Equator during the Ordovician Period.
B) The Sun emitted less sunlight during the Ordovician Period.
C) Earth was farther from the Sun during the Ordovician Period.
D) Many huge volcanic eruptions occurred during the Ordovician Period.
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 220 through 223 on 223. Which map best shows the direction of movement
the map below which shows mid-ocean ridges and of the oceanic crustal plates in the vicinity of the
trenches in the Pacific Ocean. Specific areas A, B, C, East Pacific Rise (ridge)?
and D are indicated by shaded rectangles.
A)

B)

220. Mid-ocean ridges such as the East Pacific Rise and

the Oceanic Ridge are best described as
C)
A) mountains containing folded sedimentary
rocks
B) mountains containing fossils of present-day
marine life
C) sections of the ocean floor that contain the
youngest oceanic crust
D) sections of the ocean floor that are the remains
of a submerged continent
D)
221. Movement of the crustal plates shown in the
diagram is most likely caused by
A) the revolution of the Earth
B) the erosion of the Earth's crust
C) shifting of the Earth's magnetic poles
D) convection currents in the Earth's mantle
222. The crust at the mid-ocean ridges is composed
mainly of
A) shale B) limestone 224. Living corals are found in warm, shallow seas.
C) granite D) basalt Coral fossils have been found in the sedimentary
rocks of Alaska. These findings suggest that
A) Alaska once had a tropical marine
environment
B) Alaska's cold climate fossilized the coral
C) coral usually develops in cold climates
D) ocean currents carried the coral to Alaska
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

225. During which period were North America, Africa, 229. Which statement best supports the theory that all
and South America closest? the continents were once a single landmass?
A) Tertiary B) Cretaceous A) Rocks of the ocean ridges are older than those
C) Triassic D) Ordovician of the adjacent sea floor.
B) Rock and fossil correlation can be made
226. During which geologic period were the continents
where the continents appear to fit together.
all part of one landmass, with North America and
South America joined to Africa? C) Marine fossils can be found at high elevations
above sea level on all continents.
A) Tertiary B) Cretaceous D) Great thicknesses of shallow-water sediments
C) Triassic D) Carboniferous are found at interior locations on some
227. Which statement best supports the theory of continents.
continental drift?
A) Basaltic rock is found to be progressively
younger at increasing distances from a
mid-ocean ridge.
B) Marine fossils are often found in deep-well
drill cores.
C) The present continents appear to fit
together as pieces of a larger landmass.
D) Areas of shallow-water seas tend to
accumulate sediment, which gradually sinks.
228. On what other landmass would you most likely find
fossil remains of the late Paleozoic reptile called
Mesosaurus shown below?

A)

B)

C)
D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

Base your answers to questions 230 and 231 on

the map below, which shows the tectonic plate boundaries near the East African Rift. Arrows show
relative tectonic plate movement. A region of Africa is crosshatched.

230. What appears to be happening to the crosshatched region of eastern Africa?

A) A folded mountain range is forming as this region collides with the rest of Africa.
B) Several volcanic mountains are forming as the rest of Africa subducts under this region.
C) This region is moving eastward relative to the rest of Africa.
D) This region is moving northward relative to the rest of Africa.
231. Which diagram best represents the polarity of the magnetic field preserved in the ocean-floor
bedrock found on both sides of the Mid-Indian Ridge?

A) B)

C) D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

232. The block diagram below represents the present ocean floor. The white arrows show the movement
of the ocean floor and the black arrows show the movement of the asthenosphere.

Which characteristic of the ocean-floor bedrock is best described by the plus and minus symbols in
the diagram?
A) plus = older age; minus = younger age
B) plus = younger age; minus = older age
C) plus = reversed magnetic polarity; minus = normal magnetic polarity
D) plus = normal magnetic polarity; minus = reversed magnetic polarity
233. Alternating parallel bands of normal and reversed
magnetic polarity are found in the basaltic bedrock
on either side of the
A) Mid-Atlantic Ridge
B) Yellowstone Hot Spot
C) San Andreas Fault
D) Peru-Chile Trench
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

234. Base your answer to the following question on "cross section below, which shows an underwater
mountain range in the Atlantic Ocean. The oceanic bedrock is composed mainly of basalt. Points X
and Y are locations in the bedrock that have been diverging at the same rate. The movement of the
North American Plate and Eurasian Plate is shown by the two arrows.

"
Which statements best describe the age and magnetic orientation of the basalts found at locations X
and Y?
A) The basalt at location X is younger than the basalt at location Y. Both locations have the same
magnetic orientation.
B) The basalts at locations X and Yare the same age. Both locations have the same magnetic
orientation.
C) The basalts at locations X and Y are the same age. Location X has normal magnetic orientation
and location Y has reversed magnetic orientation.
D) The basalt at location X is older than the basalt at location Y. Location X has reversed magnetic
orientation and location Y has normal magnetic orientation.
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

235. The diagram below represents the pattern of normal and reversed magnetic polarity and the relative
age of the igneous bedrock composing the ocean floor on the east side of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
The magnetic polarity of the bedrock on the west side of the ridge has been deliberately left blank.

Which diagram best shows the magnetic pattern and relative age of the igneous bedrock on the west
side of the ridge?
A) B)

C) D)
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

236. The arrows on the map below show the apparent 238. Which map best represents the general pattern of
changes in the position of Earth's magnetic North magnetism in the oceanic bedrock near the
Pole throughout geologic time, as recorded in the mid-Atlantic Ridge?
igneous rocks of Europe and North America.

A)

B)

C)

This evidence best supports the concept of

A) the heliocentric solar system
B) the Coriolis effect D)
C) planet orbit eccentricity
D) plate tectonics
237. Which evidence causes most scientists to believe
that seafloor spreading occurs at the mid-Atlantic
Ridge?
A) Oceanic crust is oldest at the ridge. 239. Which inference is supported by a study of the
B) Large sedimentary folds exist in the mantle Earth's magnetic rock record?
near the ridge. A) The Earth's magnetic field is only 2 million
C) Oceanic crust on both sides of the ridge is less years old.
dense than continental crust. B) The Earth's magnetic field is 50 times stronger
D) Oceanic crust on both sides of the ridge now than in the past.
shows matching patterns of reversed and C) The Earth's magnetic poles are usually located
normal magnetic polarity. at 0ø latitude.
D) The Earth's magnetic poles appear to have
changed location over time.
 PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC

240. Which evidence supports the theory of ocean floor 242. The map below shows the position of the north
spreading? magnetic pole at various times in the past.
A) The rocks of the ocean floor and the
continents have similar origins.
B) In the ocean floor, rocks near the mid-ocean
ridge are cooler than rocks near the continents.
C) The pattern of magnetic orientation of
rocks is similar on both sides of the
mid-ocean ridge.
D) The density of oceanic crust is greater than the
density of continental crust.
241. Earth's magnetic field has reversed itself several
times during the past. This pattern of magnetic
reversal is best preserved in
A) metamorphic bedrock in mountain ranges
B) bedrock with fossils containing radioactive
These positions have most likely been determined
carbon-14
by using
C) layers of sedimentary bedrock of the Grand
Canyon A) compass readings on various continents today
D) igneous bedrock of the oceanic crust B) magnetic properties of rocks formed during
various geologic times
C) seismic waves traveling through the Earth's
interior
D) fossils found in bedrock formed during
various geologic times
 Answer Key
PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC 2017

1. C 37. C 73. C 109. B

2. B 38. A 74. D 110. A
3. A 39. D 75. D 111. C
4. D 40. D 76. D 112. B
5. D 41. B 77. D 113. B
6. A 42. B 78. A 114. B
7. A 43. C 79. D 115. A
8. A 44. A 80. C 116. D
9. A 45. A 81. C 117. D
10. D 46. D 82. A 118. B
11. C 47. D 83. A 119. A
12. B 48. A 84. A 120. A
13. B 49. D 85. B 121. D
14. A 50. B 86. D 122. B
15. C 51. C 87. D 123. B
16. B 52. B 88. A 124. A
17. D 53. B 89. B 125. C
18. D 54. A 90. C 126. B
19. C 55. B 91. B 127. D
20. B 56. C 92. C 128. B
21. D 57. D 93. D 129. C
22. C 58. C 94. A 130. A
23. C 59. C 95. D 131. A
24. A 60. C 96. A 132. C
25. D 61. D 97. A 133. B
26. B 62. A 98. B 134. C
27. A 63. B 99. C 135. C
28. D 64. C 100. D 136. C
29. D 65. D 101. D 137. C
30. D 66. A 102. C 138. B
31. D 67. B 103. D 139. B
32. A 68. C 104. C 140. D
33. C 69. A 105. C 141. D
34. C 70. D 106. A 142. B
35. D 71. C 107. A 143. D
36. C 72. C 108. D 144. A
 Answer Key
PLATE TECTONICS MEGA PACKET MC 2017

145. A 181. B 217. B

146. D 182. C 218. D
147. C 183. A 219. A
148. A 184. D 220. C
149. C 185. D 221. D
150. A 186. A 222. D
151. C 187. B 223. A
152. C 188. A 224. A
153. D 189. B 225. C
154. C 190. C 226. C
155. A 191. B 227. C
156. C 192. C 228. B
157. B 193. A 229. B
158. C 194. B 230. C
159. D 195. D 231. A
160. D 196. C 232. D
161. A 197. B 233. A
162. D 198. C 234. B
163. B 199. C 235. A
164. B 200. A 236. D
165. C 201. C 237. D
166. C 202. A 238. D
167. D 203. B 239. D
168. D 204. A 240. C
169. D 205. A 241. D
170. C 206. A 242. B
171. C 207. A
172. B 208. C
173. A 209. A
174. B 210. B
175. D 211. A
176. A 212. C
177. C 213. C
178. B 214. C
179. D 215. D
180. C 216. C