Name: 
 

PangaeaEarthlayers


Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 
The crust and upper mantle make up Earth's ____.
a.
lithosphere
c.
core
b.
asthenosphere
d.
continents
 

 2. 
Plates of the lithosphere float on the ____.
a.
crust
c.
core
b.
asthenosphere
d.
atmosphere
 

 3. 
The presence of the same ____ on several continents supports the hypothesis of continental drift.
a.
fossils
c.
neither a nor b
b.
rocks
d.
both a and b
 

 4. 
The hypothesis that continents have slowly moved to their current locations is called ____.
a.
continental drift
c.
magnetic reversal
b.
continental slope
d.
convection
 

 5. 
A lack of explanation for continental drift prevented many scientists from accepting that a single supercontinent called ____ once existed.
a.
Glomar
c.
Pangaea
b.
Glossopteris
d.
Wegener
 

 6. 
Continental drift states that continents have moved ____ to their current location.
a.
vertically
c.
quickly
b.
slowly
d.
very little
 

 7. 
Wegener believed that the continents originally broke apart about ____ years ago.
a.
200 million
c.
400 million
b.
300 million
d.
500 million
 

 8. 
A fossil plant that helps support the theory of continental drift is ____.
a.
Mesosaurus
c.
Glomar
b.
Glossopteris
d.
Pangaea
 

 9. 
Which is the thickest layer of the Earth?
a.
crust
c.
mantle
b.
inner core
d.
outer core
 

 10. 
Fossils of the fern Glossopteris have been found in Africa, Australia, South America, and Antarctica. How do scientists explain this observation?
a.
The wind blew the seeds across the oceans from continent to continent.
b.
The fern developed independently on each continent.
c.
The continents were at one time joined together and then moved apart.
d.
The fern had adaptations to survive the different environments of the continents.
 

 11. 
Which theory explains the change in the position of the continents during the history of Earth?
a.
natural selection
c.
big bang
b.
plate tectonics
d.
rock cycle
 

 12. 
Which of these statements about Earth's crust is true?
a.
It is a layer of solid rock that remains the same throughout time.
b.
It includes the continents, but not the ocean floor.
c.
It is a changing, moving surface with the same thickness everywhere.
d.
It is a system of large masses called plates that slowly move together or apart.
 

 13. 
Compared to rocks in Earth's crust, rocks in the mantle are more
a.
dense.
c.
granular.
b.
mineral-rich.
d.
porous.
 

 14. 
 Use the pie section below to answer this question.
mc014-1.jpg
The pie section shows Earth's composition from the center to the surface. Section IV is most likely composed of
a.
molten iron.
c.
solid iron.
b.
granitic rock.
d.
basalt.
 

 15. 
A deep well or mine shaft goes through which layer or layers of Earth?
a.
crust only
c.
crust and mantle
b.
mantle only
d.
mantle and core
 

 16. 
Earth's core is mainly composed of
a.
iron and aluminum.
c.
iron and nickel.
b.
silicon and hydrogen.
d.
silicon and oxygen.
 

 17. 
What is the primary cause of volcanoes and earthquakes?
a.
crustal plate movement
c.
higher than usual tides
b.
Earth's gravitational force
d.
solar magnetic storms
 

 18. 
Scientists believe the Earth's inner core to be solid. This is probably due to extremes in:
a.
depth.
c.
pressure.
b.
heat.
d.
temperature.
 

 19. 
If we compare the temperature and pressure of the Earth's mantle to the core, what differences can we expect as we move downward into the Earth?
a.
Both the temperature and pressure increase.
b.
Both the temperature and pressure decrease.
c.
The temperature decreases and the pressure increases.
d.
The temperature increases and the pressure decreases.
 

 20. 
Layer C in the diagram has the greatest temperature and pressure. It is MOST LIKELY Earth's
mc020-1.jpg
a.
atmosphere.
c.
mantle.
b.
crust.
d.
core.
 

 21. 
Layer A in the diagram has the lowest temperature and pressure. What part of the Earth is labeled layer A?
mc021-1.jpg
a.
the atmosphere
c.
the mantle
b.
the crust
d.
the core
 



 
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