Question 1

Where was North America 150 million years ago?
A)next to Antarctica
B)next to Australia
C)over the south pole
D)closer to Africa and South America
E)None of these.

Accepted Answer

According to plate tectonic theory and paleogeographic reconstructions, 150 million years ago, North America was located closer to Africa and South America as part of the supercontinent Pangaea.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a setting in which regional mountain belts form?
A)continental collision
B)subduction zone
C)upwelling of the mantle
D)passive margin
E)the collision of India with Asia

Accepted Answer

Regional mountain belts typically form in settings involving tectonic activity such as continental collisions (e.g., the Himalayas formed by the collision of India with Asia), subduction zones (where one tectonic plate moves under another), and possibly areas of mantle upwelling which can create volcanic mountain ranges. Passive margins, which occur at the transition between oceanic and continental lithosphere where there is no significant tectonic activity, do not typically form mountain belts.

Question 3

Which of these regions is high because of a continental collision? 
A)1, Andes of South America
B)2, East Africa Rift
C)3, Tibet
D)None of these.

Accepted Answer

The high elevation of Tibet is due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which formed the Himalayan mountain range. This is an example of a continental collision creating high topography. The Andes of South America are formed from subduction, and the East African Rift is a divergent boundary, so they do not fit the description of being high due to continental collision.

Question 4

Which of the following is used to match continents or track positions of the continents in the past?
A)reconstructions of seafloor spreading
B)rock types and structures
C)magnetism stored in rocks
D)All of these.
E)reconstructions of seafloor spreading and rock types/structures only

Accepted Answer

All of these methods are used to match continents or track positions of the continents in the past. Reconstructions of seafloor spreading can give information about the movement and position of continents, rock types and structures can provide evidence of past environments and tectonic activity, and magnetism stored in rocks can help determine the orientation of continents in the past.

Question 5

Where was India located during most of the Mesozoic?
A)the Southern Hemisphere
B)connected with Africa and Antarctica
C)part of the supercontinent of Gondwana
D)All of these.
E)None of these.

Accepted Answer

India was located in the Southern Hemisphere during most of the Mesozoic, it was connected with Africa and Antarctica, and it was part of the supercontinent of Gondwana. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT the name of a supercontinent?
A)Gondwana
B)Laurasia
C)Pangaea
D)Rodinia
E)Tethys

Accepted Answer

Tethys is not the name of a supercontinent, but rather a prehistoric ocean that existed during the Mesozoic era.

Question 7

Which of the following is a valid description of features within continental interiors?
A)The central region of a continent is called a shield and is a broad, basaltic volcano with gentle slopes.
B)The continental platform has nearly horizontal sedimentary rocks deposited on crystalline basement.
C)The oldest exposed rocks in a continent are usually along the coastline.
D)Broad domes and basins in continental interiors have nearly vertical beds around their flanks.
E)All of these.

Accepted Answer

The continental platform does indeed have nearly horizontal sedimentary rocks deposited on crystalline basement. A is incorrect because a shield is a large, flat area made up of ancient rocks. C is incorrect because the oldest exposed rocks in a continent are not always along the coastline. D is incorrect because broad domes and basins in continental interiors have nearly horizontal beds around their flanks.

Question 8

In order for a terrane to become attached to a continent, it typically
A)is shifted there suddenly by an earthquake.
B)originated as a meteor that fell over a continent.
C)becomes scraped of a subducting plate.
D)is transported by a glacier.
E)results from the collision of two continental plates.

Accepted Answer

Terranes are fragments of crust that have been added to a continent. One way for a terrane to become attached to a continent is through the process of accretion, which occurs when a terrane is scraped off a subducting plate and added to the edge of a continent. This process can take millions of years to occur, and usually results in the formation of mountains and other geologic features.

Question 9

Which of these regions is high because of mantle upwelling near a continental rift? 
A)1, Andes of South America
B)2, East Africa
C)3, Tibet
D)None of these.

Accepted Answer

East Africa is high because of mantle upwelling near the continental rift known as the East African Rift System. The other options do not have a similar geological process causing their high elevation.

Question 10

Which of these regions is high because of subduction of an oceanic plate? 
A)1, Andes of South America
B)2, East Africa
C)3, Tibet 
D)None of these.

Accepted Answer

The Andes of South America are a region where subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate has led to the formation of high elevations. This process has caused volcanic activity and uplift of the Andes Mountains. The other regions mentioned do not have significant subduction zones and/or other processes that lead to the formation of high elevations.

Question 11

What can a continental hot spot lead to?
A)formation of a curved continental outline along two rifts
B)localization of a river and delta along the failed arm of the rift
C)a thick accumulation of basalts and other volcanic rocks
D)a region that is high in elevation relative to adjacent parts of the continent
E)All of these.

Accepted Answer

A continental hot spot can lead to the formation of a curved continental outline along two rifts, which can create a zone of weakness that can later lead to the localization of a river and delta along the failed arm of the rift. The hot spot can also create a thick accumulation of basalts and other volcanic rocks, and the resulting uplift and volcanic activity can lead to a region that is high in elevation relative to adjacent parts of the continent. Therefore, all of the given choices can be true.

Question 12

Which numbered site is likely to have a thin sequence of sediments over crystalline rocks of the basement? 
A)1, the continental shield
B)2, the continental platform
C)3, a basin in the continent
D)4, a continental shelf
E)5, a deep sediment-filled basin next to the continent

Accepted Answer

The continental platform is the shallow, submerged extension of a continent where sediments can accumulate overlying the basement rocks. This is the most likely environment for a thin sequence of sediments over crystalline rocks of the basement.

Question 13

Which of the following occurs when mountain belts are eroded?
A)Erosion is accompanied by isostatic rebound.
B)The continental crust becomes thinner.
C)Deep metamorphic and plutonic rocks can be uplifted to the surface.
D)All of these.

Accepted Answer

When mountain belts are eroded, all of the given options occur. Erosion is accompanied by isostatic rebound, which is a process of the Earth's surface rising after the removal of weight. The continental crust becomes thinner as it is eroded away, and deep metamorphic and plutonic rocks can be uplifted to the surface.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a type of terrane in California?
A)oceanic crust
B)island arcs
C)accretionary prism
D)displaced granitic rocks
E)All of these are present in California.

Accepted Answer

All the listed types of terranes, including oceanic crust, island arcs, accretionary prism, and displaced granitic rocks, are present in California.

Question 15

Which of the following regions below would you predict to have the thickest continental crust? 
A)the West Coast because it is close to the plate boundary
B)the Colorado Rockies and adjacent Great Plains
C)the area with thick sediments around the Mississippi River
D)the Appalachian Mountains, the dominant range in the eastern U.S.
E)the East Coast because it is a passive margin

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following regions below would...

Question 16

Which of the following correctly matches the tectonic setting of a mountain belt with an example?
A)subduction zone-East Africa
B)continental collision-Andes Mountains
C)mantle upwelling-Tibet
D)All of these.
E)None of these.

Accepted Answer

The Andes Mountains are formed by subduction, not continental collision. East Africa is associated with rifting, not subduction. Tibet is formed by continental collision, not mantle upwelling.

Question 17

Which numbered site is likely to have exposure of crystalline rocks? 
A)1, the continental shield
B)2, the continental platform
C)3, a basin in the continent
D)4, a continental shelf
E)5, a deep sediment-filled basin next to the continent

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which numbered site is likely to have...

Question 18

A hypsometric curve shows that 
A)a little more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean.
B)the average ocean depth is sea level.
C)oceanic trenches occupy about 30 percent of Earth's surface.
D)the highest mountains on Earth are about a kilometer high.

Accepted Answer

A hypsometric curve shows the distribution of Earth's surface by elevation and depth. The curve shows that oceans occupy about 70% of the Earth's surface, indicating that choice A is correct. The curve does not provide information on the average ocean depth or the percentage of Earth's surface occupied by oceanic trenches or the height of the highest mountains, therefore choices B, C, and D are incorrect.

Question 19

The light blue area just off the Australian coast, as shown here, is called the 
A)continental platform.
B)seashore.
C)continental shelf.
D)abyssal plain.

Accepted Answer

The area shown is the continental shelf, which is a shallow, relatively flat extension of a continent that is submerged under the ocean.

Question 20

In the figure below, a tectonic terrane is shown at 
A)island arc.
B)ocean plateau.
C)continental fragment.
D)linear island chain.
E)All of these.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the figure below, a tectonic terrane...

Quiz 10: Plate Tectonics and Regional Features

Where was North America 150 million years ago?

Which of the following is NOT a setting in which regional mountain belts form?

Which of these regions is high because of a continental collision?

Which of the following is used to match continents or track positions of the continents in the past?

Where was India located during most of the Mesozoic?

Which of the following is NOT the name of a supercontinent?

Which of the following is a valid description of features within continental interiors?

In order for a terrane to become attached to a continent, it typically

Which of these regions is high because of mantle upwelling near a continental rift?

Which of these regions is high because of subduction of an oceanic plate?

What can a continental hot spot lead to?

Which numbered site is likely to have a thin sequence of sediments over crystalline rocks of the basement?

Which of the following occurs when mountain belts are eroded?

Which of the following is NOT a type of terrane in California?

Which of the following regions below would you predict to have the thickest continental crust?

Which of the following correctly matches the tectonic setting of a mountain belt with an example?

Which numbered site is likely to have exposure of crystalline rocks?

A hypsometric curve shows that

The light blue area just off the Australian coast, as shown here, is called the

In the figure below, a tectonic terrane is shown at