Question 1

Hot spots are caused by ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  friction due to the lithosphere sliding atop the asthenosphere
B)  unusually dense concentrations of radioactive isotopes at various points in the crust
C)  hot plumes of mantle material that rises up through cooler,denser surrounding rock
D)  factors that remain completely unknown at this timeE) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 2

Continental lithosphere ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  is thicker than oceanic lithosphere
B)  contains more mafic rocks than oceanic lithosphere
C)  is denser than oceanic lithosphere
D)  contains no crustal material,consisting solely of lithified upper mantleE) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 3

Iceland is one of the few places in the world that is both above sea level and situated atop a ____________ plate boundary.

Accepted Answer

A)  convergent
B)  divergent
C)  transformD) None of the above
E) All of the above

Question 4

Slab pull occurs because subducting slabs are ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  less mafic,and therefore less dense,than surrounding asthenosphere
B)  cooler,and therefore more dense,than surrounding asthenosphere
C)  hotter,and therefore more dense,than surrounding asthenosphere
D)  cooler,and therefore less dense,than surrounding asthenosphereE) B) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 5

As compared to a slowly spreading mid-ocean ridge,a rapidly spreading ridge is ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  wider
B)  narrower
C)  more silicic in lava compositionD) A) and C)
E) B) and C)

Question 6

Subducted slabs have never been detected below the Wadati-Benioff zone.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

At transform plate boundaries ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  earthquakes are common but volcanoes are absent
B)  volcanoes are common but earthquakes do not occur
C)  both earthquakes and volcanoes are commonD) None of the above
E) A) and B)

Question 8

When two bodies of continental lithosphere are pulled together at a convergent boundary,the result is ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  subduction
B)  collision and mountain formationC) A) and B)
D) undefined

Question 9

The rate of motion of a lithospheric plate with respect to a stationary hot spot is termed ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  relative plate velocity
B)  absolute plate velocityC) A) and B)
D) undefined

Question 10

Unlike the lithosphere,the asthenosphere ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  is able to flow over long periods of time
B)  has a density similar to the core
C)  varies in thickness from place to place
D)  is relatively coolE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 11

The youngest sea floor occurs ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  along passive margins
B)  along active margins
C)  along mid-ocean ridges
D)  randomly over the entire ocean basinE) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 12

Summed over the entire surface of Earth,____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the rate of lithospheric production at ridges is greater than the rate of lithospheric consumption at subduction zones
B)  the rate of lithospheric consumption at subduction zones is greater than the rate of lithospheric production at ridges
C)  rates of lithospheric production and consumption are equalD) None of the above
E) All of the above

Question 13

Broad,sediment-covered continental shelves are found along ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  active margins
B)  passive marginsC) A) and B)
D) undefined

Question 14

The mid-ocean ridges are elevated above the surrounding sea floor because ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  ridge rocks are hot and therefore of relatively low density
B)  the lithospheric plates are thickest at the ridges so they stand up taller
C)  rising ocean currents leave a vacuum above the ridge
D)  ridge rocks are mafic,whereas the ocean basin crust consists of ultramafic rockE) None of the above
F) All of the above

Question 15

Deformed (bent,stretched,or cracked) lithosphere occurs ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  randomly over the surface of Earth
B)  primarily within the interiors of tectonic plates
C)  primarily on the margins of tectonic platesD) A) and B)
E) None of the above

Question 16

According to the figure below,every plate boundary can be recognized by ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the presence of active volcanoes
B)  the presence of an earthquake belt
C)  a deep chasm that can be seen from space
D)  None of the above are correct.E) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 17

At a subduction zone,the overriding plate ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  is always composed of continental lithosphere
B)  is always composed of oceanic lithosphere
C)  may be composed of either oceanic or continental lithosphereD) A) and B)
E) None of the above

Question 18

Consult the figure below.Most of the pulling force driving plate motion is produced ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  at mid-ocean ridges
B)  at subduction zones
C)  at collision zones
D)  in the interiors of continental platesE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 19

Tectonic plates move at rates that are approximately ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  1 to 5 cm every 1,000 years
B)  1 to 15 cm/year
C)  1 to 15 m/year
D)  10 to 100 m/yearE) B) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 20

Within the terminology of plate tectonics,an active margin is ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  synonymous with "subduction zone"
B)  a 5-mile radius surrounding an active volcano
C)  a continental coastline that coincides with a plate boundary
D)  anywhere on Earth where earthquakes are especially frequentE) None of the above
F) All of the above

Exam 4: The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Slab pull occurs because subducting slabs are ____________.

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Tectonic plates move at rates that are approximately ____________.

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Within the terminology of plate tectonics,an active margin is ____________.

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Unlike the lithosphere,the asthenosphere ____________.

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According to the figure below,every plate boundary can be recognized by ____________.

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At transform plate boundaries ____________.

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The mid-ocean ridges are elevated above the surrounding sea floor because ____________.

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Iceland is one of the few places in the world that is both above sea level and situated atop a ____________ plate boundary.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Broad,sediment-covered continental shelves are found along ____________.

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The rate of motion of a lithospheric plate with respect to a stationary hot spot is termed ____________.

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Continental lithosphere ____________.

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Summed over the entire surface of Earth,____________.

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Consult the figure below.Most of the pulling force driving plate motion is produced ____________.

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The youngest sea floor occurs ____________.

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Hot spots are caused by ____________.

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Deformed (bent,stretched,or cracked) lithosphere occurs ____________.

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At a subduction zone,the overriding plate ____________.

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When two bodies of continental lithosphere are pulled together at a convergent boundary,the result is ____________.

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Subducted slabs have never been detected below the Wadati-Benioff zone.

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As compared to a slowly spreading mid-ocean ridge,a rapidly spreading ridge is ____________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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