AQA Geo: Continental Drift

• What is the theory of continental drift?

  Continents were once joined
• What is the name of the supercontinent shown in the image?

  Pangaea
• The continents move away from each other very quickly.

  False
• Match the dinosaur type with its corresponding continent in the image:

  Theropods ↔️ North America

  Hadrosaurs ↔️ Eurasia

  Sauropods ↔️ Africa

  Ankylosaurs ↔️ Antarctica
• What geological feature supports the fit of continents theory by showing a striking match between South America and Africa?

  Coastlines
• Who was Alfred Wegener?

  German scientist
• The eastern coast of South America matches perfectly with the western coast of Africa.

  True
• The continents today look like they could fit together like puzzle pieces.


  True
• The fit of coastlines between South America and Africa supports Wegener's theory.

  True
• What type of fossil evidence did Wegener use to support his theory?

  Fossil distributions
• Mesosaurus fossils are found in both South America and Africa, indicating they were once connected.


  True
• What feature of the ocean floor was unknown during Wegener's time?

  Mid-ocean ridges
• What is continental drift?

  Continents moving apart
• How far did Africa move due to continental drift?

  5,000 miles
• Who proposed the theory of continental drift?

  Alfred Wegener
• Regions with identical geological structures were once continuous before continental separation.


  True
• What type of data was incomplete in Wegener's time?

  Geological data
• Order the steps in the development of Wegener's theory:

  1️⃣ Evidence for continental drift

  2️⃣ Lack of credible mechanism

  3️⃣ Dismissal by geophysicists

  4️⃣ Ocean floor exploration
• Wegener's theory included evidence of seafloor spreading.

  False
• What later theory did Wegener's work lay the foundation for?

  Plate tectonics
• Match the evidence with the concept it supports:

  Matching coastlines ↔️ Continental drift

  Pangaea ↔️ Supercontinent

  Wegener ↔️ Theory of continental drift
• Wegener had access to complete geological data from all continents.

  False
• Whose theory is supported by the matching coastlines of continents?

  Wegener
• What do geological formations provide evidence for?

  Continental drift
• Fossil evidence of Mesosaurus is found in South America and Africa.


  True
• Arrange the following concepts in a logical sequence:

  1️⃣ Pangaea

  2️⃣ Continental drift

  3️⃣ Matching coastlines
• Who used matching fossils as evidence for the continental drift theory?

  Alfred Wegener
• What does the green color in the image represent?

  Continental shelf
• Pangaea broke apart and its pieces drifted to their current positions


  True
• Match the limitation with its explanation:

  Lack of Mechanism ↔️ Unable to explain what forces moved continents

  No Ocean Floor Exploration ↔️ Limited understanding of seafloor topography

  Limited Geological Data ↔️ Incomplete geological information hindered correlation
• Match the dinosaur type with its corresponding continent in the image:

  Theropods ↔️ North America

  Hadrosaurs ↔️ Eurasia

  Sauropods ↔️ Africa

  Ankylosaurs ↔️ Antarctica
• What does fossil evidence provide compelling proof of regarding continents?

  Continents were once connected
• Which fossil evidence is associated with the freshwater reptile Mesosaurus?

  Fossil remains of Mesosaurus
• When did Wegener first present his continental drift theory?

  1912
• Match the fossil with its location and significance:

  Mesosaurus ↔️ South America, Africa: Freshwater reptile

  Cynognathus ↔️ South America, Africa: Land reptile

  Lystrosaurus ↔️ Africa, India, Antarctica: Land mammal-like reptile

  Glossopteris ↔️ South America, Africa, Antarctica: Seed fern
• What scientific mechanism confirms Wegener's original hypothesis about continental drift?

  Plate tectonics
• What is the most obvious evidence for continental drift?

  Matching coastlines
• What theory explains the movement of Earth's surface through the interaction of plates?

  Plate tectonics
• Harry Hess played a key role in developing the plate tectonics theory based on Wegener's ideas.

  True
• Continental drift is explained by the movement of plates at divergent boundaries.


  True