Herramienta de Investigación

1. Vocabulary Question Answer choice A is correct because cohesive and unified in this context both mean when two or more ideas are integrated into one. Answer choice B is incorrect because detailed, which carries the meaning of something that is complex, is not related to the word cohesive. Answer choice C is incorrect

because limited is different in meaning from cohesive in that it means when

something is restricted. Answer choice D is incorrect because lengthy and cohesive are not synonyms. Lengthy means when something takes a long time to finish.

2. Factual Information Question Answer choice D is correct because the passage stated that: They are in perpetual movement, though at an extremely slow pace, and this shifting causes frequent interactions between plates. This is the only information in paragraph 2 that the author does not introduce with expressions of uncertainty.

Answer choice A is incorrect because in the passage it is stated that: The Earth’s plates vary considerably in size, as some are estimated to be continental or even hemispheric in size, while others are believed to be much smaller. This answer choice misrepresents the information from the passage. Answer choice B is incorrect for the same reason as answer choice A. Answer choice C is incorrect because in the passage it is stated that: Though the actual boundaries and sizes and shapes of the plates are not known for sure, [...].

3. Vocabulary Question Answer choice B is correct because hypothesized and postulated in this context both mean when an idea still needs to be tested, or when something is guessed at, but still uncertain. Answer choice A is incorrect because recommended, which carries the meaning of something that is suggested, is not related to the word postulated, and is inappropriate in the sentence. Answer choice C is incorrect because proven is different in meaning from postulated in that the latter means that something has not been proven yet. Answer choice D is incorrect because assumed and postulated are not synonyms. Assumed means when something is certain, but postulated means the opposite.

4. Purpose Question Answer choice A is correct because the phrase “for the time being” is used to express the idea that something is known, or true, but this is

subject to change in the future. Answer choice B is incorrect because the expression

“for the time being” is immediately followed by information regarding the number of boundaries that are known, not that interactions between plates occur now versus at

another time. Answer choice C is incorrect because in the passage it is not stated that all of the boundary types have been identified, only that 3 types have been discovered. Answer choice D is incorrect because this information is never mentioned in the passage. Only one type of boundary is like this: a divergent boundary.

5. Factual Information Question Answer choice C is correct because the passage stated that: [...] volcanic islands are the result of this type of plate boundary seeing as the gap that the diverging plates leave behind can be filled with molten lava, which rises from the Earth’s mantle. Eventually, the lava builds to such an extent that it breaches the surface of the water. Answer choice A is incorrect because in the passage it is stated that: This type of boundary usually occurs at an underwater mountain range, or mid-ocean ridge, where new material is being added to the seafloor - known as seafloor spreading [...]. The passage does not state that volcanic islands are a result of the seafloor spreading at a divergent boundary.

Answer choice B is incorrect because the passage does not mention that volcanic islands are a reaction of diverging plates, rather they are a possible result. Answer choice D is incorrect because in the passage it is stated that underwater mountain ranges occur at a divergent boundary, but this is not the cause of volcanic islands.

They form as a result of the accumulation of lava.

6. Vocabulary Question Answer choice A is correct because breaks through and breaches in this context both mean when something is able to rise up above the surface of the water. Answer choice B is incorrect because bursts is inappropriate in the sentence seeing as it carries the meaning of something which is filled with air or a liquid exploding rather than simply rising above the surface. Answer choice C is incorrect because cracks is used only when describing a hard surface, such as concrete or ice, not water. Answer choice D is incorrect because though infringes can mean the same as breaches, it is only in the sense of a law or rule being broken. It is a figurative use of the word rather than a literal one.

7. Inference Question Answer choice B is correct because the passage states that: In the first kind of convergent boundary, the two plates that crash into each other are both composed of continental, or sial crust. This is where large mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas, form. Answer choice A is incorrect because we learn from the reading that volcanic islands are the result of two diverging plates, not mountain ranges, though both can be found at the site of a divergent boundary. Answer choice C is incorrect because we know that it is possible for a mountain range to be located on the ocean floor at a divergent boundary. Answer choice D is incorrect because it misrepresents information in the passage regarding convergent plates. The reading says: Other convergent boundaries occur when an oceanic plate collides with either a continental plate or another oceanic plate. In both cases, one crust will be forced under the other (usually it is the oceanic crust that does this).

8. Sentence Insertion Question Answer choice D is correct because the boldfaced sentence is an example of what was said in the previous sentence in the passage about the trenches that can form in a subduction zone. Answer choices A, B and C are incorrect because putting the boldfaced sentence in any of these positions would break up the sequence of facts, making the paragraph incongruous. In other words, the paragraph is describing the phenomenon of subduction and what happens to the crust around a subduction zone. It is only at the end of the paragraph that the author mentions trenches.

9. Negative Fact Question Answer choice B is correct because it is stated that:

Though this subduction is slow [...]. Answer choice A is incorrect because the passage states that: [...] one crust will be forced under the other (usually it is the

oceanic crust that does this).” Answer choice C is incorrect because the passage mentions: The surrounding crust is usually relatively unstable and is characterized by numerous deep earthquakes and a significant amount of volcanic activity. Answer choice D is incorrect because the passage says: The boundaries between

convergent plates are generally found around the edges of ocean basins and are sometimes associated with deep ocean trenches.

10. Factual Information Question Answer choice D is correct because the passage stated that: Transform boundaries are also known as conservative boundaries because the lithospere is neither created nor destroyed. Answer choice A is incorrect because in the passage it is stated that: [...] a transform boundary, or transform fault [...] involves two plates sliding past each other laterally, without the folding and crumpling that occurs at a convergent boundary. Answer choice B is incorrect because the reading does not state that most transform boundaries are located in the western United States. Instead, the passage contains one example of a transform boundary in that region. Answer choice C is incorrect because it

misrepresents information from the passage in that most transform boundaries can be found on the ocean floor, and one example of a transform boundary that is not found on the ocean floor is the San Andreas Fault, which has been the cause of a lot of damage.

11. Paraphrasing Question Answer choice C is correct because it represents a correct paraphrase of the central ideas in the highlighted sentence. Answer choice A is incorrect because in the highlighted sentence, it is stated that the San Andreas Fault is an exception to the general rule that transform faults are located on the ocean floor. Answer choice B is incorrect because it also gives a false paraphrase by saying that the San Andreas Fault is located on the ocean floor. Answer choice D is incorrect because it not only states that the San Andreas Fault is located on the ocean floor, but it does not cause any damage.

12. Inference Question Answer choice A is correct because the passage states that: It is now generally accepted that the single supercontinent known as Pangaea indeed existed [...] We can infer from this that at one point in time, this theory was not accepted, or was being debated. Answer choice B is incorrect because we learn from the reading that Pangaea broke into two giant pieces: the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Answer choice C is incorrect because it is incorrect to say that Pangaea ended up in many different places, when we learn from the passage that it is the different pieces that it broke into that diverged and slowly drifted.

Answer choice D is incorrect because it misrepresents information in the passage regarding India. The reading states that India [...] drifted north to collide with part of Laurasia, the giant supercontinent in the Northern Hemisphere, to create the world’s tallest mountains.

13. Referent Question Answer choice B is correct because the word “it” is used to refer to the specific landmass of India. Answer choice A is incorrect because the sentence has already specified which landmass was being discussed as India. Also, if the word “landmass” were used, the definite article “the” would have to be used. Answer choice C is incorrect because we know from the context of the sentence that the author is describing a piece of land which broke off of Gondwanaland, not Gondwanaland itself. Answer choice D is incorrect for the same reason as

mentioned previously for answer choice C. The author is speaking about a piece of the Southern Hemisphere, not the hemisphere itself.

14. Summary Question

Divergent boundary: answer choice 2: Volcanic islands are the result of this type of plate boundary seeing as the gap that the diverging plates leave behind can be filled

with molten lava [...] and answer choice 5: [...] a divergent boundary [...] usually occurs at an underwater mountain range, or mid-ocean ridge, where new material is being added to the seafloor - known as seafloor spreading.

Convergent boundary: answer choice 3: In the first kind of convergent boundary, the two plates that crash into each other are both composed of continental, or sial crust.

This is where large mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas, form. and answer choice 7: The surrounding crust is usually relatively unstable and is characterized by numerous deep earthquakes and a significant amount of volcanic activity.

Transform boundary: answer choice 4: Transform boundaries are also known as conservative boundaries because the lithosphere is neither created nor destroyed.

This third type of boundary is thought to be far less common than the other two types of boundaries. It can usually be found on the ocean floor, but one well-known exception of this is the San Andreas Fault, in California, which has been responsible for many devastating earthquakes in the region.

Answer choice 1 is incorrect because it states that there exists a plate boundary in which the two plates are stationary, in other words, that they do not move at all. We know that the three types of plate boundaries all involve movement and interaction of the plates.

Answer choice 6 is incorrect because continental shifting is not the result of one single type of plate boundary. Rather, all of the boundaries contribute to the continual slow movement of the continents.