Question

matching (17 - 18)
match the evidence with the example:

1. fossil evidence
2. geological evidence

a) appalachian mountains match with caledonian mountains
b) mesosaurus fossils in africa and south america
short constructed response (19 - 20)

1. explain one piece of fossil evidence wegener used to support his theory.
2. why is continental drift important to the modern theory of plate tectonics?

Explanation:

1. Fossil evidence refers to the remains or traces of ancient organisms. Mesosaurus fossils being found in both Africa and South America is an example of fossil evidence as it suggests these continents were once connected.
2. Geological evidence pertains to features of the Earth's geology. The Appalachian Mountains matching with the Caledonian Mountains is geological evidence as it shows similarities in mountain - building processes across different regions.
3. Wegener used the presence of Mesosaurus fossils in Africa and South America. Mesosaurus was a small freshwater reptile. Its fossils being found on two separate continents that are now widely separated by an ocean suggests that these continents were once joined together, as Mesosaurus could not have crossed the ocean on its own.
4. Continental drift is important to the modern theory of plate tectonics because it was one of the early ideas that led to the development of plate tectonics. It proposed that the continents move. Plate tectonics builds on this by explaining how the Earth's lithosphere is divided into plates that move due to convection currents in the mantle. It provides the foundation for understanding the movement of continents, the formation of mountains, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.

Answer:

1. b) Mesosaurus fossils in Africa and South America
2. a) Appalachian Mountains match with Caledonian Mountains
3. Mesosaurus fossils were found in Africa and South America. Since Mesosaurus was a small freshwater reptile that could not cross the ocean, this suggests the continents were once joined.
4. Continental drift was an early idea that led to plate tectonics. It proposed continent - movement, which plate tectonics builds on to explain plate - movement, mountain - formation, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.