Question

1. how were the fossil symbols and mountain belts helpful in deciding where to move the continents? they were helpful because they

Explanation:

Fossil symbols: Identical fossils found on different continents (e.g., Mesosaurus in S. America and Africa) suggest these continents were once joined, as the organism couldn’t cross wide oceans. Mountain belts: Matching mountain ranges (e.g., Appalachians in N. America and Caledonian in Europe) in structure/age across continents imply they formed when continents were connected, so aligning these belts helps reconstruct continental positions. These clues support continental drift theory, guiding how to reposition continents to fit the ancient supercontinent (Pangaea) model.

Answer:

Fossil symbols (identical fossils on separate continents, showing former connection) and mountain belts (matching ranges across continents, indicating shared geological history) helped by revealing where continents were once joined. By aligning continents so that matching fossils and mountain belts connected, scientists could reconstruct the supercontinent (Pangaea) and determine continental movement paths.