A. Similar rock sequences and ages support the claim that the continents have moved over time because they suggest that these continents were once connected as part of a larger landmass. When continents were joined together, geological processes such as sedimentation, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountains would have created similar rock types and characteristics across those regions. As continents drifted apart due to tectonic plate movements, the rock sequences became isolated from one another. Therefore, if two separate continents today display remarkably similar rock layers, fossil types, and ages, it indicates they were part of the same geological environment in the past, bolstering the idea of continental drift and plate tectonics. Additionally, paleontological and magnetostratigraphic evidence can align with the ages of these rock sequences, offering further confirmation of the continents’ historical connection.
B. Based on a map that shows the continents 200 million years ago, the continent that would be the most likely to have rock sequences and ages similar to those shown in Africa and South America is likely Antarctica. During the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, the continents of Africa, South America, and Antarctica, among others, were part of the supercontinent Gondwana. As Gondwana began to break apart, these continents maintained similar geological features and rock formations because they formed in a continuity of geological processes while they were connected. Therefore, due to their shared geological history and the close proximity that existed before continental drift, Antarctica would likely exhibit rock sequences and ages similar to those of Africa and South America.
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