Question

The Great Smoky Mountains are located along the eastern border of Tennessee and are part of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain, which spans eastern North America from Newfoundland, Canada, to Alabama, USA. The map shows the location of the Great Smoky Mountains.







The Great Smoky Mountains formed 200–300 million years ago by an interaction between Earth's tectonic plates. The map shows the current location of Earth's plates and their boundaries.







Plates can move toward each other, away from each other, or alongside each other. The model shows the three types of plate boundaries.









The following question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.



Part A:

What caused the plate interaction that led to the formation of the Great Smoky Mountains?


ocean currents above Earth's lithosphere


convection currents in Earth's asthenosphere


hotspots of magma from Earth's asthenosphere


earthquakes at plate boundaries in Earth's lithosphere




Part B:

Which statement BEST supports the answer to Part A?


Plates move when earthquakes shake Earth's lithosphere.


Plates move when magma pushes through the lithosphere.


Plates move when hot mantle material circulates under the lithosphere.


Plates move when cold ocean water cools hot mantle material under the lithosphere.

Answer 1

Part A: convection currents in Earth's asthenosphere

Part B: Plates move when hot mantle material circulates under the lithosphere.

Explanation: The Great Smoky Mountains formed during a continental collision (a convergent plate boundary) driven by mantle convection. Earthquakes are effects of plate motion, hotspots are localized, and ocean-surface currents do not move tectonic plates.