Question

1. choose the best answer.

why did wegeners continental drift theory struggle to gain acceptance?
wegener had made previous hypotheses that were proven wrong.
the distance between continents was viewed as too great.
there was no explanation for the force causing the movement.
continental drift could not be observed.

1. choose all that apply.

choose four pieces of evidence for continental drift.
mountain ranges and rock formations in europe and north america have common origins.
earthquakes shift continents.
observations reveal that continents historically had different climates than they do now.
historical records describe a single continent.
continents move several miles every year.
the shapes of the continents appear to fit together.
paleontologists have found fossils of the same plants and animals on different continents.

Explanation:

• For question 5: Wegener's continental drift theory struggled as there was no explanation for the force causing the movement. Other options are incorrect. Wegener didn't have a history of wrong hypotheses relevant here. The distance between continents wasn't the main issue (as evidence like fossil and geological matches across continents was there despite distance). Continental drift could be inferred (though not directly observed in Wegener's time, but lack of force explanation was a bigger problem).
• For question 6:
• "Mountain ranges and rock formations in Europe and North America have common origins" - geological evidence for continental drift.
• "Observations reveal that continents historically had different climates than they do now" - climate - related evidence (as continents moved, their climate zones changed).
• "The shapes of the continents appear to fit together" - a classic visual and initial observation for continental drift.
• "Paleontologists have found fossils of the same plants and animals on different continents" - biological evidence.
• "Earthquakes shift continents" is incorrect as earthquakes are a result of plate tectonics (which is an extension of continental drift theory but earthquakes themselves are not evidence for the initial continental drift concept as Wegener proposed). "Historical records describe a single continent" - historical records are too recent (continental drift occurred over millions of years, historical records are only a few thousand years at most). "Continents move several miles every year" - continents move centimeters per year, not miles.

Answer:

1. There was no explanation for the force causing the movement.
2. Mountain ranges and rock formations in Europe and North America have common origins; Observations reveal that continents historically had different climates than they do now; The shapes of the continents appear to fit together; Paleontologists have found fossils of the same plants and animals on different continents.