Question

tropical plant fossils have been found in cold arctic islands where they cannot survive in the present-day climate of this area. according to wegener’s theory, how were these ancient tropical plants able to survive in arctic islands?

plants were more adaptable in the past.
the poles of earth were warmer in the past.
arctic islands were closer to the equator in the past.
land movements warmed the landmasses in the past.

Explanation:

Wegener's theory of continental drift states that continents have moved over time. Tropical plants require a warm, tropical climate (near the equator). The presence of their fossils in Arctic islands implies that those islands were once in a location with a tropical climate, i.e., closer to the equator in the past. The other options: "Plants were more adaptable" is not supported by Wegener's theory; "The poles were warmer" contradicts the general understanding (poles are cold regions, and tropical plants need equatorial - like warmth, not just "warmer poles"); "Land movements warmed landmasses" is not part of Wegener's continental drift explanation for this phenomenon.

Answer:

C. Arctic islands were closer to the equator in the past.