Question

which statements describe evidence of continental drift? check all that apply.
deserts line up when continents are pushed together.
mountain ranges often appear on the edges of continents.
fossils of the same animals appear on different continents.
tropical plants currently appear in both antarctica and south america.
wegeners theories were accepted by most geologists in the 1960s.
explorers discovered the edges of continents they did not know about.

Explanation:

• Fossils of the same animals appear on different continents: This is a classic piece of evidence for continental drift. It suggests that the continents were once connected (as the animals couldn't cross vast oceans), and then drifted apart.
• Tropical plants currently appear in both Antarctica and South America: Antarctica is now a cold, icy continent, but the presence of tropical - plant - related evidence (like fossilized remains of tropical plants or genetic evidence of plants with tropical adaptations) implies that Antarctica was once in a warmer, more tropical climate zone. This supports the idea that continents have moved over time (continental drift), as Antarctica has drifted to its current cold location from a warmer one.

• Deserts line up when continents are pushed together: This is not a valid piece of evidence for continental drift. Desert formation is more related to local climate factors (like distance from oceans, prevailing wind patterns, etc.) rather than continental movement.
• Mountain ranges often appear on the edges of continents: While mountain - building can be related to tectonic activity (which is related to plate movement, a more refined theory than continental drift), this statement alone is too vague. Mountain ranges can form due to various local tectonic interactions (like subduction at continental - oceanic plate boundaries) and not directly as a clear - cut piece of evidence for the large - scale movement of continents as a whole (continental drift).
• Wegener’s theories were accepted by most geologists in the 1960s: This is a statement about the acceptance of a scientific theory (continental drift proposed by Wegener) over time, not evidence for the phenomenon of continental drift itself.
• Explorers discovered the edges of continents they did not know about: This is more about exploration and mapping of continents, not evidence for the movement (drift) of continents.

Answer:

C. Fossils of the same animals appear on different continents.
D. Tropical plants currently appear in both Antarctica and South America.