Science Olympiad Dynamic Planet Practice Test

What was the name of the single landmass that began breaking apart 200 million years ago?

1. Laurasia

2. Pangaea

3. Gondwana

4. Atlantis

The correct answer is: Pangaea

The correct answer is Pangaea, which refers to the single supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras. About 200 million years ago, during the Triassic period, Pangaea began to break apart due to tectonic forces and the movement of the Earth's lithospheric plates. This breakup eventually led to the formation of the modern continents we see today. Pangaea was characterized by its vast size, encompassing nearly all the landmasses of the Earth, which were connected as one large landmass before the rifting began. This is an essential concept in understanding plate tectonics and continental drift, highlighting the dynamic nature of Earth's surface over geological time. The other options, while they represent real geographic and geological entities, do not fit the criteria set by the question. Laurasia and Gondwana were actually landmasses that formed after Pangaea split apart; Laurasia was the northern portion, while Gondwana was the southern portion of the divided supercontinent. Atlantis is a mythological island mentioned in ancient stories, and it is not a scientifically recognized landmass from a geological context. Thus, Pangaea is the most accurate answer regarding the supercontinent that started to fragment around