According to the theory of continental drift, the continents are not fixed in position, but instead move slowly across the surface of the Earth, constantly changing in position relative to one another. This theory was first proposed in the 18th century when map makers noticed how closely the continents of the Earth fit together when they were matched up. It was suggested then that the present-day continents had once been one large continent that had broken up into pieces which drifted apart. Today the modern theory of plate tectonics has developed from the theory of continental drift. The theory of plate tectonics suggests that the crust of the Earth is divided into six large, and many small tectonic plates that drift on the lava that composes the inner core of the Earth. These plates consist of ocean floor and continents that quite probably began breaking up and moving relative to one another more than 200 million years ago 1. The topic of this passage is A. Continental drift B. The theory of plate tectonics C. The development of ideas about the movement of the Earth’s surface D. Eighteenth-century mapmakers 2. The passage states that the theory of continental drift developed as a result of A. The fixed positions of the continents B. The work of mapmakers C. The rapid movement of continents D. The fit of the Earth’s plates 3. Which of the following is NOT true about the theory of plate tectonics A. It is not as old as the theory of continental drift B. It evolved from the theory of continental drift C. It postulates that the Earth’s surface is separated into plates D. It was proposed by mapmakers 4. According to the passage, what constitutes a tectonic plate? A. Lava B. Only the continents C. The inner core of the Earth D. The surface of the land and the floor of the oceans 5. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage A. Two unrelated theories are presented B. Two contrasting opinions are presented C. A theory is followed by an example D. One hypothesis is developed from another