May 22, 2025

Pangaea

Millions of years ago, all of Earth’s continents were joined together in one massive landmass called Pangaea. This supercontinent existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras before slowly breaking apart due to the movement of tectonic plates. The theory of Pangaea has helped scientists understand the past positions of continents, the distribution of fossils, and the forces shaping our planet today. This quiz will test your knowledge of Pangaea, its history, and the scientific evidence that supports its existence.



1. What was Pangaea?
A) A supervolcano
B) A large ocean
C) A supercontinent
D) A dinosaur species

2. Which scientist is most famously associated with the theory of continental drift and Pangaea?
A) Isaac Newton
B) Charles Darwin
C) Alfred Wegener
D) Albert Einstein

3. About how many million years ago did Pangaea begin to break apart?
A) 65 million years ago
B) 200 million years ago
C) 500 million years ago
D) 1 million years ago

4. True or False: Pangaea was the only supercontinent to ever exist.

5. What major geological process caused the breakup of Pangaea?
(Short answer)

6. Which modern continents were once part of Pangaea?
A) Only Europe and Asia
B) North and South America
C) All current continents
D) Only Africa and South America

7. What is the name of the ocean that surrounded Pangaea?
A) Atlantic Ocean
B) Panthalassa
C) Pacific Ocean
D) Tethys Sea

8. True or False: The theory of plate tectonics supports the idea of Pangaea.

9. What type of evidence did scientists use to support the existence of Pangaea?
(Short answer — name at least one type)

10. Which of the following best describes the importance of Pangaea in Earth’s history?
A) It helps scientists understand climate change.
B) It explains ancient mythologies.
C) It provides evidence for evolution.
D) It helps explain the movement of continents and plate tectonics.

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Answer Key

1. C) A supercontinent
2. C) Alfred Wegener
3. B) 200 million years ago
4. False
5. Plate tectonics / movement of Earth's plates
6. C) All current continents
7. B) Panthalassa
8. True
9. Fossil evidence, rock formations, glacial patterns, or matching coastlines
10. D) It helps explain the movement of continents and plate tectonics