Mountain formation

The different ways that mountains are formed across the world

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
How are fold mountains formed? A) Two tectonic plates collide and push the crust upwards B) Volcanoes erupt and build up layers of lava C) Wind erodes the land into peaks D) Glaciers carve them out of valleys
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2
Complete the sentence. The Himalayan mountains were formed when India collided with the ___ plate.
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3
True or false? Volcanic mountains form when lava builds up around an erupting volcano. A) True B) False
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4
True or false? Volcanic mountains are made by erupting magma piling up. A) True B) False
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5
Which type of mountain is created when a block of land is pushed up between two faults? A) Block (fault) mountain B) Fold mountain C) Dome mountain D) Volcanic mountain
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6
Match each mountain type to its description. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Fold mountains, Volcanic mountains, Block mountains, Dome mountains Right: Form when plates collide and crust folds, Built up from lava and ash, Form between faults in the crust, Magma pushes crust up without erupting
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7
Which famous mountain range is an example of fold mountains? A) The Himalayas B) Mount Fuji C) Sierra Nevada D) The Black Hills
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8
Complete the sentence. The process where mountains are slowly worn down by weather and water is called ___.
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9
Why are the Scottish Highlands much shorter than the Himalayas? A) The Highlands are much older and have been worn down by erosion B) The Highlands were never very high C) The Highlands are not real mountains D) The Himalayas are made of denser rock
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10
Order these stages in the formation of fold mountains. Put these in order: Tall mountain range forms over millions of years, Two tectonic plates collide, Plates move slowly towards each other, Crust between plates buckles and folds upwards
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Answer key

Mountain formation · for parents and teachers

1
Two tectonic plates collide and push the crust upwards
Fold mountains form when two continental plates collide. The crust crumples and folds upwards, creating tall mountain ranges over millions of years.
2
Eurasian
The Himalayas formed when the Indian plate crashed into the Eurasian plate. They are still rising today by a few millimetres each year.
3
True
Volcanic mountains form when layers of lava and ash build up around a volcanic vent over many eruptions. Examples include Mount Fuji and Mount Etna.
4
True
True. Volcanic mountains form when lava and ash build up over many eruptions.
5
Block (fault) mountain
Block or fault mountains form when sections of crust are pushed up (or other sections drop down) along cracks called faults. The Sierra Nevada in the USA is an example.
6
Fold mountains → Form when plates collide and crust folds; Volcanic mountains → Built up from lava and ash; Block mountains → Form between faults in the crust; Dome mountains → Magma pushes crust up without erupting
There are four main mountain types. Fold mountains form by compression, volcanic by eruptions, block by faulting, and dome mountains by magma bulging the surface.
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The Himalayas
The Himalayas, including Mount Everest, are fold mountains. They were formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates and contain the world's highest peaks.
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erosion
Erosion slowly wears mountains down over millions of years. Wind, water, ice and weathering all play a part. Older mountains are usually shorter than newer ones.
9
The Highlands are much older and have been worn down by erosion
The Scottish Highlands are very old fold mountains, and erosion has worn them down to gentler heights. The Himalayas are young and are still growing.
10
Plates move slowly towards each other, Two tectonic plates collide, Crust between plates buckles and folds upwards, Tall mountain range forms over millions of years
Fold mountains form slowly: plates move toward each other, collide, the crust between them folds upwards, and over millions of years tall mountains develop.