Mountains and volcanoes (intro)

How mountains form, famous mountains around the world, and the basics of volcanoes

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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
What is the highest mountain in the world? A) Mount Everest B) Ben Nevis C) Snowdon D) Mont Blanc
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2
True or false? Hot melted rock inside a volcano is called magma; once it comes out, it is called lava. A) True B) False
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3
Match each UK mountain to the country it is in. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Ben Nevis, Snowdon, Scafell Pike, Slieve Donard Right: Scotland, Wales, England, Northern Ireland
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4
Fill in the blank. The highest mountain in the UK is Ben ___.
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5
What is an 'active' volcano? A) One that has erupted recently or could erupt again soon B) One that has not erupted for thousands of years C) One that will never erupt again D) One that does not exist any more
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6
Match each volcano word to its meaning. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Active, Dormant, Extinct Right: Has erupted recently or could erupt again, Has not erupted for a long time but might again, Will not erupt again
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7
True or false? Most mountains form when huge sections of the Earth's crust push together. A) True B) False
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8
In the UK, a peak is usually called a 'mountain' if it is taller than about how many metres? A) 600 m B) 100 m C) 2,000 m D) 5,000 m
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9
Fill in the blank. The highest mountain in Wales is ___.
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10
Put these stages of a volcanic eruption in order. Put these in order: Magma rises up inside the volcano, Pressure builds in the magma chamber, Magma bursts out as lava through the vent, Lava cools and hardens into new rock
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Answer key

Mountains and volcanoes (intro) · for parents and teachers

1
Mount Everest
Mount Everest, in the Himalayas, is the highest mountain on Earth at about 8,849 m above sea level.
2
True
True. Magma is melted rock inside the Earth. When it erupts out of a volcano, it is called lava.
3
Ben Nevis → Scotland; Snowdon → Wales; Scafell Pike → England; Slieve Donard → Northern Ireland
Ben Nevis is Scotland's highest peak, Snowdon is in Wales, Scafell Pike is in the English Lake District and Slieve Donard is the highest in Northern Ireland.
4
Nevis
Ben Nevis in Scotland is the UK's highest mountain at 1,345 m.
5
One that has erupted recently or could erupt again soon
An active volcano is one that has erupted recently or could erupt again. Dormant volcanoes are 'sleeping' and extinct volcanoes will not erupt again.
6
Active → Has erupted recently or could erupt again; Dormant → Has not erupted for a long time but might again; Extinct → Will not erupt again
Active = erupting or could erupt soon. Dormant = quiet for a long time but might erupt again. Extinct = will not erupt again.
7
True
True. Many mountains form when tectonic plates push together and the land is forced upwards over millions of years.
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600 m
In the UK, a peak over about 600 m is usually called a mountain. Smaller peaks are called hills.
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Snowdon
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa in Welsh) is the highest mountain in Wales at 1,085 m.
10
Pressure builds in the magma chamber, Magma rises up inside the volcano, Magma bursts out as lava through the vent, Lava cools and hardens into new rock
Pressure builds in the magma chamber, magma rises up through the volcano, it erupts as lava out of the vent and then cools into new rock.