Question

Which of the following provide evidence that South America, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia were once together as one supercontinent? Select the three correct answers.
Cratons match across the edges of continents.

Glacial deposits and scratches in the bedrock from an ice sheet match in distant regions.

Icy glaciers covered South America, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia as one supercontinent over the North Pole.

Fossils of marsupials were originally the same across South America and Australia.

Vast deposits of coal formed in regions with ancient deserts.

Mountain chains match up where South America collided with Australia to form Pangaea.

Answer 1

Answer:

Option (1), (2) and (4)

Explanation:

The continents were all together once, which was commonly known a the Pangaea. The Pangaea then slowly started to break forming different sub continents namely the South America, Africa, Australia and Antarctica. There are evidences that suggests that these continents were earlier attached together. Some of them, are as follows-

(a) These continents shared cratons whose edges are similar and perfectly fits with one another, suggesting that they were together in the geological past.

(b) Numerous ice age events has taken place during the time of Pangaea super-continent, that produced the scratches over the surface of continents. These scratches along with glacial deposits are still found at many places on earth. This also provides a good evidence that these continents were all together once.

(c) The fossils of marsupials have been found at many places in South America and Australia, that belonged to the mammalian group. They were extensively present in these two continents in the past.

Hence, the correct answers are option (1), (2) and (4).

Answer 2

Mountain chains match up where South America collided with Australia to form Pangaea.