On a world map, some continents look like mirror images of each other along the Atlantic Ocean. Which pair of continents forms such a mirror image of each other?

Introduction / Context:
The shapes of continents on a world map reveal important clues about the earth geological history. One observation is that some continental coastlines appear to fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. This question asks which pair of continents forms a mirror image of each other, a key idea that supports the theory of continental drift.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are dealing with continental shapes and coastlines.
• The idea is that two continents look like mirror images or jigsaw fit along the Atlantic Ocean.
• Options are North America and South America, Asia and Africa, Africa and South America, and Europe and Asia.
• We must select the pair whose opposing coastlines match strongly.

Concept / Approach:
The classic example used to explain continental drift is the close fit between the eastern coastline of South America and the western coastline of Africa. When these two coastlines are placed together, they form a striking jigsaw like match, suggesting that they were once joined as part of a single supercontinent. Therefore, the correct pair is Africa and South America, which appear like mirror images across the Atlantic Ocean.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise a world map and focus on the Atlantic Ocean region. Step 2: Look at the eastern coast of South America and the western coast of Africa. Their outlines appear to match if pushed together. Step 3: This jigsaw fit was one of the main observations that led Alfred Wegener to propose the continental drift theory. Step 4: Compare other options. North America and South America share a land connection rather than a mirror image. Asia and Africa meet at the Suez region without such a jigsaw coastline. Europe and Asia together form Eurasia and are not mirror images. Step 5: Therefore, the correct pair that forms a mirror image is Africa and South America.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks often show diagrams where Africa and South America are outlined and then slid together to demonstrate how well they fit. Additional geological evidence, such as matching rock formations and fossil records on both sides of the Atlantic, supports this visual fit. None of the other continent pairs have this level of coastline similarity along a shared ocean, confirming that Africa and South America are the right answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• North America and South America: They are connected by the Isthmus of Panama, not facing each other across a wide ocean with jigsaw coastlines.
• Asia and Africa: They meet at a relatively narrow land bridge and do not show mirror image coastlines.
• Europe and Asia: They share a continuous landmass with a conventional boundary defined by mountains and rivers, not by matching coastlines.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners quickly choose North America and South America because the names sound paired or because they think of the western hemisphere as one block. Others may pick Asia and Africa due to their connection at the Suez Canal without carefully thinking about the mirror image idea. To avoid these mistakes, always picture the Atlantic Ocean and recall that the best jigsaw fit is between the west coast of Africa and the east coast of South America.

Final Answer:
The continents that form a mirror image of each other are Africa and South America.