Question

3 which quote best explains why earthquakes occur?
a \along with volcanoes, earthquakes are a powerful reminder that were living on top of a fiery ball.\
b \each piece of this planetary jigsaw puzzle is called a tectonic plate.\
c \the mantle slowly churns in movements called convection currents.\
d \the crust shifts, releasing an enormous amount of energy.\

Explanation:

To determine the best quote explaining why earthquakes occur, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Describes the Earth as fiery but doesn't explain the cause of earthquakes.
• Option B: Defines tectonic plates but doesn't link to earthquake occurrence.
• Option C: Talks about mantle convection currents, which is part of the process but not the direct cause of earthquakes.
• Option D: States that the crust shifts (due to tectonic plate movements) and releases energy, which directly explains the occurrence of earthquakes (as earthquakes are caused by the release of energy from crustal movements).

Answer:

D. "The crust shifts, releasing an enormous amount of energy."