Which of the following describes earthquakes?
A) Earthquakes are an abrupt release of energy.
B) Prediction of earthquakes is an established science, which gives global citizens a chance to evacuate ahead of time.
C) Earthquakes have never occurred in the middle of the USA.
D) No earthquake has been measured higher than 7 on the Richter scale.
E) All earthquakes happen within one kilometer of the Earth's surface.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Earthquakes are caused by the abrupt release of energy that has built up in the Earth's crust.

Answer: C
 This statement is false. Earthquakes have occurred in the middle of the USA, such as the New Madrid earthquakes in 1811-1812.

Answer: D
 This statement is false. Earthquakes higher than 7 on the Richter scale have been measured, such as the 9.1 magnitude earthquake in Sumatra in 2004.

Answer: E
 This statement is false. Earthquakes can happen at any depth within the Earth's crust, from near the surface to several hundred kilometers deep.

Therefore, the only correct answer is A.

Which of the Following Describes Earthquakes