Question

The Andes, which are volcanic mountains, are shown at the boundary between the South American Plate and Nazca Plate.
Which events most likely occurred at the boundary between the South American Plate and the Nazca Plate? Check all that apply.

A) destruction of crust
B) creation of rift valleys
C) formation of a trench
D) separation of two plates
E) subduction of one plate

Answer 1

A, C, E

Explanation: The Nazca and South American plates converge, so the oceanic Nazca plate subducts beneath the continental South American plate (E). Subduction destroys oceanic crust as it is recycled into the mantle (A) and produces an oceanic trench (the Peru–Chile trench) at the plate boundary (C). Rift valleys and plate separation are features of divergent boundaries, not this convergent margin.