Question

Use the paragraphs to answer the question.

Our earth’s surface is covered with large swaths of land called tectonic plates. These plates shift slowly and create all kinds of land structures on the surface of the earth, including under the ocean. Just as a puzzle fits together with many pieces, so does the earth’s crust, or outer surface.

Sometimes plates slide past each other, and the edges rub together, causing friction. This place is called a fault. Below the fault, an earthquake starts and releases energy through the earth’s surface. The result is a rumbling, shaking sensation we know as earthquakes. Earthquakes are the salt and pepper shakers for our planet!

Which sentence belongs in a summary of these paragraphs?

(1 point)
Responses

The result is a rumbling, shaking sensation we know as earthquakes.
The result is a rumbling, shaking sensation we know as earthquakes.

Earthquakes are an interesting natural phenomenon.
Earthquakes are an interesting natural phenomenon.

Large tectonic plates cover the earth's surface.
Large tectonic plates cover the earth's surface.

Puzzles fit together with many pieces.

Answer 1

Large tectonic plates cover the earth's surface.

This statement captures a main fact the paragraphs explain (that the Earth's crust is made of plates whose movements cause earthquakes).