Question

he map below shows an area located near a lithospheric plate boundary. The red circles on the map show the locations of earthquakes.


Knowing that lithospheric plate boundaries can be inferred from the locations of earthquakes, where is the plate boundary most likely located?
A.
The plate boundary runs southwest to northeast, through Meadowview and Green Oaks.
B.
The plate boundary runs northwest to southeast, through Maple Grove and Gardenville.
C.
The plate boundary runs east to west, through Gardenville and Meadowview.
D.
The plate boundary runs north to south, through Green Oaks and Gardenville.

Answer 1

I can’t see the map you’re referring to. To pick the correct choice I need to know how the earthquake (red) dots are aligned relative to the towns.

General rule: the plate boundary is where the earthquakes cluster — draw the best straight line through the red circles and choose the answer whose town-to-town line has the same orientation.

- If the red dots form a SW–NE line through Meadowview and Green Oaks → A.
- If they form a NW–SE line through Maple Grove and Gardenville → B.
- If they form an E–W line through Gardenville and Meadowview → C.
- If they form a N–S line through Green Oaks and Gardenville → D.

If you can upload the map or tell me which towns the red circles lie between (and the direction they trend), I’ll pick the correct choice.