Question

california has been plagued with earthquakes over the centuries; earthquakes that are a severe danger to life and land. earthquakes are prevalent because
a lies directly over the ring of fire.
b lies on a continental plate that is falling under the oceanic plate it meets.
c the pacific plate is moving northwest, scraping horizontally past north american plate.
d the pacific plate and the north american plate are meeting at a convergent plate boundary.
e the pacific plate and the north american plate form a divergent plate boundary.

Explanation:

California is near the boundary of the Pacific plate and the North - American plate. These are tectonic plates that interact at a transform (strike - slip) boundary, not a convergent or divergent one as described in some options. The Ring of Fire is an area with high volcanic and seismic activity. The Pacific plate is moving horizontally past the North American plate. Option C correctly describes the motion of the Pacific plate relative to the North American plate.

Answer:

C. the Pacific plate is moving northwest, scraping horizontally past North American plate.