Question

1. which of these student statements best explains how the patterns seen in figure 2 are evidence of past plate motions?

the older crust at the ocean ridges is evidence that the continents were once closer together.
the older crust at the ocean ridges demonstrates how new islands such as surtsey can be created at the ridges.
the formation of new crust at the ocean ridges demonstrates how older crust is being pushed away from the ridges.
the formation of new crust at the ocean ridges demonstrates how older crust is being destroyed at the ridges.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the first option: Ocean ridges have new crust (not older), so this is incorrect.
2. Analyze the second option: The statement is about island formation, not past plate motions related to crust movement, so it's incorrect.
3. Analyze the third option: At ocean ridges, new crust forms (from magma rising), and this new crust pushes older crust away, which shows how plates moved in the past (spreading), so this is correct.
4. Analyze the fourth option: Ocean ridges are zones of crust creation (divergent boundaries), not destruction (destruction is at subduction zones), so this is incorrect.

Answer:

C. "The formation of new crust at the ocean ridges demonstrates how older crust is being pushed away from the ridges."