which increases along faults and leads to rock breaking?\ndamage\nearthquake\nfocus\nstress

Brief Explanations:

As stress accumulates along faults in the Earth's crust, it eventually exceeds the strength of the rocks, causing them to break. Earthquakes are the result of this sudden release of energy when rocks break along faults. Focus is the point within the Earth where an earthquake rupture starts. Damage is a consequence of rock - breaking and earthquakes. Stress is the force that builds up and causes the rock - breaking.

Answer:

D. stress