Use the passage to answer the question. What do waves have to do with earthquakes? Earthquakes are caused when the ground shakes due to the release of energy. This energy is called a seismic wave. Seismic waves are similar to ocean waves, except they move through the ground instead of the water.

Which graphic would best support the central idea of this passage?
a map of the location of earthquakes around the world
a photograph of a wave crashing in the ocean
a diagram showing energy moving through the ground
a chart showing how much it costs to repair earthquake damage

The graphic that would best support the central idea of this passage is a diagram showing energy moving through the ground.

The graphic that would best support the central idea of this passage is a diagram showing energy moving through the ground. The passage explains that earthquakes are caused by the release of energy in the form of seismic waves, which move through the ground just like ocean waves move through the water. Therefore, a diagram illustrating the movement of energy through the ground would help visualize and support this central idea. The other options, such as a map of earthquake locations, a photograph of a wave in the ocean, or a chart on earthquake damage repair costs, do not directly relate to the concept of seismic waves and their connection to earthquakes as the passage describes.

The graphic that would best support the central idea of the passage is a diagram showing energy moving through the ground.