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.

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?
Options:
A diagram showing energy moving through the ground
A map of the location of earthquakes around the world
A photograph of a wave crashing in the ocean
A chart showing how much it costs to repair earthquake damage

Answer 1

A diagram showing energy moving through the ground

Answer 2

The best graphic that would support the central idea of this passage is a diagram showing energy moving through the ground. Seismic waves are the energy that causes earthquakes, and they move through the ground, similar to how ocean waves move through the water. A diagram showing this movement of energy through the ground would help visualize the concept being described in the passage.

Answer 3

The graphic that would best support the central idea of the passage would be a diagram showing energy moving through the ground. This diagram would visually depict the movement of seismic waves through the ground, highlighting the analogy between seismic waves and ocean waves while explaining how earthquakes are caused by the release of energy.