which statement describes how the mantle is similar to earth’s oceanic crust?\n○ it is composed mostly of…

which statement describes how the mantle is similar to earth’s oceanic crust?\n○ it is composed mostly of basalt.\n○ it consists primarily of molten rock.\n○ it has varying degrees of thickness.\n○ it is divided into two layers.

which statement describes how the mantle is similar to earth’s oceanic crust?\n○ it is composed mostly of basalt.\n○ it consists primarily of molten rock.\n○ it has varying degrees of thickness.\n○ it is divided into two layers.

Answer

Brief Explanations:

  1. Analyze Option 1: Oceanic crust is composed mostly of basalt, but the mantle is not (mantle has different rock compositions like peridotite in the upper mantle). Eliminate this.
  2. Analyze Option 2: The mantle has solid rock (even though it can flow slowly, it's not primarily molten; molten rock is more associated with the outer core and magma). Oceanic crust is solid. Eliminate this.
  3. Analyze Option 3: The mantle has varying thickness (the upper and lower mantle, and different regions can have variations), and oceanic crust also has varying thickness (e.g., thinner at mid - ocean ridges, thicker in some older oceanic crust areas). This is a valid similarity.
  4. Analyze Option 4: The mantle is divided into more than two layers (upper mantle, transition zone, lower mantle, etc.), and oceanic crust is generally a single - layer (or very few sub - layers) structure. Eliminate this.

Answer:

C. It has varying degrees of thickness.