Distinguish among divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries and name a representative surface feature for each.

• A. Divergent: Mid-ocean ridges; Convergent: Mountain belts or volcanic arcs and trenches; Transform: Strike-slip faults with lateral movement (e.g., San Andreas)
• B. Divergent: Subduction zones; Convergent: Mid-ocean ridge; Transform: Mountains
• C. Divergent: Mountain belts; Convergent: Mid-ocean ridges; Transform: Rift valleys
• D. Divergent: Trenches; Convergent: Rift valleys; Transform: Subduction zones

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how each boundary type moves and the surface feature that naturally results from that motion. Divergent boundaries involve plates moving apart, so new crust forms at the gap and the classic surface expression is mid-ocean ridges. Convergent boundaries are where plates collide; depending on the types involved, you get deep trenches with subduction and volcanic arcs, or tall mountain belts from continental collision. Transform boundaries slip past each other horizontally, which creates strike-slip faults like the San Andreas.

That’s why this pairing is the best: divergent with mid-ocean ridges, convergent with mountains or volcanic arcs and trenches, and transform with strike-slip faults with lateral movement. The other options mix features with boundary types in ways that don’t match how crust moves and how features form (for example, subduction zones aren’t at divergent boundaries, and rift valleys aren’t typical of transform boundaries).