Earth's surface is broken up into more than a dozen distinct plates, called *

Understand the Problem

The question is asking about the term used to describe the distinct plates that make up Earth's surface. The options provided suggest concepts related to plate tectonics and geological movements.

More Information

Earth's outer layer is divided into tectonic plates, which move over the mantle, driven by forces such as mantle convection and gravity.

Tips

A common mistake is to confuse tectonic plates with terms describing movement, like shifting or drifting; the correct term is 'tectonic plates'.

Sources

• Exploring Our Fluid Earth - manoa.hawaii.edu
• Plate Tectonics - National Geographic Education - education.nationalgeographic.org