Final answer:
Liquefaction occurs when soil behaves like a liquid during seismic activities like earthquakes, and it can lead to substantial damage to buildings and infrastructure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Liquefaction A. occurs when soil behaves like a liquid. This phenomenon is associated with seismic activities, such as earthquakes, where the shaking of the ground can cause previously solid soil to behave in a fluid-like manner. Liquefaction does not typically occur immediately after a tsunami (B), nor does it happen in areas of solid bedrock (C). The damage caused by liquefaction can be extensive and is not limited to minor effects (D).
Liquefaction often takes place in areas with water-saturated granular material, such as sand. During an earthquake, the intense shaking increases the pressure of the water between the soil particles. This can cause the soil particles to separate, lose contact, and flow as a liquid rather than maintaining its solid form. The result is a temporary loss of soil strength, which can lead to ground failure and serious damage to buildings and infrastructure.