Final answer:
Most earthquakes are caused by the movement along a fault due to the shifting of tectonic plates that make up Earth's crust. Stress builds up along these plate boundaries and is released suddenly during an earthquake. The correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cause of most earthquakes is movement along a fault. Earthquakes occur as a result of the tectonic plates that make up Earth's crust moving against each other.
These plates constantly shift, but the movement is not always smooth; when stress builds up at the edges where plates interact, it can be suddenly released in the form of an earthquake. This release of energy causes the ground to shake.
Within the context of plate tectonics, earthquakes can happen along different types of faults such as normal, reverse, and strike-slip faults.
The theory of plate tectonics also provides explanations for other geological phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, continental drift, mountain building, and the creation of the Hawaiian island chain. All these events are interlinked with the movement of tectonic plates. The correct option is D.