Final answer:
Seismic activity can occur at hotspots, contrary to the statement suggesting otherwise. Hot spots, like the one under Hawaii, can cause earthquakes due to the movement of magma and shifting rocks, despite being far from plate boundaries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that seismic activity does not occur at hotspots is false. While it's true that the most common cause of earthquakes is the motion along fault zones, that's not the only source of seismic activity. Other volcanic activity, such as that which occurs above mantle hot spots, can also cause seismic activity. Hot spots are areas far from plate boundaries where heat rises from the interior of the Earth, leading to volcanic activity.
An example of this is the hotspot under the island of Hawaii. Even though hot spots are not located on the edges of tectonic plates, where most earthquakes occur, the movement of magma and shifting rocks in these regions can still generate earthquakes.
Much like the stress that builds up in the crust along fault lines, the stress can also build up in hot spot regions. When this stress is released, it can result in tremors or earthquakes. Therefore, seismic activity can and does occur at hot spots. The occurrence of seismic activity at hotspots is additional evidence that the Earth's crust is dynamic and constantly changing, not just along the borders of tectonic plates but also in places where the Earth's mantle is unusually hot.