Final answer:
The correct answer is Option 1: Solid lithosphere, liquid asthenosphere, and solid lower mantle, representing the three parts of the solid layer of hot rock in the Earth's interior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking about the three parts of the solid layer of hot rock in the Earth's interior. Based upon what we know from the study of earthquake data and computer modeling, the correct components can be identified.
The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle. The asthenosphere lies beneath the lithosphere and is characterized by its semi-fluid, plastic-like behavior, which allows it to flow and move. Lastly, the lower mantle extends from the bottom of the asthenosphere to the Earth's core and, while it is solid, it is still capable of very slow flow due to the pressures and temperatures at those depths.
Thus, the correct answer to the student's question is Option 1: Solid lithosphere, liquid asthenosphere, and solid lower mantle. This aligns with the compositional and mechanical properties we understand about the Earth's interior layers.