Final answer:
The statement that the continental shelf and continental slope may be cut by deep v-shaped valleys called submarine canyons is true. These geological formations are created by processes such as turbidity currents and the movement of tectonic plates.
Step-by-step explanation:
Submarine canyons are indeed deep v-shaped valleys that can cut through the continental shelf and continental slope. Submarine canyons are typically found cutting into the continental shelf and slope, which are significant features of the continental margin. The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent, featuring relatively shallow water known as the neritic zone. Beyond the shelf, the terrain steeply drops off at the continental slope, leading to the abyssal depths of the ocean floor.
These canyons can be massive and are formed by various geological processes, including turbidity currents, which carve through the sediment and rock. Another contributing factor is the movement of tectonic plates. Submarine canyons are important for researchers because they are conduits for sediment transport from continents to the deep sea, influencing marine geology and ecosystems.