Question

In the last 5.5 million years, rifting action tore Baja California and California west of the San Andreas Fault from the_______.

A) North American Plate
B) Pacific Plate
C) Eurasian Plate
D) African Plate

Answer 1

Baja California and areas west of the San Andreas Fault were torn from the North American Plate due to rifting action, with the Pacific Plate moving northward relative to it.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the last 5.5 million years, rifting action has indeed separated Baja California and parts of California west of the San Andreas Fault from the North American Plate. The San Andreas Fault constitutes a transform boundary between the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate. The Pacific Plate is moving northward relative to the North American Plate, which carries Los Angeles, San Diego, and other parts of southern California along with it. Over several million years, this motion may result in Los Angeles becoming an island situated off the coast of San Francisco due to the continuous movement of these plates.