The Lithosphere is...

• A. The atmosphere
• B. The rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle
• C. All water on Earth
• D. Organic nutrients

Answer: (B)

The lithosphere is the Earth's rigid outer shell, made up of the crust and the upper part of the mantle. This layer is solid and brittle, so it forms the tectonic plates that ride on the more ductile material of the layer beneath (the asthenosphere). This movement of rigid plates explains many geological features and events, like the formation of mountains and earthquakes. It’s not the atmosphere (that’s the air around Earth), not all water on Earth (that’s the hydrosphere), and not organic nutrients (biological material), so the description of the lithosphere as the rigid outer part consisting of the crust and upper mantle best matches this concept.