Divergent boundary occurs when plates separate and form features such as mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys. Which option lists this feature?

• A. Mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys
• B. Deep trenches only
• C. Subduction zones
• D. Island arcs

Answer: (A)

Divergent boundaries are where tectonic plates move apart, and magma from the mantle rises to fill the gap, creating new crust. This process produces surface features that reflect two scenarios: in the oceans, the separation builds mid-ocean ridges as new seafloor forms; on continents, pulling apart creates rift valleys that can eventually become new ocean basins. So the feature list that matches this process is mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys. The other options describe features tied to boundaries where plates collide or one plate sinks under another—deep trenches, subduction zones, and island arcs—so they don’t represent divergence.