In which large system of salty water do continental shelves and abyssal plains exist?

Study for the Earth Science Standards of Learning Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each question. Prepare for your exam efficiently!

Multiple Choice

In which large system of salty water do continental shelves and abyssal plains exist?

Explanation:
The oceans are the vast system of salty water that forms around Earth’s continents. Continental shelves are the gently sloping shallow regions extending from shore before the deeper ocean, and abyssal plains are broad, flat expanses at great depths down in the ocean basins. These features—shallow shelves near continents and deep, flat plains far from shore—are characteristics of the ocean floor, not of the atmosphere, rivers, or lakes. So the best answer is oceans.

The oceans are the vast system of salty water that forms around Earth’s continents. Continental shelves are the gently sloping shallow regions extending from shore before the deeper ocean, and abyssal plains are broad, flat expanses at great depths down in the ocean basins. These features—shallow shelves near continents and deep, flat plains far from shore—are characteristics of the ocean floor, not of the atmosphere, rivers, or lakes. So the best answer is oceans.

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