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ASVAB · Earth and Space Science

Which layer of Earth is the thin, solid outer layer on which we live?

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Correct answer

The crust

  1. A The mantle
  2. B The atmosphere
  3. C The core
  4. D The crust

Why this is the answer

Earth's crust is the thin, solid outermost layer where we live; it includes both continents and the ocean floor. Beneath it lies the mantle, a thick layer of hot, semi-solid rock that slowly flows, and below that the core (a liquid outer core and a solid inner core, composed largely of iron and nickel). The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding the planet, not a solid layer of the Earth itself. Knowing the order — crust, mantle, outer core, inner core — and their basic characteristics is standard Earth-science content.
Source: ASVAB GS, Earth's Layers

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About this topic: Earth and Space Science

Earth and space science covers geology (rock types, plate tectonics), weather and the atmosphere, the water cycle, and astronomy — the solar system, moon phases, eclipses and the seasons. This is one of 13 General Science questions on earth and space science, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our ASVAB exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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