Which layer lies directly beneath the crust?

• A. Outer Core
• B. Mantle
• C. Atmosphere
• D. Inner Core

Answer: (B)

The question is asking about the vertical arrangement of Earth’s interior. The crust sits on top of the next layer, the mantle, which extends down to about 2,900 km (1,800 miles) beneath the surface. The boundary between the crust and mantle is the Moho, marking the transition from crustal rocks to mantle rocks. The upper part of the mantle combines with the crust to form the rigid lithosphere, while deeper in the mantle rocks flow very slowly, driving plate movements. The outer and inner cores lie much deeper, and the atmosphere is above the crust, not beneath it. So the layer directly beneath the crust is the mantle.