Which statement best describes continental crust in relation to oceanic crust?

• A. It is found beneath landmasses and is generally older
• B. It is usually younger than oceanic crust
• C. It is more easily subducted than oceanic crust
• D. It consists mostly of basalt

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is the contrast between continental and oceanic crust: continental crust is the light, buoyant skin that forms the land, while oceanic crust is the thinner, denser skin that lies under the oceans. Continental crust sits beneath landmasses and is made mostly of granitic, felsic rocks, which are less dense and can endure for billions of years. Because oceanic crust is continually formed at mid-ocean ridges and recycled back into the mantle at subduction zones, it is much younger on average. This combination—located under land and generally old—best fits the statement.

The other points don’t fit because oceanic crust is the one that's denser and more easily subducted, not continental; continental crust isn’t primarily basaltic, since basalt is typical of oceanic crust; and continental rocks being old is more accurate than claiming they’re younger.