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The correct answer is option 4: These margins coincide with the plate margins.
Explanation:
Earthquakes occur at the boundaries between tectonic plates, which are large sections of the Earth`s crust and upper mantle. The Pacific Ocean is surrounded by several tectonic plates, and the eastern and western boundaries of the Pacific Ocean align with these plate margins.
Option 1, the presence of deep ocean trenches, is not the primary reason for the frequent earthquakes in these regions. Deep ocean trenches are formed when one tectonic plate is subducted, or pushed beneath another plate, which can lead to earthquakes. However, the trenches themselves are a result of plate movements rather than the cause of the earthquakes.
Option 2 mentions high mountains along the continental margins adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. While mountains can be formed by tectonic activity and can also coincide with plate boundaries, it is not the main reason for frequent earthquakes in this case.
Option 3 suggests that the currents of the Pacific Ocean contribute to the earthquakes. However, ocean currents do not directly cause earthquakes. Earthquakes are caused by movements and interactions of tectonic plates.
Therefore, option 4 is the most accurate explanation. The frequent earthquakes along the eastern and western boundaries of the Pacific Ocean occur because