How do earthquakes occur with respect to fault zones?

How do earthquakes occur with respect to fault zones?

• A. Volcanic activity unrelated to faults causes most earthquakes.
• B. Earthquakes result from meteor impacts transferring energy to the crust.
• C. Groundwater pressure buildup drives sudden rock rupture.
• D. Tectonic plates move and accumulate elastic strain along faults; when stress exceeds friction, rocks rupture, releasing energy as seismic waves and causing shaking.

Answer: (D)