# PTE ASQ #16: Earth's Mantle Layers

Answer Short Question #16 - Level 2 - Feeds Listening

> You will hear a question. Please give a simple and short answer. Often just one or a few words is enough.

## Answer

Lithosphere

## Explanation

The correct term refers to the rigid outer shell of the Earth, which includes the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.

What to watch: The key words are "upper layer," "mantle," and "rigid and brittle." The rigid outer layer is the "lithosphere." One word is enough. Avoid "crust," which is only the top part and not the mantle.

## Hints

- Think about the layer that sits above the asthenosphere.
- The term combines the words for 'stone' and 'sphere'.

## Transcript

What do we call the upper layer of the Earth's mantle, where rocks are rigid and brittle?

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