A tsunami wave begins deep underwater and speeds quickly toward shore. As the ocean becomes shallower, the wave appears above the surface. The biggest tsunamis can be as tall as a ten-story building. Waves this large can destroy entire cities.

Recall the important details from the last paragraph about tsunamis. When you combine those details with the important information from this paragraph, what central idea about tsunamis do you understand? Choose the statement that best presents it.

A.
A tsunami is a type of natural disaster that begins on the ocean floor.
B.
Giant waves called tsunamis have as much force as the earthquakes behind them.
C.
The energy produced by an earthquake on the ocean floor can create a series of waves called a tsunami.
D.
Some of the biggest earthquakes in the world occur in the ocean and produce disasters known as tsunamis.