Layers of the earth’s crust are exposed at several points along Califo

Layers of the earth’s crust are exposed at several points along California’s San Andreas Fault. Notably, a team of geologists recently spotted a remote fold of exposed crust along the fault that contained shells of a species of mollusk from 500,000 years ago that can only survive at least 500 feet below the surface of the ocean. The exposed crust is comprised of the same sediment consistent with the known habitat of the mollusk. Surprisingly, however, ocean levels have generally been lower than they are now and were much lower during the great ice ages.
 
The information above most strongly supports which one of the following?
 
Ⓐ The Pacific Ocean today contains fewer living specimens of the mollusks unearthed at the fault.

Ⓑ There are other habitats that these mollusks can survive in other than at 500 feet or more below the ocean’s surface.

Ⓒ The geologists on the team were the first people to see the fold of exposed crust.

Ⓓ The exposed crust was once lower than it is today.

Ⓔ The Pacific Ocean was once much higher at certain points over the last 500,000 years than it is today.