Multiple choice A weak spot in Earth’s crust where magma from the mantle makes its way to the surface. seismogram Hot Spot pyroclasic flow geothermal energy Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself B Correct answer Explanation A hot spot is an area in the mantle from which heat rises as a thermal plume from deep in the Earth. This heat can melt the crust to form volcanoes even away from plate boundaries.