What type of thinking could be described as taking different directions in search of a variety of answers to a question?

Divergent Thinking.

Explanation:

Divergent thinking is illustrated as the creative and spontaneous thinking process that primarily intends to produce a variety of new and creative ideas by investigating all the possible solutions in a free-flowing manner.

As per the question, 'divergent thinking' would be demonstrated as the thinking process that involves 'taking different directions'('exploring possible solutions') to produce a variety of creative answers to a particular question. The chief aim of such thinking is to divide a problem into distinct elements to perceive the distinct aspects of the topic creatively.

the earth’s crust is broken into separate pieces called tectonic plates (fig. 7.14). recall that the crust is the solid, rocky, outer shell of the planet. it is composed of two distinctly different types of material: the less-dense continental crust and the more-dense oceanic crust. both types of crust rest atop solid, upper mantle material. the upper mantle, in turn, floats on a denser layer of lower mantle that is much like thick molten tar.

each tectonic plate is free-floating and can move independently. earthquakes and volcanoes are the direct result of the movement of tectonic plates at fault lines. the term fault is used to describe the boundary between tectonic plates. most of the earthquakes and volcanoes around the pacific ocean basin—a pattern known as the “ring of fire”—are due to the movement of tectonic plates in this region. other observable results of short-term plate movement include the gradual widening of the great rift lakes in eastern africa and the rising of the himalayan mountain range. the motion of plates can be described in four general patterns:

collision: when two continental plates are shoved together

subduction: when one plate plunges beneath another (fig. 7.15)

spreading: when two plates are pushed apart (fig. 7.15)

transform faulting: when two plates slide past each other (fig. 7.15)