( ( Plates ( of ( the ( Earth ( The lithosphere ) ) ) ) ) ( ( ( is not ) ( a ( continuous layer ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNS Plates)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NNP Earth) (NNP The) (NN lithosphere)))) (VP (VBZ is) (RB not) (NP (DT a) (JJ continuous) (NN layer))) (. .)))
Plates of the Earth The lithosphere is not a continuous layer.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (JJ thin) (NN layer)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NN rock)) (PP (IN on) (NP (NP (NN earth) (POS 's)) (NN surface)))))) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (DT the) (NN lithosphere))) (. .)))
The thin layer of rock on earth's surface is the lithosphere.