A plateau highly eroded by rivers and broken by deep narrow valleys is

1. Analyze the question The question describes a plateau that has been "highly eroded by rivers" and "broken by deep narrow valleys." We need the term for a plateau shaped by this process.

2. Explain the concept Plateaus are classified by how they form or where they are found:

• Intermont (intermontane) plateau: A plateau surrounded or partly enclosed by mountains, e.g. the Tibetan Plateau. The name describes its location, not its erosion.
• Volcanic plateau: A plateau built up by volcanic activity, where lava and ash accumulate.
• Lava plateau: A plateau formed by repeated outpourings of lava that spread out and solidify, e.g. the Deccan Plateau in India. This is similar to a volcanic plateau and is also a formation by deposition, not erosion.
• Dissected plateau: A plateau cut up by rivers and streams over a long time. The rivers carve deep, narrow valleys (gorges and ravines), leaving the plateau broken into hills and flat-topped sections. An example is the Jos Plateau in Nigeria, which has been dissected in places by rivers.

3. Solution

• Key clue: "highly eroded by rivers" means the main process is river erosion.
• Key clue: "broken by deep narrow valleys" means the surface is cut up, or dissected.
• The intermont, volcanic and lava plateaus are named for location or volcanic origin, not for erosion.
• The term that matches erosion by rivers breaking up the plateau is dissected plateau.

4. Answer The correct option is C. dissected plateau.

5. Tip Link the word to its meaning: to dissect is to cut into pieces, as in biology class. A dissected plateau is one that rivers have "cut up." For plateau questions, ask whether the description is about location (intermont), volcanic origin (lava/volcanic), or erosion (dissected).