Minerals, Rocks, and Soil

Which of the following are nonliving Earth resources? 

• minerals, elements, and rocks
• only minerals
• only elements
• only rocks

Which statement is correct?

• Minerals form elements, and elements form rocks. 
• Minerals form rocks, and rocks form elements.
• Elements form minerals, and minerals form rocks.
• Rocks form minerals, and minerals form elements. 

What is the rock cycle?

• the steps a rock goes through as it melts into lava
• a process in which wind and water break rocks into small pieces
• a process in which one type of rock changes into another type
• the steps a rock goes through as it grows crystals

What are some important ways to describe rocks?

• by their size and shape
• by their color and patterns
• by their hardness and texture
• all of the above

Which fact about igneous rocks is true?

• They form in fire and heat
• they are found only near active volcanoes
• they form in very cold temperatures
• they are found only in deserts

Which statement about sedimentary rocks is true?

• They are found only in the ocean, where waves break them into small pieces. 
• They are made up of bits of rock that have been pressed together.
• They are blasted out of volcanoes.
• They are melted together with other rocks. 

Which type of rock is formed when other rocks go through changes caused by heat and pressure?

• igneous rocks
• sedimentary rocks
• metamorphic rocks
• all of the above

Weathering is related to changing in the same way that erosion is related to_____.

• building
• moving
• growing
• stopping

Which statement explains why the soil in Egypt is different from the soil in Germany?

• The weather is calmer in Egypt than in Germany.
• Every type of soil has a different mixture of minerals, rocks, and humus. 
• The people in each country made their soil at different times in history.
• Germany's soil has rocks, but Egypt's does not. 

Three of these news stories are about erosion. Which one is not about erosion?

• "Tree Roots Crack Open Large Boulder"
• "Earthquake Causes Landslide"
• "Wind Creates Sand Dune in Playground"
• "Glacier Drops Large Rocks onto Beach"