Rocks and Soil

Benny and his father took a walk. They found these rocks.

Which statement can Benny make about these rocks?

• These rocks are different colors.

• These rocks are all soft.

• These rocks are different sizes.

• These rocks are all the same size.

Mr. Roland asked the class to sort rocks. Brandon’s group of rocks is below.

Which property did Brandon most likely use to sort the rocks?

• color

• texture

• shape

• size

Jonathan has a rock collection. The rocks all look different. What is one way that all rocks are alike?

• All rocks are the same size.

• All rocks are shiny.

• All rocks are the same shape.

• All rocks are nonliving objects.

Justine digs in her garden. She sees many things in the soil.

Which nonliving things might Justine see in the soil?

• earthworms

• rocks

• weeds

• spiders

Soil is formed over a long time. Which sentence best tells how soil forms?

• Soil forms when rocks break down and mix with dead plants and animals.

• Soil forms when a lot of rain falls on the ground at once.

• Soil forms when sand is mixed with water.

• Soil forms when large rocks break down and turn into sand and water.

Scientists observe soil to determine what plants will grow in an area. What do scientists mean when they talk about the texture of soil?

• the weight of the soil

• the temperature of the soil

• the feel of the soil

• the color of the soil

Fred lives near the beach and his soil has a lot of sand in it. What was most likely the color of the soil?

• light brown

• black

• white

• red

Frank wants to grow some bean seeds in a flowerpot. Which soil should Frank put in the pot?

• soil with a lot of clay

• soil with a lot of sand

• soil with a lot of rocks

• soil with a lot of humus

Soil can be classified in several ways. What are two of the ways we can classify types of soil?

• by the temperature and color

• by the shape and temperature

• by the ability to hold water and texture

• by the ability to grow plants and smell

A scientist measures how tall a certain type of plant grows in three different types of soil. What question is the scientist trying to answer?

• How many plants can grow in small pots of soil?

• What type of soil is best for this kind of plant?

• What kinds of plants grow in sandy soil?

• How tall can a plant grow?