Soil Pre-Test

Rock is broken into smaller and smaller pieces over time by all of the following forces EXCEPT

• flowing water

• blowing wind

• cooling sand

• moving ice

One component of soil is decayed plant and animal remains, but the major component of soil is

• fossil fuels

• weathered rocks

• iron ore

• salt water

All of the following are plant remains EXCEPT

• dead leaves

• dried twigs

• sand particles

• seed covers

Plants and animals become part of soil when they

• die and decay

• produce offspring

• grow and develop

• take in nutrients

Students wanted to learn more about how soil is formed, so they conducted an investigation of how rocks weather. They shook jars of rocks with water and without water. What question could the students be trying to answer?

• Are rocks and water composed of the same material?

• How does water affect the weathering of rocks?

• Does salt water heat more quickly than fresh water?

• What kinds of rocks are found at the bottom of lakes?