Garden vegetables, like tomatoes and beans, grow best in soil that holds some water but also drains well. Using the picture, which soil would most likely be best for growing garden vegetables?

• topsoil

• sand

• clay

• gravel

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Human actions can also result in soil erosion. Soil erosion occurs when the soil on the surface becomes loose and is carried away by wind or water. The roots of plants and trees hold the soil and stop it from being carried away by rain or floods.

Sometimes, the loose soil from erosion is carried by the water into nearby lakes. Over a period, the water level of the lake might rise due to the addition of soil. This can cause flooding of the land around the lake and even more erosion.

Which is the best way to stop soil erosion in mountains that are near a lake?

• plant more trees on the mountain slope

• remove any plants growing near the lake

• add more water to raise the level of the lake

• remove any plants growing on the mountain slope

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Musa took two samples of soil from his back yard, as shown in the pictures. He knew the first sample was sand, but he was unsure what the second sample was. Based on the appearance of the samples, which sentence is most likely true?

• The sand has more nutrients than the unknown sample.

• The sand will hold more water than the unknown sample.

• The sand has less organic matter than the unknown sample.

• The sand is made up of smaller grains than the unknown sample.

Azaleas are a type of shrub (plant) that blooms best in acidic soil. Azaleas also do well in partially shaded areas and areas that have a high concentration of peat. Peat is soil that contains partially decomposed vegetable matter. Four friends note the conditions in their different backyards to see which yard is best for growing azaleas. Whose yard would be the best environment for azaleas?

• Yard 1

• Yard 2

• Yard 3

• Yard 4

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

How can water change rocks over time?

• It can make them larger.

• It can make them sharper.

• It can make them heavier.

• It can make them smoother.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The picture shows a rock that has changed shape over a long period of time. Which best describes how this rock changed shape?

• The rock was worn away over time by gravity.

• The rock was worn away over time by wind.

• The rock was worn away over time by rain.

• The rock was worn away over time by snow.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Derek and Isabel are skipping rocks on the side of a river. They notice some rocks are smoother than others. Which best explains the difference in texture (feel) of the rocks?

• The smoother rocks have been worn away by wind.

• The smoother rocks have been worn away by snow.

• The smoother rocks have been worn away by still water.

• The smoother rocks have been worn away by moving water.

Tags

NGSS.4-ESS2-1

Rainfall moves soil from the sides of hills and mountains to plains and valleys below. Using this information, which area would be best for growing crops?

• plains and valleys because they get more sunlight than mountains and hills

• plains and valleys because they have rich soil

• mountains and hills because they have thin soil

• mountains and hills because they get more rainfall than plains and valleys

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Soil is a combination of small pieces of rock mixed with decayed plant and animal matter. Which of the following can help break large rocks into the tiny bits found in soil?

• water, only

• wind, only

• plants and water, only

• wind, water, and plants (roots)

A rock falls from a mountain into a river below. How would the rock most likely look 100 years later? Hint:Think about Cracked-Up book.

• It would be smaller and smoother.

• It would be larger and smoother.

• It would be smaller and jagged.

• It would be larger and jagged.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2