Year 3 Science Rocks, fossils and soils: check-up and practice test questions

Method. Find the soft sample, then check that it is white.

1. Find the white samples. Samples B and F are white.
   B and F
2. Choose the soft one. Sample B is soft and crumbly.
   B
3. Write the answer.
   B

Check. Sample F is hard and smooth. ✓

Method. Look for the white sparkles.

1. Look at each sample. Sample C has small white sparkles.
   sparkles on C
2. Write the answer.
   C

Check. Sample C is grey, with black and white dots. ✓

Method. Look for holes, then check the water test in the table.

1. Find the holes. Sample E has small holes.
   E
2. Check the water test. Sample E lets water soak in after 10 seconds.
   10 seconds
3. Write the answer.
   E

Check. Sample E is both rough with holes and permeable. ✓

Method. Read the definition in section 7.2.

1. Read the definition. A material that water can soak into or pass through is permeable.
   permeable
2. Write the answer.
   permeable

Check. Impermeable is the opposite. ✓

Method. Read the table of the parts of soil.

1. Read the table. The four parts are broken-down rock, organic matter, air and water.
   four parts
2. Write the answer.
   Accept any two of: broken-down rock, organic matter, air, water.

Check. Soil is made from rocks and organic matter. ✓

Method. Read the table of the parts of soil.

1. Read the table. The dead plants and animals, and their waste, are organic matter.
   organic matter
2. Write the answer.
   organic matter

Check. Organic matter breaks down slowly. ✓

Method. Read the Mean (ml) column for clay soil.

1. Read the table. The mean for clay soil is 10 ml.
   10
2. Write the answer.
   10

Check. Clay soil let the least water through. ✓

Method. Read the definition in section 7.5.

1. Read the definition. The remains or a trace of something that lived long ago, kept in rock, is a fossil.
   fossil
2. Write the answer.
   fossil

Check. Fossils are kept in rock. ✓

Method. Think about how new layers build up.

1. Think about the layers. New layers build up on top of older layers.
   on top
2. Write the answer.
   top

Check. The bottom layer is the oldest. ✓

Method. Think about the stages in the table.

1. Think about burial. Remains are buried in sand or mud.
   buried
2. Think about the rock. Layers build up over a very long time and turn into rock.
   turn into rock
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any sentence that says remains are buried in sand or mud, and layers build up and turn into rock over a very long time.

Check. Burial and layers are both needed for a fossil. ✓

Method. Look for the holes in each sample.

1. Look at the samples. Sample E has small holes in its surface.
   E
2. Write the answer.
   E

Check. No other sample has holes. ✓

Method. Think about the word for a material that water can soak into.

1. Read the definition. A material that water can soak into is permeable.
   permeable
2. Write the answer.
   permeable

Check. The opposite is impermeable. ✓

Method. Read the legend next to the picture.

1. Read the legend. The white circles are air, and the blue circles are water.
   air and water
2. Write the answer.
   air and water

Check. Air and water fill the gaps between the pieces. ✓

Method. Think about what permeable means.

1. Think about the test. The water soaked in, so it passed into the stone.
   soaked in
2. Decide. A material that water can soak into is permeable, so the stone is permeable.
   yes
3. Write the answer.
   Yes. Accept any reason that says water soaked into the stone, so it is permeable.

Check. Water that stays on top would show the stone is impermeable. ✓

Method. Look at the three cups.

1. Compare the cups. The sandy soil cup has the most water, and the clay soil cup has the least.
   most water
2. Give the reason. So sandy soil let the most water through.
   sandy soil
3. Write the answer.
   Sandy soil. Accept any reason that says its cup has the most water in it.

Check. Clay soil let the least water through. ✓

Method. Find the bottom layer.

1. Look at the diagram. The bottom layer is layer 5.
   5
2. Write the answer.
   5

Check. The bottom layer is the oldest. ✓

Method. Read the definition of a fossil.

1. Read the definition. A fossil is the remains or a trace of something that lived long ago, kept in rock.
   remains or traces
2. Write the answer.
   Accept any sentence that says a fossil is the remains or traces of something that lived long ago, kept in rock.

Check. Fossils are kept in rock. ✓

Method. Think about what happens first: a living thing sinks, then sand and mud cover it.

1. Stage A. A living thing dies and sinks to the bottom.
   A
2. Stage B. Sand and mud cover it.
   B
3. Stage C. Layers build up and turn into rock.
   C
4. Stage D. The rock is worn away, and the fossil is found.
   D
5. Write the answer.
   A, B, C, D

Check. The order runs from burial to finding. ✓

Method. Think about what a fossil footprint is.

1. Reason one. A fossil footprint is a trace of an animal that lived long ago.
   long ago
2. Reason two. A fossil is kept in rock, but a footprint made today is still in mud or sand.
   in rock
3. Decide. So Ali is not right.
   no
4. Write the answer.
   No. Accept any two reasons, such as: a fossil is a trace of something that lived long ago; it is kept in rock; a footprint made today is not in rock.

Check. A fossil is always old. ✓

Method. Think about what the roots and the soil do for a plant.

1. Reason one. Roots hold the plant in the soil.
   hold
2. Reason two. Soil gives water and nutrients to the plant.
   water and nutrients
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any two reasons, such as: roots hold the plant in the soil; soil gives water and nutrients to the plant.

Check. Soil helps plants to stay up and to grow. ✓