Think about the differences in various soil types. What type of soil or Earth material does the following list of characteristics BEST describe?

Question

*Feels smooth
*Has moderate amount of air space
*Holds water well
*Becomes slippery when wet
Responses
A clayclay
B gravelgravel
C sandsand
D siltsilt

Answer 1

The characteristics you provided best describe A: clay. Here's why:

• Feels smooth: Clay has a fine texture and feels smooth to the touch.
• Has moderate amount of air space: While clay particles are very small and compact, they do retain some air pockets.
• Holds water well: Clay has a high water retention capacity due to its fine particles and structure.
• Becomes slippery when wet: Wet clay can become very slippery, which is a characteristic known as "slick."

Therefore, based on these characteristics, the correct answer is A: clay.