IMO Practice Test — Rocks & Soil
6 Questions • 12 min • Olympiad level
12:00
Question 1 of 6
hard
Sand at the beach is really millions of tiny…
Seeds
Drops of water
Pieces of glass made by people
Bits of broken rock
Explanation: Sand is tiny worn-down bits of rock.
Question 2 of 6
hard
Sandy soil lets water drain away quickly, while clay soil holds water. This shows soils differ in how they hold…
Light
Water
Sound
Colour
Explanation: Different soils hold water differently.
Question 3 of 6
hard
If heavy rain washes away the topsoil, farmers worry because…
Plants grow faster
The sky changes
Bedrock grows
The richest soil for crops is lost
Explanation: Losing topsoil means losing the best soil for crops.
Question 4 of 6
hard
A field left bare with no plants loses soil fastest when there is heavy…
Rain and wind
Sunshine
Moonlight
Quiet
Explanation: Bare soil is washed by rain and blown by wind.
Question 5 of 6
hard
Coal is a rock that is special because it can…
Burn to give heat
Float on water
Glow at night
Grow bigger
Explanation: Coal burns and gives heat — used as a fuel.
Question 6 of 6
hard
Why is a thin layer of soil so precious?
It took thousands of years to form
It is shiny
It is light
It is man-made
Explanation: Soil forms extremely slowly, so it is precious.