CSET Practice Test Subtest II Science

Characteristics of Bodies of Water

River
A river is a large, flowing body of water that usually
 empties into a sea or ocean.

Lake
A lake is a large body of water surrounded by land on 
all sides. Really huge lakes are often called seas.

Sea
A sea is a large body of salty water that is often 
connected to an ocean. A sea may be partly or 
completely surrounded by land.

Ocean
An ocean is a large body of salt water that surrounds 
a continent. Oceans cover more the two-thirds of the 
Earth's surface.

Estuary
An estuary is where a river meets the sea or ocean.

Fjord
A fjord is a long, narrow sea inlet that is bordered by 
steep cliffs.

Delta
A delta is a low, watery land formed at the mouth of a 
river. It is formed from the silt, sand and small rocks that 
flow downstream in the river and are deposited in the 
delta. A delta is often (but not always) shaped like a 
triangle (hence its name, delta, a Greek letter that is 
shaped like a triangle).

Cove
A cove is small, horseshoe-shaped body of water along 
the coast; the water is surrounded by land formed of 
soft rock.

Channel
A channel is a body of water that connects two larger 
bodies of water (like the English Channel). A channel is 
also a part of a river or harbor that is deep enough to 
let ships sail through.

Bay
A bay is a body of water that is partly enclosed by land 
(and is usually smaller than a gulf).

Gulf
A gulf is a part of the ocean (or sea) that is partly 
surrounded by land (it is usually larger than a bay).

Pond
A pond is a small body of water surrounded by land. A 
pond is smaller than a lake.

Strait
A strait is a narrow body of water that connects two 
larger bodies of water.

Wetland
A wetland is an area of land that is often wet; the soil 
in wetlands are often low in oxygen. Wetland plants are 
adapted to life in wet soil. There are many types of 
wetlands, including: swamp, slough, fen, bog, marsh, 
moor, muskeg, peatland, bottomland, delmarva, mire, 
wet meadow, riparian, etc.

Swamp
A swamp is a type of freshwater wetland that has 
spongy, muddly land and a lot of water. Many trees 
and shrubs grow in swamps.

Tributary
A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger 
river.

THE THREE MAJOR ROCK GROUPS 

Rocks have been divided into major and minor groups 
according to the process by which they are formed and 
each of these groups are subdivided into further stone 
categories. 

 Igneous : This group has been formed from molten or 
partly molten material
 i.e. from magma. Lava is a form of magma that has 
cooled and solidified on the surface of the earth.
 Granite is a igneous rock that has cooled and 
crystallized below the earth's surfaces, having a fine 
to coarse-grained mineral crystal  structure. It is a 
"Siliceous" based stone. Composed primarily of
 quartz, feldspar, and other accessory minerals. 

 Sedimentary : There are four main types of sedimentary
 rocks... 
  1. First there are the types that are the result of some 
preexisting rock's demise through the weathering 
process. Sandstone "Siliceous" 
  2. The second kind is biogenic, stone produced by 
living organisms such as marine creatures or vegetation 
which eventually died and the remains became part of 
the sediment on the bottom of ancient sea beds. Certain
Limestone's, Coralstones, Fossilstone, Shellstone
"Calcareous" 
  3. The third is produced by inorganic chemical material 
being deposited on the floor of ancient sea, lake beds 
and springs through the process of precipitation or 
evaporation. The white fur deposits in kettles in which
hard water has been boiled is a good example of this 
type of stone. Certain Limestone's and all Travertine's. 
"Calcareous" 
  4. The last sedimentary category are produced as a 
result of volcanic activity. This stone is composed of 
volcanic ash with a variety of secondary older rock 
materials from the surrounding area, volcanic and 
igneous in nature. This category is considered a tuff 
sedimentary stone. It is also classified as a igneous 
stone due to its volcanic origin. Cantera and Adoquin 
are of this variety. "Siliceous"

Metamorphic : Metamorphic is derived from the Greek 
meta denoting a change and morph meaning form...a 
change in form. This changing of one rock type into 
another new type takes place by an increase in 
temperature or pressure or a combination of both. 
The original minerals of the stone recrystallize, small 
crystals merge to form larger crystals with no changes 
in the mineral chemistry, fine-grained calcite in 
limestone recrystallizes to a coarse-grained calcite 
crystal structure in marble; or there may by a 
transformation into a different set of metamorphic 
minerals. This recrystallization transforms the...Shale 
into a colorful Slate "Siliceous". Limestone becomes a 
multi colored Marble "Calcareous" and the grainy 
Sandstone alters into a highly crystallized sparkling 
Quartzite "Siliceous". The caterpillar transforms into a 
beautiful butterfly.