Question

read the passage and answer the following question(s).
passage #822
directions: the table shows the formation and characteristics of several types of rock. use the table to answer any questions that follow.

rock type	formation	characteristics
coal	deposition of material, including organic remains, that cement together over time	blackish or brownish color, combustible solid
granite	crystallization of magma at depths under earth’s surface	multicolored, granular with large grains
gneiss	exposure of materials to high heat and pressure	has alternating dark and light bands that appear in layers
limestone	deposition of material, including organic remains, that cement together over time	lighter in color, contains fragmented skeletal remains of marine organisms
shale	exposure of materials to light heat and pressure	multicolored, fine - grained, and layered

which of the following would be...
a. limestone and coal
b. shale and coal
c. gneiss and basalt
d. granite and gneiss

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each rock type:

• Limestone and Coal: Limestone forms from deposition of marine organisms (matches limestone's characteristics: "contains fragmented skeletal remains of marine organisms"). Coal forms from deposition of organic material over time (matches coal's: "Deposition of material, including organic remains, that cement together over time" and "blackish or brownish, combustible solid").
• Slate and Coal: Slate is a metamorphic rock (formed by heat/pressure), but coal's formation is sedimentary, and slate's characteristics don't match coal.
• Gneiss and Basalt: Gneiss is metamorphic (heat/pressure, alternating bands), basalt is extrusive igneous (fine - grained, dark), their formations don't match the pair.
• Granite and Gneiss: Granite is intrusive igneous (formed deep, large grains), gneiss is metamorphic, their formations don't match the pair.

So limestone and coal (option A) match their respective formation and characteristics.

Answer:

A. limestone and coal