How Crystals Grow Underground — Questions and answers

Read the full story

What did River's Father say about quartz and sugar?

Choices

  1. They are all crystals, built by nature. ✓
  2. They are both delicious to eat.
  3. They are made from wood.
  4. They can both be used to make jewelry.

Answer: They are all crystals, built by nature.

From page 2

What is the "secret ingredient" for growing crystals, according to River's Father?

Choices

  1. Superheated water rich with dissolved minerals. ✓
  2. Cold water and sand.
  3. Air and sunlight.
  4. Tiny pieces of rock.

Answer: Superheated water rich with dissolved minerals.

From page 3

Who was Nicolaus Steno?

Choices

  1. A Danish scientist from the 1600s. ✓
  2. A modern rock collector.
  3. River's grandfather.
  4. A famous chef.

Answer: A Danish scientist from the 1600s.

From page 4

What incredible thing did Steno notice about quartz crystals?

Choices

  1. The angles between their faces were always the same, no matter the overall shape. ✓
  2. They all tasted salty.
  3. They were all exactly the same size.
  4. They glowed in the dark.

Answer: The angles between their faces were always the same, no matter the overall shape.

From page 5

What did Steno's Law prove about crystals?

Choices

  1. Crystals are built by atoms stacking in a fixed, repeating pattern. ✓
  2. Crystals are alive and grow over time.
  3. Crystals can change their shape whenever they want.
  4. Crystals only grow in very cold places.

Answer: Crystals are built by atoms stacking in a fixed, repeating pattern.

From page 6

Why did River say the salt crystals are perfect cubes?

Choices

  1. Their sodium and chloride atoms stack together in a cube shape. ✓
  2. They were carved by tiny sculptors.
  3. They were frozen in a cube-shaped ice tray.
  4. They melted into a cube shape.

Answer: Their sodium and chloride atoms stack together in a cube shape.

From page 8

Besides making crystals, what else did River's Father say heat and pressure can do?

Choices

  1. Bend and fold solid rock, and build entire mountains. ✓
  2. Make food cook faster.
  3. Help plants grow taller.
  4. Create new kinds of weather.

Answer: Bend and fold solid rock, and build entire mountains.

From page 10