Which of the following correctly lists three agents that loosen and carry away rock during the erosion process, contributing to natural selection and evolution?

• A. Magnetism, sound, and nitrogen
• B. Water, wind, and ice
• C. Sunlight, gravity, and oxygen
• D. Heat, pressure, and carbon dioxide

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of erosion. Erosion is the process by which natural forces loosen and carry away rock, soil, and other materials from the Earth's surface. It plays a role in shaping landscapes and can indirectly influence natural selection and evolution by altering habitats.
2. Step 2: Identify the agents of erosion. Common agents include water, wind, and ice, which physically break down and transport materials. These agents are well-documented in geological and biological processes.
3. Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options. Magnetism, sound, and nitrogen are not physical forces or substances that contribute to erosion. Similarly, sunlight, gravity, and oxygen may influence other processes but are not primary agents of erosion. Heat, pressure, and carbon dioxide are more relevant to processes like metamorphism or chemical weathering, not erosion.
4. Step 4: Focus on the correct answer. Water, wind, and ice are the primary agents of erosion because they actively loosen and transport rock and soil. For example, rivers (water), glaciers (ice), and storms (wind) are all mechanisms of erosion.
5. Step 5: Relate erosion to natural selection and evolution. Erosion can change landscapes, creating new environments or removing existing ones. These changes can influence which organisms survive and reproduce, thereby contributing to natural selection and evolutionary processes.