Why Is the Ocean Salty? | Easy Science Reading

This short science reading passage is for English learners. Read the passage, learn key vocabulary, and answer the questions.

The ocean is salty because rivers carry minerals from rocks into the sea.

Reading Level

A2-B1

Word Count

291 words

Reading Passage

The ocean tastes salty because it contains many dissolved minerals. The most common salt in the ocean is the same kind of salt people use in food, but ocean water has many other minerals too.

The story begins with rain. As rain falls through the air, it picks up a little carbon dioxide. This makes rainwater slightly acidic. The water is still safe, but it can slowly break down rocks.

When rainwater moves over land, it touches rocks and soil. Tiny pieces of minerals come loose and become dissolved. Rivers carry these dissolved minerals toward lakes and oceans.

Many rivers flow into the ocean. They bring small amounts of minerals every day. Over a very long time, these minerals collect in ocean water. Some of these minerals are salt.

The Sun also plays a role. Ocean water evaporates, but salt does not evaporate with it. Water leaves the ocean and becomes water vapor, but much of the salt stays behind.

This is why the ocean stays salty. Rivers keep bringing minerals, and evaporation leaves many salts in the ocean.

Not every part of the ocean has the same saltiness. Warm places with a lot of evaporation can be saltier. Places near big rivers may be less salty because fresh water mixes with ocean water.

The salty ocean is the result of rocks, rivers, sunlight, and time. It is a slow process that has happened for millions of years.

Rivers bring minerals to the ocean, and evaporation leaves salt behind.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Meaning	Example
dissolved	mixed into a liquid	Salt is dissolved in ocean water.
mineral	a natural material found in rocks and soil	Rivers carry minerals to the ocean.
salt	a mineral that can make water taste salty	The ocean contains salt.
evaporate	to change from liquid into gas and go into the air	Ocean water evaporates in sunlight.
fresh water	water that is not salty	Rivers bring fresh water to the ocean.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. Why does the ocean taste salty?
2. How does rainwater help break down rocks?
3. What do rivers carry to the ocean?
4. What happens when ocean water evaporates?
5. Why can some parts of the ocean be saltier than others?

Answers

1. The ocean tastes salty because it contains dissolved minerals and salt.
2. Rainwater becomes slightly acidic and slowly breaks down rocks.
3. Rivers carry dissolved minerals to the ocean.
4. Water evaporates, but much of the salt stays behind.
5. Warm places with more evaporation can be saltier, while places near big rivers may be less salty.

Short Summary

The ocean is salty because rivers carry dissolved minerals from rocks into the sea. Water evaporates, but much of the salt stays in the ocean.

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