What direct effect does the high permeability of desert sandy soil have on percolation?

Correct answer: Water moves down very rapidly, leaving the surface dry

Answer: B. Permeability is the ability of soil pores to allow water to pass through. Sandy soil has relatively large, connected spaces between its particles, so rainwater can enter and move downward quickly. This downward movement of water through soil is called percolation. Because the water does not remain for long in the upper layer, the surface becomes dry soon after rainfall, although some water may reach deeper layers or groundwater. A is wrong because highly permeable sandy soil generally does not retain much water near the surface. C is wrong because transpiration is the loss of water vapour from plant surfaces; soil permeability does not directly cause a very large increase in it. D is wrong because rainfall is controlled by atmospheric processes, not by soil permeability. Memory cue: large sand spaces mean “fast flow, low surface storage.”