How do stratus clouds appear in the sky?

Correct answer: Like a uniform layer or sheet

Correct answer: A, like a uniform layer or sheet. Stratus clouds are generally low clouds that spread horizontally and cover much or all of the sky in a fairly even grey or white sheet. A is correct because the word stratus is associated with layers or horizontal spreading. B is wrong because thin, feather-like streaks are characteristic of cirrus clouds, which are high-level clouds. C is wrong because rounded, cotton-like heaps describe cumulus clouds, which often have a puffy appearance. D is wrong because separate icy balls are hailstones, a form of solid precipitation, not the appearance of a cloud type. Stratus clouds may produce light drizzle in some conditions, but their defining visual feature is their layered appearance. Memory cue: stratus sounds like strata, meaning layers.