Which type of soil passes the No. 4 sieve but is retained on the No. 200 sieve?

The correct choice is sand because it refers to soil particles that are granular in nature and fall within a specific size range. In soil classifications, sand is characterized as particles with a diameter between 0.075 mm and 4.75 mm (No. 200 sieve to No. 4 sieve). When soil passes through the No. 4 sieve, it indicates that the particle size is smaller than 4.75 mm. Retaining on the No. 200 sieve signifies that the particles have a diameter larger than 0.075 mm.

Therefore, sand falls perfectly within this range, as it is too large to pass through the No. 200 sieve while being small enough to pass through the No. 4 sieve. Thus, sand meets the condition of passing one sieve while being retained on another, making it the ideal answer. This classification is important in geotechnical engineering and soil science, where particle size distribution affects the behavior of the soil in various applications.