Final answer:
Option A best describes the sedimentary rock cycle order: weathering, transportation, deposition, and lithification.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct order of processes in the sedimentary rock cycle is described by weathering, transportation, deposition, and then lithification. Therefore, the correct choice is: A. weathering → transportation → deposition → lithification
Weathering is when rocks are broken down into smaller particles by physical or chemical processes. Transportation occurs when these particles are moved by wind, water, or ice. Deposition takes place when the particles settle in a new location after transportation. Finally, lithification happens when these deposited sediments are compacted and cemented to form solid rock. Compaction reduces porosity by pressing the grains together, and cementation involves the precipitation of minerals in the spaces between sediments, binding them together to form rock.