Final answer:
It is true that unconsolidated sediment has greater porosity than the lithified rock due to the spaces between loosely packed particles, which are reduced during the processes of compaction and cementation. The correct option is aA.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unconsolidated sediment typically has greater porosity than the lithified rock it will eventually form. This statement is True.
Unconsolidated sediment, being loose and not cemented together, has more space between its particles compared to lithified rock. During the process of lithification, which includes compaction and cementation, these spaces are reduced.
Compaction occurs when the weight of overlying materials presses down on the sediment, reducing the space between particles, much like compressing trash in a garbage can.
Meanwhile, cementation involves the precipitation of minerals within the spaces between these particles, which further reduces porosity by binding the particles together into a solid rock. The correct option is A.