Abstract: Understanding exactly the failure mode and dynamic response of slopes in seismic loading can provide a theoretical guideline for anti-earthquake design of slopes. In order to investigate the influences of water content of soils on dynamic failure modes and dynamic responses of slopes, the laboratory shaking table tests are conducted. The physical process of failure of slopes with different water contents and the dynamic responses of slopes in earthquake loading are analyzed. The test results show that the water content of soils in slopes has important influences on their failure modes. The sandy slopes with water contents of 6.8% and 10% in the soils have failure modes of shatter-collapse sliding and shatter-breakup sliding respectively. The clay slopes with water contents of 18.1% and 24.6% in the soils have failure modes of shatter-breakup sliding and shatter-creep sliding respectively. The slope with a larger water content of soils is more stable than that with a smaller water content at the range of parameters considered. Under the action of horizontal dynamic load, the variation of displacement of soils at the surface of slope can reflect the characteristics of slope failure. The amplification effect of acceleration for the slope with a larger water content of soils is smaller than that with a smaller water content for the case of sandy soil slope and cohesive slope considered. The mechanism about the influences of water content in the slope on the failure of slopes is explained with the damping of soils.