Soil

Soil

Multiple Select

Which of the following are ingredients of soil? (Select all that apply.)

• Air

• Rocks

• Water

• Decaying matter

Multiple Choice

Which best describes the overall process of soil formation?

• bedrock weathers and then mixes with humus

• compacting sediments

• decaying of organic material

• sediments are eroded

Multiple Select

Which of the following are uses of soil? (check all that apply)

• Building materials

• Home for animals

• Food supply

• Filtering water

Multiple Choice

Which soil horizon is solid rock?

• Horizon A

• Horizon B

• Horizon C

• Horizon R

Multiple Choice

Which soil horizon is known as the parent material with weathered rock?

• Horizon A

• Horizon B

• Horizon C

• Horizon O

Multiple Choice

Which soil horizon is dark in color with nutrients for growing plants?

• Parent Material

• Subsoil

• Organic matter

• Topsoil

Multiple Choice

Which soil horizon is lighter in color but still has some plant roots in it?

• Topsoil

• Subsoil

• Parent Material

• Bedrock

Fill in the Blanks

Horizon O is made up of decaying plant and animal material that provides nutrients for the soil. What is another name for this material?

Multiple Choice

This type of soil is best for plant growth.

• rock

• sand

• loam

• clay

Multiple Choice

Which of the following types of soil has the largest particles?

• sand

• silt

• humus

• clay

Multiple Choice

Which type of soil is found by rivers, is soft, has medium sized particles, and is good for growing plants?

• Sand

• Silt

• Clay

• Humus

Multiple Choice

Which type of soil has the smallest particles, retains the most water, and has little air space for plant roots?

• Clay

• Sand

• Silt

• Loam

Multiple Choice

I am tan in color.  I do not hold water well.  I have a gritty texture.  What am I?

• silt
• humus
• clay
• sand

Multiple Choice

I am black in color.  I am soft and crumbly  What am I?

• silt
• humus
• clay
• sand

Multiple Choice

I am red in color.  I am hard when dry but sticky when wet.  What am I?

• silt
• humus
• clay
• loam

Multiple Choice

I am gray in color.  I am also very soft and powdery.  What am I?

• silt
• humus
• clay
• loam

Multiple Choice

Why is topsoil darker than all other levels of soil?

• It contains all the darker colored minerals
• It contains volcanic rock
• It contains more organic matter
• It contains bits of burned trees

Multiple Choice

Ellen grabs a topsoil sample in her hand. She rolls it into a ball. The soil feels gritty and the ball falls apart. What property of soil is Ellen testing?

• color

• texture

• ability to support plant growth

• water retention

Multiple Choice

What physical property of soil determines if it retains water?

• color

• particle size

• texture

• weight

Multiple Choice

If soil particles are large, then

• more water is retained

• less water is retained

Multiple Choice

Which soil would retain the most water?

• loam

• sand

• silt

• clay

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a property of soil?

• Color

• Texture

• Where it's located

• Ability to retain water

Multiple Choice

What is the connection between rocks and soil?

• Soil creates rocks.

• Weathering breaks down rock, which becomes an ingredient in soil

• There is no connection.

• Rocks cause soil erosion.

Multiple Select

Which actions lead to soil erosion?

• Clearing land for farming

• Crop and field rotation

• Planting trees

• Cutting down trees

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT an example of a soil conservation method?

• Crop rotation

• Terraced farming

• Constructing windmills

• Contour planting

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT an example of soil conservation?

• Solar energy

• No till farming

• Wind breaks

• Planting ground cover (example: trees)

Multiple Choice

Define sustainability.

• The continuing process of rocks changing from one form to another.

• causing little damage to the environment so resources last a long time

• Supporting your health and nutrition

• The wearing away of rocks and soil

Multiple Choice

Why are conservation and sustainability important?

• To keep animals off the endangered list

• To help the rock cycle continue

• To ensure that the soil receives enough rain

• To protect the environment and preserve natural resources