Soil Review

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes soil?

• A mixture of unconsolidated material containing organic matter and weathered rock

• The same as dirt

• A type of rock

• A liquid found underground

Open Ended

Why is soil important for life on Earth?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes organic matter in soil?

• Anything that is or was once alive, like dead leaves, bugs, and roots

• Only rocks that have been broken down into sediments

• Water and minerals only

• Air and sunlight

Multiple Choice

Which of the following factors can speed up the decomposition of organic matter and the chemical weathering of rocks?

• Cool and dry climate

• Warmer and wetter climate

• Lack of water

• Presence of only rocks

Multiple Select

Select all the processes that contribute to the breakdown of rocks during soil formation.

• Physical weathering

• Chemical weathering

• Photosynthesis

• Evaporation

Open Ended

Explain why soil formation is considered a slow process and what factors influence its speed.

Open Ended

Describe the differences between the O Horizon and the A Horizon in soil layers.

Multiple Choice

Which soil horizon is known as the subsoil and is usually lighter in color?

• B Horizon

• C Horizon

• R Horizon

• A Horizon

Multiple Select

Which of the following are properties used to test and describe soil?

• Texture

• Color

• Permeability

• Density

Open Ended

Explain how the Dust Bowl affected farming in the United States during the 1930s.

Multiple Choice

What is one major consequence of losing the O and A soil horizons?

• Loss of nutrients and longer time to reform soil

• Increase in soil permeability

• Formation of new bedrock

• Improved soil color