Soil

Why is soil so important?

• Provides food and support for plants

• Eaten by animals

• Eaten by people

• Keeps Earth clean

In addition to the rock particles, the soil contains _______.

• air and water

• minerals, organic matter, air, and water

• water and plants

• water, air, and plants

What is the top layer of the soil called?

• subsoil

• humus

• topsoil

• bedrock

Soil is formed when _________ are broken down by weather, water, and living things over long periods of time.

• trees

• insects

• animals

• rocks

Which of these does not contribute to soil formation?

• Birds

• Weathering

• Rains

• Erosion

What is the name of the loose material that covers most of Earth's surface?

• Lava

• Soil

• Clouds

• Sheets

A soil's ________ is determined by what type of materials are in it.

• shape

• size

• color

From which layer of soil do plants get their nutrients?

• Weathered fragments

• Bedrock

• Subsoil

• Topsoil

Which of these layers of soil has the most humus?

• Topsoil

• Subsoil

• Bedrock

• Weathered fragments

Which soil has the highest water holding capacity?

• Sandy soil

• Clayey soil

• Loamy soil

• Mixture of sand and loam