Science CA - Earth's Surface

1. This picture shows a soil profile. Which sentence describes the properties of Horizon A?

• It is made of a mixture of subsoil and bedrock.
• It is made mostly of clay and partly weathered rock
• It is the parent rock that is broken down and forms much of Earth's surface.
• It is a dark mixture of humus, minerals, and small amounts of clay and sand.

2. The ability to hold water is one of the properties of soils. Some soils retain water better than others. Charlie is examining different soils. Which soil does he find has the least capacity to retain water?

• sandy soil
• loamy soil
• clay-rich soil
• humus-rich soil

3. Yvette is designing an experiment to test which soil is best for growing tomato plants. Which of the following properties is the most important for her to examine?

• color of the soil
• smell of the soil
• how fast the soil erodes
• how the soil holds water

4. Students are planting a garden. Why would they choose loamy soil for the garden?

• because it is young soil and contains many of the nutrients plants need
• because it is a mix of sand, silt, and clay and has a rich supply of humus
• because it is made up of very fine clay sediment and has very little air space
• because it is mostly sand, and water passes through it quickly, allowing space for plant roots

5. Which type of soil sample would most likely support the growth of plants that require a minimum of 20 milliliters of water per day, but a maximum of 25 milliliters of water per day?

• Soil Sample A
• Soil Sample B
• Soil Sample C
• Soil Sample D

6. There is a relationship between wind and slow changes to Earth’s surface. Given this relationship, identify which landform is caused by deposition from wind.

• sand dune
• forest
• canyon
• mountain

7. Observe the picture of the canyon. What is the primary cause of this slow change to Earth’s surface?

• erosion from wind
• erosion from water
• deposition from wind
• deposition from water

8. The breaking down of rock by wind, water, and ice is an example of which slow process that changes Earth’s surface?

• erosion
• deposition
• weathering
• sedimentation

9 Deposition from ice can cause slow changes to Earth’s surface. Identify which is an example of deposition from ice.

• Ice breaks apart rocks
• Water carries away pieces of floating ice.
• Wind carries away pieces of rock and ice.
• Glaciers drop rocks and sediment as they melt.

10. What natural process is most reasonable for shaping the arch pictured?

• Deposition caused by water
• Weathering caused by water
• Erosion caused by wind
• Weathering caused by ice.