Review for Rocks and Soil Test

Soil can best be described as a -

• mixture of rocks , minerals and animals

• the major materials that make up the earth’s surface

• mixture of decayed organic material, water and air

• mixture of rock particles, minerals, decayed organic material, water and air

Which of the horizon levels best supports fertile soil?  

• Horizon A

• Horizon B

• Horizon C

• Bedrock

Soil that is dark, crumbly and rich in humus is known as…

• subsoil

• horizon C

• topsoil

• litter

Which processes play the biggest role in soil formation?

• heat and pressure

• melting and cooling

• weathering and erosion

• compaction and cementation

Which best describes the relationship between soil particle size and movement of water through the soil?

• The larger the soil particle the more water that is retained.

• The smaller the soil particle the more water is allowed to move through.

• The larger the soil particle the more water is allowed to move through.

• Soil particle size and water retention in soils are not related.

Which list is in order from smallest to largest particle?

• silt, clay, sand, gravel

• clay, silt, sand, gravel

• clay, sand, silt, gravel

• pebble, sand, clay, silt

Which is NOT a reason why soil is important to living organisms?

• it is a good food source

• it provides shelter for burrowing animals

• its where decomposers live

• it provides nutrients for plants

The four main layers of soil (from top to bottom) are –

• Topsoil, subsoil, parent material and bedrock

• Subsoil, topsoil, transition area and parent material

• Topsoil, subsoil, transition area and parent material

• Horizon A, subsoil, transition area and Horizon C

Soil that is made of about equal parts of clay, sand, silt, water and air is called

• decomposers

• humus

• soil

• loam

Organisms like fungi, bacteria, and worms are _________________that break down animal and plant remains into humus.

• macronutrients

• decomposers

• producers

• consumers