Understanding Soil

What is soil?

• A) A type of plant

• B) Loose material covering Earth's surface

• C) A type of animal

• D) A type of water

Soil forms from broken down rocks and ​ (a)   .

• Clay

• Silt

• Loam

• humus

Soil also has ______ and water in it.

(a)  

• air
• rocks
• plastic
• metal

Soil is made of small pieces of rock, ​ (a)   , and bits of dead plants and animals.

• Water

• Air

• Organic matter

• minerals

Look at the Soil diagram:

The rock at the top of the rock layer weathers ______.

(a)  

• Slowly.
• Quickly
• Instantly
• Never

Look at the Soil diagram:

Which layer of soil is below the topsoil?

• Rock

• Subsoil

• Bedrock

• Sand

Look at the Soil diagram:

The top layer of soil is rich in ______.

• Sand

• Humus

• Clay

• Gravel

Clay holds a lot of ______.

(a)  

• water
• sand
• metal
• glass

Plants grow best in soil that has a lot of ______ and holds some water.

(a)  

• humus
• sand
• rock
• clay

What does sandy soil lack that makes it hard for plants to grow?

• Water

• Humus

• Air

• Clay