Soil Characteristics

Which of the following is NOT an organic material

• Worms
• Decayed animals
• Rocks
• Decayed plants

Which of the following is NOT one of the three types of soil?

• clay
• sand
• silt
• mud

Ellen grabs a topsoil sample in her hand. She rolls it into a ball. The soil feels gritty and the ball falls apart. What part of the topsoil most likely made the topsoil feel gritty?

• clay
• sand
• silt
• humus

When plants, animals, and other organisms die, they break down and become part of the soil. What is this part of the soil called?

• sand
• silt
• clay
• humus

Which of the following is the largest particle in soil?

• sand
• silt
• humus
• clay

You dig a small hole in the soil and the next day it rains. The hole fills with water, but does not empty even after several days of dry weather. What is the soil mostly made of?

• clay
• sand
• humus
• silt

Which type of soil can hold the greatest amount of water?

• sand
• silt
• clay
• loam

Many plants cannot grow in sandy soil. Why is this true?

• Sandy soil does not hold enough water.
• Air cannot pass through sandy soil.
• Roots cannot easily push through sandy soil.
• Sandy soil has too many nutrients.

Soil is made of

• weathered rocks and minerals
• dead plants and animals
• air and water
• all of the above

A student pours 50 mL of water over a soil sample, and 28 mL of the water drains into a cylinder. How much water was retained? 

• 22 mL
• 28 mL
• 32 mL
• 50 mL