Soil Erosion and Water Quality

What is the main topic of this science demonstration?

• Plant growth

• Water purification

• Soil erosion

• Types of soil

Why is it important to prevent too much soil from being washed away?

• To keep rivers clean

• To grow plants for food

• To make the land look nice

• To create new landforms

What are the three different types of land surfaces used in the experiment?

• Sand, clay, and silt

• Bare soil, soil with rocks, and soil with grass

• Bare soil, soil with dead leaves, and soil with plants

• Soil with flowers, soil with trees, and soil with bushes

What is the only thing that is different about the soil in the three bottles at the beginning of the experiment?

• The type of soil

• The amount of water added

• The covering on top of the soil

• The size of the bottles

What is the purpose of the small plastic cups placed under each bottle?

• To measure the amount of soil

• To catch the water that drains through the soil

• To hold extra plants

• To decorate the experiment

What did the water look like after it was poured over the bare soil?

• Clear and clean

• Cloudy and contained dirt

• Blue and bubbly

• Green and leafy

Why was the water from the bottle with dead leaves cleaner than the water from the bare soil bottle?

• The dead leaves absorbed all the water

• The dead leaves made the water evaporate faster

• The dead leaves helped protect the soil from washing away

• The dead leaves added nutrients to the water

Which type of soil covering resulted in the cleanest water after the rain?

• Bare soil

• Soil with dead leaves

• Soil with plants

• All were equally clean

How do plant roots help prevent soil erosion?

• They make the soil heavier

• They hold the soil together like tiny fingers

• They push the soil deeper into the ground

• They create a smooth surface for water to flow over

Besides holding soil in place, what other important function do plant roots perform?

• They make the soil smell better

• They change the color of the soil

• They absorb and hold water

• They make the soil harder