WorksheetsProperties of Soil
Total questions: 16
Worksheet time: 18mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Which type of soil can hold the greatest amount of water?
a)
sand
b)
silt
c)
clay
d)
loam
2.
Organic matter is made of materials that….
a)
Were once living
b)
Were once nonliving
c)
Were once living and nonliving
3.
Which of the following is NOT an organic material
a)
Worms
b)
Decayed animals
c)
Rocks
d)
Decayed plants
4.
Which of the following is NOT one of the three types of soil?
a)
clay
b)
sand
c)
silt
d)
mud
5.
_______ is the type of soil used most often with plants and on farms. It is a mixture of clay, sand, and silt.
a)
loam
b)
humus
c)
soil
d)
dirt
6.
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?
a)
clay
b)
sand
c)
silt
d)
humus
7.
When plants, animals, and other organisms die, they break down and become part of the soil. What is this part of the soil called?
a)
sand
b)
silt
c)
clay
d)
humus
8.
Which of the following is the largest particle in soil?
a)
sand
b)
silt
c)
humus
d)
clay
9.
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?
a)
clay
b)
sand
c)
humus
d)
silt
10.
Which type of soil can hold the greatest amount of water?
a)
sand
b)
silt
c)
clay
d)
loam
11.
Many plants cannot grow in sandy soil. Why is this true?
a)
Sandy soil does not hold enough water.
b)
Air cannot pass through sandy soil.
c)
Roots cannot easily push through sandy soil.
d)
Sandy soil has too many nutrients.
12.
Soil is made of
a)
weathered rocks and minerals
b)
dead plants and animals
c)
air and water
d)
all of the above
13.
A student pours 50 mL of water over a soil sample, and 32 mL of the water drains into a cylinder. How much water was retained?
a)
18 mL
b)
28 mL
c)
32 mL
d)
50 mL
14.
A lab requires students to use sand and silt. What piece of safety equipment is most important?
a)
fire extinguisher
b)
goggles
c)
first aid kit
d)
gloves
15.
What property of soil could be tested by rubbing soil between fingers?
a)
color
b)
ability to retain water
c)
weathering
d)
texture
16.
To test which type of soil best supports plant life, which variable should be the one to change?
a)
the type of soil used
b)
the type of seed planted
c)
the type of soil used and the type of seed planted
d)
the amount of sunlight
100 %
