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Soil Quiz

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 1hrs 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which inorganic soil particle is the smallest?

a)

sand

b)

silt

c)

clay

d)

organic matter

2.

Which inorganic soil particle is the largest?

a)

sand

b)

silt

c)

clay

d)

organic matter

3.

How does organic matter contribute to soil water retention

a)

organic matter retains water the best

b)

organic matter retains water the worst

c)

we don't know how well organic matter contributes to water retention

4.

Which of the following soil particles are chemically identical?

a)

sand and clay

b)

sand and silt

c)

silt and clay

d)

silt and organic matter

e)

clay and organic matter

5.

Potting soil has which of the following soil particle types

a)

sand

b)

silt

c)

clay

d)

organic matter

6.

Which of the following soil type is closest to loam?

a)

martian soil

b)

potting soil

c)

horse manure

7.

What is the relationship between soil grain size and water retention?

a)

The larger the particle the better the water retention

b)

The smaller the particle the worse the water retention

c)

The larger the particle the worse the water retention

d)

There is no relationship between particle size and water retention

8.

Which soil type has the best water retention?

a)

Soil that is mostly sand

b)

Soil that is mostly silt

c)

Soil that is mostly clay

d)

Soil that is mostly organic matter

9.

Which of our 3 soil types had the worst water retention?

a)

Martian soil

b)

Potting soil

c)

Horse manure

10.

Which of our 3 soil types had the best water retention?

a)

Martian soil

b)

Potting soil

c)

Horse manure

11.

What is the amount of water soil can hold after draining?

a)

water holding capacity

b)

permanent wilting point

c)

available water

d)

saturation

12.

What is the point at which there is not enough water in the soil for a plant to take up?

a)

water holding capacity

b)

permanent wilting point

c)

available water

d)

saturation

13.

What is the amount of water in the soil between water holding capacity and permanent wilting point?

a)

water holding capacity

b)

permanent wilting point

c)

available water

d)

saturation

14.

When soil is compacted, plants die because...

a)

water can't get into the pores of the soil

b)

air can't get into the pores of the soil

c)

Neither air nor water can get into the pores of the soil

15.

Why is it important for water to get into the pores of the soil?

a)

It is necessary for cell respiration

b)

It is necessary for photosynthesis

16.

Why is it important for air to get into the pores of the soil?

a)

It is necessary for cell respiration

b)

It is necessary for photosynthesis

17.

Why do we need bacteria and fungi in the soil

a)

to make nutrients available for plants to use

b)

to create humus which contributes to soil structure

c)

to aerate the soil

d)

to aid plants in cell respiration

e)

to decompose organic matter

18.

Why do we know Martian soil will not support plant growth by itself?

a)

It has no nutrients

b)

It has no bacteria or fungi

c)

It retains water too well

d)

It retains no water at all

19.

Where does photosynthesis occur in the plant?

a)

The roots

b)

Everything above ground

c)

The trunk/stalk

d)

The leaves

e)

Everywhere in the plant

20.

Where does cellular respiration occur in the plant?

a)

The roots

b)

Everything above ground

c)

The trunk/stalk

d)

The leaves

e)

Everywhere in the plant

21.

What is a vitamin?

a)

An organic compound that is easier to break down

b)

An inorganic compound that is difficult to break down

22.

What is a mineral?

a)

An organic compound that is easier to break down

b)

An inorganic compound that is difficult to break down

23.

Where does the plant get its oxygen?

a)

the air

b)

the soil

c)

both the air and the soil

24.

Where does the plant get its carbon?

a)

the air

b)

the soil

c)

both the air and the soil

25.

Where does the plant get its hydrogen?

a)

the air

b)

the soil

c)

both the air and the soil

26.

Where does the plant get its nitrogen?

a)

the air

b)

the soil

c)

both the air and the soil

27.

Where does the plant get its potassium?

a)

the air

b)

the soil

c)

both the air and the soil

28.

Where does the plant get its phosphorus?

a)

the air

b)

the soil

c)

both the air and the soil

29.

What does the plant use oxygen for?

a)

making all macromolecules

b)

making ATP

c)

cell water regulation

d)

photosynthesis

e)

cell respiration

30.

What does the plant use carbon for?

a)

making all macromolecules

b)

making ATP

c)

cell water regulation

d)

photosynthesis

e)

cell respiration

31.

What does the plant use phosphorus for?

a)

making all macromolecules

b)

making ATP

c)

cell water regulation

d)

photosynthesis

e)

cell respiration

32.

What does the plant use potassium for?

a)

making proteins

b)

making ATP

c)

cell water regulation

d)

photosynthesis

e)

cell respiration

33.

What does the plant use hydrogen for?

a)

making proteins

b)

making ATP

c)

cell water regulation

d)

photosynthesis

e)

cell respiration

34.

What does the plant use nitrogen for?

a)

making proteins

b)

making ATP

c)

cell water regulation

d)

photosynthesis

e)

cell respiration

35.

If nutrients are present in the soil, then they are available to be used by the plant.

a)

True

b)

False