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Soil Science Unit Test - Green Book

Total questions: 100

Worksheet time: 2hrs 32mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
The image is called.....
a)
A soil horizon
b)
A soil profile
c)
A soil pit
d)
A soil sample
2.
Which of these is a correct definition of the A horizon?
a)
A layer of partially decomposed organic matter
b)
A layer of unweathered parent rock material
c)
Mineral matter mixed with some organic matter
d)
A zone of illuviation
3.
A brown earth soil is typically...
a)
Litter rich in nutrients
b)
Poor in nutrient content
c)
Unfertile
d)
Highly acidic
4.
What is the layer of soil just below the topsoil?
a)
soil
b)
subsoil
c)
topsoil
d)
terrace farming
5.
Which layer of soil are these roots growing in?
a)
subsoil
b)
topsoil
6.
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
7.
What is the layer of soil that contains humus, leaf litter, and other organic matter?
a)
O - Organic
b)
A - Topsoil
c)
B - Subsoil
d)
R - Bedrock
8.
Which layer is the bottom of the soil profile?
a)
C - Partially Weathered Parent Material
b)
D - Separated rock
c)
R - Bedrock
d)
A - Topsoil
9.
Layers of soil are also known as:
a)
Soil Profiles
b)
Soil Horizons
c)
Soil sheets
d)
Soil cores
10.
In which layer of the soil profile contains the MOST humus?
a)
Layer 1 (A)
b)
Layer 2 (B)
c)
Layer 3 (C)
d)
Layer 4 (R)
11.
Which soil layer consists of clay, iron oxides, and other components that came form the zone of leaching?
a)
O horizon
b)
A Horizon
c)
B Horizon
d)
Bedrock
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.
An organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that breaks down organic material is a...
a)
Decomposer
b)
Burrower
c)
Humus source
14.
What am I?
a)
Decomposer
b)
Burrower
c)
Humus Source
15.
What layer would you find the oldest fossils?
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
16.
The very top layer of soil is mostly made of
a)
Solid rock 
b)
Clay and mineral deposits
c)
A mixture of minerals and organic material
d)
Mostly organic material (humus)
17.
What does weathering mean?
a)
To form or create new
b)
To build up
c)
To break down
d)
To completely destroy
18.
What effect did over plowing and cutting down trees in the Great Plains during the 1930’s?
a)
It had little effect
b)
It increased soil fertility
c)
It was a primary cause of the Dust Bowl
d)
Farmers had a great harvest
19.
The MAIN  thing Decomposers do for the soil is the following:
a)
Store moisture
b)
Burrow deep in the soil
c)
Make space for air and water
d)
Break down and digest dead organisms
20.
There is an unlimited supply of fertile soil.
a)
True
b)
False
21.
Which of the following is the largest particle in soil?
a)
sand
b)
silt
c)
humus
d)
clay
22.
_______ 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
23.
Place the following layers in order from top to bottom: bedrock, topsoil, subsoil, organic, parent material.
a)
Organic, Topsoil, Subsoil, Parent Material, Bedrock
b)
Organic, Topsoil, Parent Material, Subsoil, Bedrock
c)
Topsoil, Organic, Subsoil, Parent Material, Bedrock
d)
Topsoil, Organic, Parent Material, Subsoil, Bedrock
24.

What is soil?

a)

It is the loose material in which plants can grow in the upper layer of Earth.

b)

It is the leaf that grows on the plant.

c)

It is the food that can be found inside the seed.

25.

True or False: Soil takes very little time to form.

a)

True

b)

False

26.

Humus can be created by gardeners through a:

a)

compost pile.

b)

tiller.

c)

weed eater.

d)

lawn mower.

27.

What color of soil has a lot of humus?

a)

black soils

b)

white soils

c)

reddish colored soils.

28.

Clay is a type of soil that can be used in:

a)

pottery.

b)

sand boxes.

c)

recipes.

29.
There are FOUR components of soil: water, air, organic material, and ________.
a)
conservation
b)
rock
c)
subsoil
d)
loamy
30.
All soils begin with what process?
a)
Nutrients
b)
Subsoil
c)
Weathering
d)
Fertile
31.
Fertile soil is rich in _________.
a)
Conservation
b)
Bedrock
c)
Water
d)
Nutrients
32.
Wind blowing dirt and sand through the air is an example of...
a)
weathering 
b)
erosion
33.
Which type of soil can hold the greatest amount of water?
a)
sand
b)
silt
c)
clay
d)
loam
34.
Water gets into the cracks of rock and freezes, causing the rock to break.  What is this an example of?
a)
erosion
b)
weathering
35.
Soil is made of
a)
weathered rocks and minerals
b)
dead plants and animals
c)
air and water
d)
all of the above
36.
Breaking down or wearing away of rocks is called....
a)
weathering
b)
humus
c)
erosion 
37.
The texture of soil depends mainly on
a)
the types of plants that grow in the soil.
b)
the size of the particles in the soil.
c)
the color of the soil.
d)
the number of worms in the soil.
38.

What are the three components of soil?

a)

insects, sand, topsoil

b)

clay, sand, silt

c)

topsoil, subsoil, bedrock

d)

earthworms, sand, silt

39.

What type of soil has a well balance of Sand, Silt, & Clay?

a)

Sand

b)

Clay

c)

Loam

d)

Silt

40.

Which type of soil has little pieces of rock broken down into it?

a)

Sand

b)

Clay

c)

Silt

d)

Loam

41.

Is soil good for the earth?

a)

YES

b)

NO

42.

a method to maintain the fertility of the soil by protecting the soil from erosion and nutrient loss

a)

Soil Fertility

b)

Soil Conservation

c)

No Till farming

d)

Crop Rotation

43.

the process by which wind, water, glaciers, and gravity move (transport) soil from one location to another

a)

Hydrolysis

b)

Weathering

c)

Soil Erosion

d)

Crop Rotation

44.

plowing fields along the curves of a slope to prevent soil loss

a)

No Till Farming

b)

Terracing

c)

Contour Plowing

d)

Farming

45.

creating flat platforms in the hillside that provide a level planting surface, which reduces soil runoff from the slope.

a)

Terracing

b)

Contour Plowing

c)

Topographical Farming

d)

No till farming

46.

Method for reducing soil erosion; plant stalks are left in the field after harvesting and the next year's crop is planted within the stalks without plowing.

a)

Contour plowing

b)

Terracing

c)

Fertilization

d)

No till farming

47.

a crop planted in the off-season to help prevent soil erosion and to return nutrients to the soil

a)

Crop Rotation

b)

Soil Conservation

c)

Cover Crop

d)

No till farming

48.

the system of growing a different crop in a field each year to preserve the fertility of the land

a)

No till farming

b)

Crop Rotation

c)

Cover Crop

d)

Terracing

49.

rows of large trees or bushes planted between fields to help block the wind and prevent soil erosion.

a)

Windbreaks

b)

Forest

c)

Crops

d)

Crop Rotation

50.

A nickname for the Great Plains regions hit by drought and dust storms in the early 1930s

a)

Okies

b)

Tornado

c)

Dust Bowl

d)

Midwest

51.

A measure of how well soil supports plant growth.

a)

Soil Fertility

b)

Soil Conservation

c)

PH Level

d)

Plant growth scale

52.
Are there minerals in soil?
a)
Yes
b)
No
53.
True or false:
We end up eating the minerals that are in soil.
a)
true
b)
false
54.
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
55.
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
56.
Most types of plants grow  best in soil with a pH of _.
a)
between 1 & 2
b)
between 5 & 7
c)
between 10 & 12 
d)
either 1 or 14
57.
Refers to the fact that soil is basic or acidic
a)
Particle Size
b)
ph
c)
Permeable
d)
Permeability
58.

What category is the following?

Clay 50%, Silt 20%, Sand 30%

a)

Loam

b)

Sandy Loam

c)

Silt

d)

Clay

59.

What category is the following?

Clay 20%, Silt 40%, Sand 40%

a)

Clay

b)

Loam

c)

Silt Loam

d)

Sandy Loam

60.

What category is the following?

Clay 40%, Silt 50%, Sand 10%

a)

Clay

b)

Loam

c)

Silt

d)

Silty Clay Loam

61.

What category is the following?

Clay 10%, Silt 70%, Sand 20%

a)

Loam

b)

Silt

c)

Silt Loam

d)

Sandy Clay Loam

62.

How many essential nutrients are there for plants?

a)

6

b)

16

c)

7

d)

17

63.

What nutrient is essential for new plant growth and chlorophyll synthesis?

a)

Sulfur

b)

Potassium

c)

Nitrogen

d)

Calcium

64.

_________promotes root development and early seedling growth

a)

Nitrogen

b)

Potassium

c)

Phosphorus

d)

Iron

65.

Plants lacking _______are also more susceptible to pests and diseases

a)

Potassium

b)

Nitrogen

c)

Magnesium

d)

Sulfur

66.

N-P-K stands for what?

a)

Nitrogen-Potassium-Phosphorus

b)

Nickle-Phosphorus-Potassium

c)

Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium

d)

Need-Plants-Know

67.

Which is a non- fertilizer element?

a)

Nitrogen

b)

Hydrogen

c)

Calcium

d)

Magnesium

68.

What does macro mean?

a)

Tiny

b)

Small

c)

Large

d)

Little

69.

This plant is showing what deficiency?

a)

Nitrogen

b)

Potassium

c)

Phosphorus

d)

Calcium

70.

What nutrient is deficient in this plant?

a)

Phosphorus

b)

Nitrogen

c)

Calcium

d)

Potassium

71.

Scorching on the margin is a sign of what deficiency?

a)

Potassium

b)

Nitrogen

c)

Phosphorus

d)

Boron

72.

What growing medium do we use in the greenhouse?

a)

Miracle-Gro

b)

Pro-Mix

c)

Top Soil

d)

Peat Moss

73.

___ helps with porosity is growing medium

a)

Vermiculite

b)

Perlite

c)

Peat Moss

d)

Lime

74.

_____helps with water holding capacity

a)

perlite

b)

vermiculite

c)

peat moss

d)

gold

75.

What does Micro mean?

a)

big

b)

large

c)

small

d)

gigantic

76.

What is soil?

(a)  

77.

A thick, brown substance* that is filled with residue from decomposed animals and plants.

a)

Loam

b)

Compost

c)

Humus

d)

Feces

78.

Read the passage about earthworms.

EARTHWORMS: Earthworms are very important for producing healthy, mature soil. Worms speed up humus

production by eating decaying material. In fact, worms are put into compost piles to help make natural fertilizer for crops. Worms leave holes and tracks in the soil that are

filled with water when it rains. Worms loosen

the top layer of soil making it ideal for thriving

plants.


How do earthworms help create organic material

for healthy soil?

a)

Worms eat decaying material and break it into

smaller pieces.

b)

Worms dry out the soil by drinking the water in

layers.

c)

Worms break up rocks into smaller pieces.

d)

Worms help with chemical weathering.

79.
If a soil or solution is alkaline then it is 
a)
Above 8 PH
b)
Near 7 PH
c)
Below 6 PH
80.
If a soil or solution is acidic then it is 
a)
Above 8 PH
b)
Near 7 PH
c)
Below 6 PH
81.
If a soil or solution is base then it is 
a)
Above 8 PH
b)
Near 7 PH
c)
Below 6 PH
82.

Soil acidity results from many sources. Select a natural process which can cause soil acidity.

a)

The reaction of Carbon Dioxide and Water

b)

Use of organic fertilizers

c)

Nitrification of ammonium fertilizers

d)

An inherently sandy soil

83.

Which element causes soil to appear red?

a)

calcium

b)

iron

c)

silicon

d)

nickel

84.
The pH scale is a range from:
a)
1-7
b)
0-14
c)
1-5
d)
1-20
85.

In basic terms, _______ are the nutrients that the soil requires in large amounts.

a)

Nutrients

b)

Vitamins

c)

Macronutrients

d)

Micronutrients

86.

When soils are waterlogged it is likely that this nutrient will be lost through leaching, resulting eventually in the older leaves of the plant yellowing.

a)

N2O - Nitrous Oxide

b)

Nitrogen

c)

Oxygen

d)

Atomospheric gases (Air)

87.

What type of soil water forms as a very thin film surrounding soil particles and is generally not available to the plant? It is bound so tightly to the soil by adhesion properties that very little of it can be taken up by plant roots.

a)

capillary

b)

gravitational

c)

hygroscopic

d)

flowing

88.

Which of the following is not a primary nutrient required for plant growth?

a)

Sodium

b)

Phosphorus

c)

Calcium

d)

Nitrogen

89.

Phosphate deficiency is seen by what coloring of the plant?

a)

Purple

b)

Bluish

c)

Brown

d)

Yellow

90.

The photo shows that plant leaves turn orange and yellow from the outside in. Which primary nutrient is lacking when a plant shows signs like this?

a)

Zinc

b)

Potassium

c)

Nitrogen

d)

Phosphorus

91.

The leaves of a plant gets orange and yellow from the inside out, while leaves at the bottom of plant are observed to generally yellow first. Which element is likely deficient?

a)

Phosphorus

b)

Potassium

c)

Nitrogen

d)

Nitrogen and Phosphorus

92.
Which one of these is NOT a macro-nutrient 
a)
Nitrogen 
b)
Calcium 
c)
Boron 
d)
Potassium 
93.

Which one of these is NOT a micro-nutrient

a)

Nitrogen

b)

Copper

c)

Boron

d)

Zinc

94.

If one nutrient is absent or toxic then what could happen to a plant

a)

Alter the cellular structure of the plant resulting in defects or deficiencies

b)

Nothing will happen to the plant

c)

Possible create a new variation of that plant due to the plant stress

d)

The plant could join a union and protest the maltreatment

95.

Infiltration is....

a)

Waters ability to enter the surface layer of the soil

b)

An inverted filtration occurrence

c)

The ability to maintain correct water balance

d)

Liquid slowly passing through a filter

96.

The higher the cation exchance capacity (CEC) of a soil sample, the....

a)

Weaker the soil's capacity to hold onto water and nutrients

b)

Stronger the soil's capacity to hold onto water and nutrients

c)

Greater the risk of nutrient leaching

d)

Greater the soil pore space

97.

How do factors such as pore space and compaction affect plant growth?

a)

Compacted soils reduce the availability of water and oxygen to plant roots

b)

Soils with large amounts of pore space enable roots to absorb more water and soil

c)

Soils with small amounts of pore space are less likely to undergo nutrient leaching

d)

Compacted soils have less porespace, which reduces the availability of water, nutrients and oxygen

e)

All of the above

98.

The forces of attraction between water molecules due to polarity are called:

a)

Covalent bonds

b)

Ionic bonds

c)

Polar bonds

d)

Hydrogen bonds

99.

Is hygroscopic water, water being held to soil, available or unavailable to plants.

a)

Available

b)

Unavailable

100.

During which process is nitrogen moved from the air to the soil to be used by plants and then returned to the atmosphere to be used again?

a)

ammonification

b)

nitrogen cycle

c)

Fixtation

d)

water cycle

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