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Soil Formation & Decomposition

Total questions: 12

Worksheet time: 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Soil is composed of all of the following materials. Select all that apply.

a)
b)
c)
d)
2.

The weathering of rocks into small pieces forms what natural resource?

a)

Minerals

b)

Water

c)

Coal

d)

Soil

3.

How would the soil in areas that get very little rain be impacted?

a)

The pieces of rock would be smaller.

b)

There would be more insects and worms.

c)

There would be a greater variety of plants.

d)

There would be less water and organic material.

4.

A student made a mixture of sand, tiny rocks, small twigs, and some leaves. This student has modeled _________.

a)

How rocks change over time.

b)

The life cycle of plants.

c)

The formation of soil.

d)

How landforms are created.

5.

Rocks near the ocean get broken into smaller pieces. What causes this change to the rocks?

a)

Leaves falling from trees.

b)

Clouds forming in the sky.

c)

Water crashing against the rocks.

d)

Salt dissolving the water

6.

Which of the following processes will most likely contribute to the development of soil?

a)

Volcanic eruptions that make new land.

b)

Building up of snow in very cold areas.

c)

Migration of animals to warmer climates.

d)

Breaking down of rocks by wind, water, and ice.

7.

The organic matter in soil comes mostly from plants. Which of the following locations would most likely produce soil with the greatest amount of organic matter?

a)

A desert with very high temperatures.

b)

A prairie with lots of grasses and flowers.

c)

A mountain with extremely cold winds.

d)

A river with quickly moving water.

8.

A student exploring the formation of soil put rocks in a plastic jar of water and shook it. Afterwards, there were small pieces of broken rock in the water. What process in the formation of soil does this model?

a)

weathering of earth materials

b)

decay of plant matter

c)

formation of various minerals

d)

mixing of water and air

9.

To rot or break down the remains of plants and animals into smaller parts is to _______.

a)

form

b)

decompose

c)

weather

d)

mix

10.

How are the soils in these two pictures similar? Select all that apply.

a)

Dry

b)

Few plants

c)

Few animals

d)

Same texture

e)

Same color

11.

How are these soils different? Select all that apply.

a)

Sand

b)

Dry

c)

Color

d)

Large rocks

12.

When plants die they will ______ and ________.

a)

decompose

b)

become part of the soil

c)

disappear

d)

make new plants.