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Soil Test

Total questions: 14

Worksheet time: 2hrs 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
What is HUMUS made from?
a)
Chick-Peas
b)
The remains of decayed plants and animals
c)
Beans
d)
Cheese
2.
What are the three components of soil?
a)
insects, sand, topsoil
b)
clay, sand, humus
c)
topsoil, subsoil, bedrock
d)
earthworms, sand, silt
3.
Many plants cannot grow in sandy soil. Why is this true?
a)
Sandy soil does not hold enough water.
b)
Oxygen cannot pass through sandy soil.
c)
Roots cannot easily push through clay soil.
d)
Sandy soil has too many nutrients.
4.

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 rock by wind, water, and ice

5.

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

a)

Leaves falling from trees

b)

Clouds forming in the sky

c)

Water crashing against the rocks

d)

Salt dissolving in the water

6.

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

a)

Minerals

b)

Water

c)

Coal

d)

Soil

7.

Ellen grabs a topsoil sample in her hand. She rolls it into a ball. The soil feels gritty and the ball falls apart. What property of soil is Ellen testing?

a)

color

b)

texture

c)

ability to support plant growth

d)

water retention

8.
Physically breaking down rocks and materials is called__________weathering.
a)
Chemical
b)
Mechanical
c)
Biological
d)
Permeable
9.
A rock containing iron is soft, crumbly, reddish in color. It's been chemically weathered by__.
a)
Carbon Dioxide
b)
Oxygen
c)
Nitrogen
d)
Sulfer
10.

List three ways in nature in which large rocks can be broken down into tiny soil particles. (3 marks)

4 lines
11.

Explain how water and humus work together to provide nutrients for crops. (3 marks)

4 lines
12.

Explain the relationship between particle size and water retention. (2 marks)

4 lines
13.

This diagram shows the set up to compare the water holding capacity of sand, clay and loam soil.

each soil will be tested separately.

Which type of soil will retain (hold) the most water? explain why. (3 marks)

4 lines
14.

Which soil sample would be most suitable for growing crops? explain why (3 marks)

4 lines