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Soil

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Soil is important because it provides support, nutrients, and a habitat for _________.

a)

organisms

b)

polar bears

c)

bamboo

d)

sunlight

2.

Rock, clay, silt, ________, humus, air, and water are components of soil.

a)

glass

b)

sand

c)

lava

d)

worms

3.

Plants and animals need _________ to live and grow.

a)

sunlight

b)

bubbly water

c)

nutrients

d)

tacos

4.

Soil is important because many _______ grow in soil, and it provides support and nutrients for the _________.

a)

insects

b)

people

c)

animals

d)

plants

5.

__________ is tiny particles of soil that hold water well and provide nutrients.

a)

clay

b)

sand

c)

silt

d)

humus

6.

__________ is small grains of worn-down rock; has few nutrients and does not hold water.

a)

clay

b)

sand

c)

silt

d)

humus

7.

__________ is very small broken pieces of rock (larger than clay, but smaller than sand).

a)

clay

b)

sand

c)

silt

d)

humus

8.

__________ is the decayed, once living, matter in soil that adds nutrients; found mostly in topsoil.

a)

clay

b)

sand

c)

silt

d)

humus

9.

What is the layer of loose material covering Earth’s land surface; provides nutrients and support for plants?

a)

sand

b)

lava

c)

soil

d)

rock

10.

What are fragments found in the soil that are in the process of being broken down into smaller pieces?

a)

sand

b)

lava

c)

soil

d)

rocks

11.

What are nutrients?

a)

all the living organisms living together in an area

b)

very small broken pieces of rock (larger than clay, but smaller than sand)

c)

the foods or substances that plants and animals need to live and grow

d)

the place where an organism lives

12.

Which three properties can you use to compare different soil samples?

Choose 3 answers!

a)

color

b)

consistency

c)

smell

d)

taste

e)

particle size

13.

Which statements describe soil? Select three answers.

a)

Soil is made of rocks and minerals.

b)

All soil has layers.

c)

Soil cannot be replaced quickly.

d)

All soil on earth is brown.

e)

Soil has bits of dead organisms.

14.

The parts of soil come from different places. They mix together to form different types of soils. What happens first when materials are becoming part of the soil?

a)

Plants use the nutrients from the humus to grow.

b)

Worms help mix the humus into the soil.

c)

Nonliving plant and animal materials fall to the ground.

d)

Small organisms begin to feed on the materials.

15.

Soil takes a long time to be created. Which of the following two ingredients are needed to make soil?

a)

weathered pieces of rock

b)

corn that is grown for animals

c)

glass that has been recycled

d)

decomposed animals and waste

16.

Which of the following would rely on SOIL to live in a forest?

a)

trees

b)

animals

c)

grass

d)

all of the above

17.

Which are components of soil?

a)

humus

b)

trees

c)

clay

d)

clouds

e)

silt

18.

Which statement explains characteristics of soil that will affect the growth of plants the most?

a)

The soil's strong smell will make plants grow taller.

b)

The soil's changing color will make plants grow smaller. 

c)

The taste of the soill will make plants grow smaller. 

d)

The amount of nutrients in the soil will make plants grow bigger.

19.

The parts of soil come from different places. They mix together to form different types of soils. What happens last when materials are becoming part of the soil?

a)

Plants use the nutrients from the humus to grow.

b)

Worms help mix the humus into the soil.

c)

Nonliving plant and animal materials fall to the ground.

d)

Small organisms begin to feed on the materials.

20.

Soil in different places can be formed from different materials.

a)

True

b)

False