Question 1

Soil that is 30% silt could be classified as any of the following EXCEPT .

Accepted Answer

A)  clay loam 
B)  silt loam 
C)  sandy loam 
D)  loam 
E)  clay 
A)  clay loam 
B)  silt loam 
C)  sandy loam 
D)  loam 
E)  clay

Question 2

Erosion can result in a positive feedback loop because _.

Accepted Answer

A)  rainwater increasingly soaks into the ground 
B)  the pH of the soil increases as erosion continues 
C)  greater weathering of parent material will occur 
D)  the accumulation of humus makes erosion more likely 
E)  plants are less likely to grow in eroded soil 
A)  rainwater increasingly soaks into the ground 
B)  the pH of the soil increases as erosion continues 
C)  greater weathering of parent material will occur 
D)  the accumulation of humus makes erosion more likely 
E)  plants are less likely to grow in eroded soil

Question 3

Compaction of soil in a garden harms plants by .

Accepted Answer

A)  increasing aeration, decreasing infiltration, and increasing runoff 
B)  decreasing aeration, increasing infiltration, and decreasing runoff 
C)  increasing the amount of clay, decreasing the amount of silt, and decreasing infiltration 
D)  increasing aeration, increasing infiltration, and decreasing runoff 
E)  decreasing aeration, decreasing infiltration, and increasing runoff 
A)  increasing aeration, decreasing infiltration, and increasing runoff 
B)  decreasing aeration, increasing infiltration, and decreasing runoff 
C)  increasing the amount of clay, decreasing the amount of silt, and decreasing infiltration 
D)  increasing aeration, increasing infiltration, and decreasing runoff 
E)  decreasing aeration, decreasing infiltration, and increasing runoff

Question 4

A soil deficient in humus would have .

Accepted Answer

A)  very low levels of biological activity 
B)  no cations 
C)  a large amount of vegetative detritus at the surface 
D)  a very low mineral content 
E)  many decomposers and be able to hold considerable moisture 
A)  very low levels of biological activity 
B)  no cations 
C)  a large amount of vegetative detritus at the surface 
D)  a very low mineral content 
E)  many decomposers and be able to hold considerable moisture

Question 5

Until about 10,000 years ago, our species depended on .

Accepted Answer

A)  crops 
B)  hunting and herding 
C)  cattle and goats 
D)  hunting and gathering 
E)  crops and cattle 
A)  crops 
B)  hunting and herding 
C)  cattle and goats 
D)  hunting and gathering 
E)  crops and cattle

Question 6

Researchers at the Malpai Borderlands in southern New Mexico and Arizona have found evidence that .

Accepted Answer

A)  the region cannot sustain any level of commercial ranching 
B)  ranchers have been planting mesquite to replace lost grasslands 
C)  ancient nomadic tribes permanently altered the landscape by settling down and ranching in one area 
D)  fire suppression has played a major role in the degradation of the rangeland in the area 
E)  desertification has resulted in soil compaction and erosion 
A)  the region cannot sustain any level of commercial ranching 
B)  ranchers have been planting mesquite to replace lost grasslands 
C)  ancient nomadic tribes permanently altered the landscape by settling down and ranching in one area 
D)  fire suppression has played a major role in the degradation of the rangeland in the area 
E)  desertification has resulted in soil compaction and erosion

Question 7

Industrial agriculture _ .

Accepted Answer

A)  permanently improved soils, providing more food from less space 
B)  is necessary today for all cultures 
C)  rapidly deteriorated soils, requiring continuous movement to new croplands 
D)  had no impact on agriculture 
E)  increased our ability to obtain more food from the same area 
A)  permanently improved soils, providing more food from less space 
B)  is necessary today for all cultures 
C)  rapidly deteriorated soils, requiring continuous movement to new croplands 
D)  had no impact on agriculture 
E)  increased our ability to obtain more food from the same area

Question 8

Tommy and Teagan are learning the process of good home gardening and decide to help their parents as best as they can. Every day they walk along rows of bean plants, carefully inspecting each plant for harmful insects, and removing any that they find. However, the bean plants do not grow well, and few beans form. Their parents notice the poor beans, inspect the plants and soil, and tell the children that walking around the plants every day has hurt the plants by .

Accepted Answer

A)  converting the topsoil into clay 
B)  contaminating the soil with toxins leaching from their shoes 
C)  reducing the nutrient minerals in the soil 
D)  compacting the soil, decreasing aeration and infiltration 
E)  increasing soil aeration and killing soil microorganisms 
A)  converting the topsoil into clay 
B)  contaminating the soil with toxins leaching from their shoes 
C)  reducing the nutrient minerals in the soil 
D)  compacting the soil, decreasing aeration and infiltration 
E)  increasing soil aeration and killing soil microorganisms

Question 9

is the buildup of salts in soils, often as a result of overirrigation.

Accepted Answer

A)  Weathering 
B)  Erosion 
C)  Leaching 
D)  Salinization 
E)  Evaporation 
A)  Weathering 
B)  Erosion 
C)  Leaching 
D)  Salinization 
E)  Evaporation

Question 10

Grasses and conifer trees are pollinated by _ _.

Accepted Answer

A)  bees and wasps 
B)  water 
C)  the wind 
D)  ants 
E)  flies 
A)  bees and wasps 
B)  water 
C)  the wind 
D)  ants 
E)  flies

Question 11

Which of the following soils would be classified as clay loam?

Accepted Answer

A)  70% clay, 10% silt, and 20% sand 
B)  60% clay, 70% sand, and 30% silt 
C)  70% silt and 30% sand 
D)  30% clay, 40% sand, and 30% silt 
E)  60% clay and 40% silt 
A)  70% clay, 10% silt, and 20% sand 
B)  60% clay, 70% sand, and 30% silt 
C)  70% silt and 30% sand 
D)  30% clay, 40% sand, and 30% silt 
E)  60% clay and 40% silt

Question 12

is the loss of more than 10% of soil productivity in arid areas due to such factors as erosion, soil compaction, overgrazing, and forest removal.

Accepted Answer

A)  Stratification 
B)  Climatization 
C)  Salinization 
D)  Alkalinization 
E)  Desertification 
A)  Stratification 
B)  Climatization 
C)  Salinization 
D)  Alkalinization 
E)  Desertification

Soil that is 30% silt could be classified as any of the following EXCEPT .

Erosion can result in a positive feedback loop because _.

Compaction of soil in a garden harms plants by .

A soil deficient in humus would have .

Until about 10,000 years ago, our species depended on .

Researchers at the Malpai Borderlands in southern New Mexico and Arizona have found evidence that .

Industrial agriculture _ .

is the buildup of salts in soils, often as a result of overirrigation.

Grasses and conifer trees are pollinated by _ _.

Which of the following soils would be classified as clay loam?

is the loss of more than 10% of soil productivity in arid areas due to such factors as erosion, soil compaction, overgrazing, and forest removal.

Science and Sustainability: an Introduction to Environmental Science

Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology

Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Economics, Policy, and Sustainable Development

Human Population

Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Geology, Minerals, and Mining

Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts

Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control

Global Climate Change

Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

Renewable Energy Alternatives

Managing Our Waste

The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities

Sustainable Solutions

Answers to Data Analysis Questions

How to Interpret Graphs

Metric System

Periodic Table of the Elements

Geologic Time Scale Glossary Credits Index

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Exam 9: Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas

Soil that is 30% silt could be classified as any of the following EXCEPT .

Erosion can result in a positive feedback loop because _.

Compaction of soil in a garden harms plants by .

A soil deficient in humus would have .

Until about 10,000 years ago, our species depended on .

Researchers at the Malpai Borderlands in southern New Mexico and Arizona have found evidence that .

Industrial agriculture _ .

is the buildup of salts in soils, often as a result of overirrigation.

Grasses and conifer trees are pollinated by _ _.

Which of the following soils would be classified as clay loam?

is the loss of more than 10% of soil productivity in arid areas due to such factors as erosion, soil compaction, overgrazing, and forest removal.

Science and Sustainability: an Introduction to Environmental Science

Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology

Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Economics, Policy, and Sustainable Development

Human Population

Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Geology, Minerals, and Mining

Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts

Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control

Global Climate Change

Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

Renewable Energy Alternatives

Managing Our Waste

The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities

Sustainable Solutions

Answers to Data Analysis Questions

How to Interpret Graphs

Metric System

Periodic Table of the Elements

Geologic Time Scale Glossary Credits Index

Filters