Question 1

How good of an indicator is soil color in categorizing the soil horizon?

Accepted Answer

A)  Excellent. Color always indicates an exact soil horizon. 
B)  It is an excellent indicator of soil horizon for well-drained soils but a poor indicator for poorly-drained soils. 
C)  Terrible. Different soil horizons don't have distinct color differences. 
D)  Reasonably good. Sometimes color can be misleading, but usually it can give you a good idea. 
A)  Excellent. Color always indicates an exact soil horizon. 
B)  It is an excellent indicator of soil horizon for well-drained soils but a poor indicator for poorly-drained soils. 
C)  Terrible. Different soil horizons don't have distinct color differences. 
D)  Reasonably good. Sometimes color can be misleading, but usually it can give you a good idea.

Question 2

Sinkhole formation is influenced by dramatic changes in the water table level that happen during wet and dry seasons.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Describe how volcanoes are associated with land subsidence.

Accepted Answer

Subsidence can occur from volcanic activ

Question 4

Which of the following is the correct order of soil grain size from smallest to largest?

Accepted Answer

A)  Clay, silt, sand, gravel 
B)  Silt, clay, sand, gravel 
C)  Sand, silt, clay, gravel 
D)  Gravel, sand, silt, clay 
E)  Silt, sand, clay, gravel 
A)  Clay, silt, sand, gravel 
B)  Silt, clay, sand, gravel 
C)  Sand, silt, clay, gravel 
D)  Gravel, sand, silt, clay 
E)  Silt, sand, clay, gravel

Question 5

Which of the following is the correct link between the soil and its horizon classification?

Accepted Answer

A)  O is organic material. 
B)  C is zone of leaching. 
C)  B is organic and mineral matter. 
D)  K is the zone of accumulation. 
E)  E is the parent material. 
A)  O is organic material. 
B)  C is zone of leaching. 
C)  B is organic and mineral matter. 
D)  K is the zone of accumulation. 
E)  E is the parent material.

Question 6

What causes volume change in expansive soil?

Accepted Answer

A)  Changes in the water content 
B)  Changes in atmospheric pressure 
C)  Changes in temperature of the soil 
D)  Adding weight, such as a new building, on top of the soil 
E)  Changes in elevation of the soil 
A)  Changes in the water content 
B)  Changes in atmospheric pressure 
C)  Changes in temperature of the soil 
D)  Adding weight, such as a new building, on top of the soil 
E)  Changes in elevation of the soil

Question 7

The mineral composition of soils has a great influence on the type of subsidence or volume changes that will occur.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

In terms of soil development, what factor is most important in determining whether a soil is weakly, moderately, or well-developed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Climate 
B)  Parent material 
C)  Mineral type 
D)  Moisture amounts 
E)  Age 
A)  Climate 
B)  Parent material 
C)  Mineral type 
D)  Moisture amounts 
E)  Age

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a normal definition of soil erosion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Grain-by-grain removal of mineral and organic material in a soil by wind and water 
B)  Removal of soil material at an unacceptable rate 
C)  Dissolution of flowing acidic groundwater to produce a large underground opening 
D)  Removal of soil material at a rate faster than it is being produced 
A)  Grain-by-grain removal of mineral and organic material in a soil by wind and water 
B)  Removal of soil material at an unacceptable rate 
C)  Dissolution of flowing acidic groundwater to produce a large underground opening 
D)  Removal of soil material at a rate faster than it is being produced

Question 10

What is subsidence?

Accepted Answer

A)  A drop in groundwater level prior to an earthquake 
B)  An increase air pressure at high elevations 
C)  A sinking of the ground surface 
D)  A swelling of the ground surface 
E)  The rapid turbulent movement of soil and rock down a steep slope 
A)  A drop in groundwater level prior to an earthquake 
B)  An increase air pressure at high elevations 
C)  A sinking of the ground surface 
D)  A swelling of the ground surface 
E)  The rapid turbulent movement of soil and rock down a steep slope

Question 11

Explain the basics of how sinkholes are formed in an area.

Accepted Answer

There are two basic types of sinkholes:

Question 12

Haiti faces a major problem of soil erosion because it has been growing corn without applying any fertilizer for centuries and that has depleted the soil of its nutrients.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Why do soil scientists and engineers have different taxonomies for classifying soil?

Accepted Answer

Soil scientists and engineers have diffe

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT usually caused by land subsidence or soil volume change?

Accepted Answer

A)  Water pollution 
B)  Building collapse 
C)  Disease 
D)  Coastal flooding 
E)  Loss of wetlands 
A)  Water pollution 
B)  Building collapse 
C)  Disease 
D)  Coastal flooding 
E)  Loss of wetlands

Question 15

What is groundwater mining?

Accepted Answer

A)  Groundwater is pumped from the ground faster than it is replenished. 
B)  Groundwater is used to excavate minerals. 
C)  Groundwater is pumped into mines to clean them. 
D)  Groundwater is put through a sieve to remove minerals. 
E)  Groundwater is used to dissolve minerals and then evaporated. 
A)  Groundwater is pumped from the ground faster than it is replenished. 
B)  Groundwater is used to excavate minerals. 
C)  Groundwater is pumped into mines to clean them. 
D)  Groundwater is put through a sieve to remove minerals. 
E)  Groundwater is used to dissolve minerals and then evaporated.

Question 16

Weathering is the physical and chemical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces and is involved in soil development.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

If you were in a very cold climate and looking out at an area with many sinkholes and rough terrain, what would you most likely be looking at?

Accepted Answer

A)  Expansive soils 
B)  Soil compaction 
C)  Subsidence due to groundwater pumping 
D)  Thermokarst 
E)  Disappearing springs 
A)  Expansive soils 
B)  Soil compaction 
C)  Subsidence due to groundwater pumping 
D)  Thermokarst 
E)  Disappearing springs

Question 18

There have not been too many problems due to land subsidence in the United States.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which of the following is the best match between climate and soil hazard?

Accepted Answer

A)  Solution sinkholes and arid climates 
B)  Collapsible soils and humid climates 
C)  Solution sinkholes and polar climates 
D)  Expansive soils with distinct wet and dry seasons 
E)  Collapsible soils and polar climates 
A)  Solution sinkholes and arid climates 
B)  Collapsible soils and humid climates 
C)  Solution sinkholes and polar climates 
D)  Expansive soils with distinct wet and dry seasons 
E)  Collapsible soils and polar climates

Question 20

Describe what is meant by weakly developed versus well-developed soil. Give two examples to explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

A weakly developed soil profile has few

How good of an indicator is soil color in categorizing the soil horizon?

Sinkhole formation is influenced by dramatic changes in the water table level that happen during wet and dry seasons.

Describe how volcanoes are associated with land subsidence.

Which of the following is the correct order of soil grain size from smallest to largest?

Which of the following is the correct link between the soil and its horizon classification?

What causes volume change in expansive soil?

The mineral composition of soils has a great influence on the type of subsidence or volume changes that will occur.

In terms of soil development, what factor is most important in determining whether a soil is weakly, moderately, or well-developed?

Which of the following is NOT a normal definition of soil erosion?

What is subsidence?

Explain the basics of how sinkholes are formed in an area.

Haiti faces a major problem of soil erosion because it has been growing corn without applying any fertilizer for centuries and that has depleted the soil of its nutrients.

Why do soil scientists and engineers have different taxonomies for classifying soil?

Which of the following is NOT usually caused by land subsidence or soil volume change?

What is groundwater mining?

Weathering is the physical and chemical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces and is involved in soil development.

If you were in a very cold climate and looking out at an area with many sinkholes and rough terrain, what would you most likely be looking at?

There have not been too many problems due to land subsidence in the United States.

Which of the following is the best match between climate and soil hazard?

Describe what is meant by weakly developed versus well-developed soil. Give two examples to explain your answer.

Introduction to Natural Hazards

Internal Structure of the Earth and Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes

Tsunamis

Volcanoes

Flooding

Mass Wasting

Atmosphere and Severe Weather

Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones

Coastal Hazards

Climate and Climate Change

Wildfires

Impacts and Extinctions

Filters

Exam 8: Subsidence and Soils

How good of an indicator is soil color in categorizing the soil horizon?

Sinkhole formation is influenced by dramatic changes in the water table level that happen during wet and dry seasons.

Describe how volcanoes are associated with land subsidence.

Which of the following is the correct order of soil grain size from smallest to largest?

Which of the following is the correct link between the soil and its horizon classification?

What causes volume change in expansive soil?

The mineral composition of soils has a great influence on the type of subsidence or volume changes that will occur.

In terms of soil development, what factor is most important in determining whether a soil is weakly, moderately, or well-developed?

Which of the following is NOT a normal definition of soil erosion?

What is subsidence?

Explain the basics of how sinkholes are formed in an area.

Haiti faces a major problem of soil erosion because it has been growing corn without applying any fertilizer for centuries and that has depleted the soil of its nutrients.

Why do soil scientists and engineers have different taxonomies for classifying soil?

Which of the following is NOT usually caused by land subsidence or soil volume change?

What is groundwater mining?

Weathering is the physical and chemical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces and is involved in soil development.

If you were in a very cold climate and looking out at an area with many sinkholes and rough terrain, what would you most likely be looking at?

There have not been too many problems due to land subsidence in the United States.

Which of the following is the best match between climate and soil hazard?

Describe what is meant by weakly developed versus well-developed soil. Give two examples to explain your answer.

Introduction to Natural Hazards

Internal Structure of the Earth and Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes

Tsunamis

Volcanoes

Flooding

Mass Wasting

Atmosphere and Severe Weather

Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones

Coastal Hazards

Climate and Climate Change

Wildfires

Impacts and Extinctions

Filters