Question 1

This layer contains rocks that are in the process of being broken down in order to produce new soil.Which horizon is this?

Accepted Answer

A) O horizon 
B) A horizon 
C) C horizon 
D) R horizon 
E) S horizon 
A) O horizon 
B) A horizon 
C) C horizon 
D) R horizon 
E) S horizon

Question 2

The long root systems of native prairie grasses allow them to access greater supplies of water and generally pass through which three soil horizons?

Accepted Answer

A) R,C,and B 
B) O,A,and C 
C) O,A,and B 
D) A,B,and C 
A) R,C,and B 
B) O,A,and C 
C) O,A,and B 
D) A,B,and C

Question 3

Which two processes are essential to soil formation?

Accepted Answer

A) soil erosion and overgrazing 
B) decay of organic material and soil erosion 
C) decay of organic material and weathering of parent material 
D) weathering of parent material and overgrazing 
E) desertification and weathering of parent material 
A) soil erosion and overgrazing 
B) decay of organic material and soil erosion 
C) decay of organic material and weathering of parent material 
D) weathering of parent material and overgrazing 
E) desertification and weathering of parent material

Question 4

The Flint Hills region of the Great Plains is dominated by tallgrass prairie.Large tracts of the prairie remain because the soil was too thin and rocky to be especially good for crop production.In the past two decades,areas of tallgrass prairie have been protected in reserves because of the loss of this grassland system over time-in large part a result of domestic animal production and some crop agriculture.At the eastern border of the region,deciduous forests have been gradually moving west,replacing tallgrass prairie.What do you think is leading to this pattern of change?

Accepted Answer

In areas of sufficient rainfall to suppo

Question 5

Science Literacy Use the following graphic to answer the next questions.  
-Which horizon is most fertile for plant growth?

Accepted Answer

A) the O horizon,where the surface litter occurs and water enters the soil 
B) the A horizon,where organic matter decays and organisms live 
C) the B horizon,where mineral content is higher 
D) the C horizon,where soil is produces from rock weathering 
A) the O horizon,where the surface litter occurs and water enters the soil 
B) the A horizon,where organic matter decays and organisms live 
C) the B horizon,where mineral content is higher 
D) the C horizon,where soil is produces from rock weathering

Question 6

Which of the following crops was NOT originally derived from grasslands?

Accepted Answer

A) wheat 
B) rye 
C) barley 
D) rice 
E) millet 
A) wheat 
B) rye 
C) barley 
D) rice 
E) millet

Question 7

What happens when lands are undergrazed?

Accepted Answer

A) Grasses grow wild and take over the area. 
B) There is plenty of grass for all the cattle to eat,and they grow healthier over time. 
C) Weeds grow wild,and there is less cattle feed over time. 
D) There is no effect to the land if it is undergrazed. 
E) Desertification occurs in the area. 
A) Grasses grow wild and take over the area. 
B) There is plenty of grass for all the cattle to eat,and they grow healthier over time. 
C) Weeds grow wild,and there is less cattle feed over time. 
D) There is no effect to the land if it is undergrazed. 
E) Desertification occurs in the area.

Question 8

Explain why planned grazing is considered to be an approach based on biomimicry.

Accepted Answer

Large native herbivores tend to occur in

Question 9

Which of the following is a way to protect our grasslands?

Accepted Answer

A) conservation reserve programs 
B) park status 
C) sustainable grazing 
D) both conservation reserve programs and sustainable grazing 
E) conservation reserve programs,park status,and sustainable grazing 
A) conservation reserve programs 
B) park status 
C) sustainable grazing 
D) both conservation reserve programs and sustainable grazing 
E) conservation reserve programs,park status,and sustainable grazing

Question 10

Which type of grasslands are also known as savannas?

Accepted Answer

A) rangeland 
B) tropical 
C) cold 
D) temperate 
E) none of these answers 
A) rangeland 
B) tropical 
C) cold 
D) temperate 
E) none of these answers

Question 11

Which statement is correct?

Accepted Answer

A) Grasslands are biomes. 
B) Grasslands receive enough rainfall to support grass and herbaceous plants. 
C) Grasslands do not get enough rainfall to support forests. 
D) Grasslands both are biomes and do not get enough rainfall to support forests. 
E) All of these answers are correct. 
A) Grasslands are biomes. 
B) Grasslands receive enough rainfall to support grass and herbaceous plants. 
C) Grasslands do not get enough rainfall to support forests. 
D) Grasslands both are biomes and do not get enough rainfall to support forests. 
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 12

How does overgrazing lead to soil erosion?

Accepted Answer

Chewing a grass plant down to its roots,

Question 13

Decomposers and detritivores break down organic material to help form topsoil.Which layer of soil contains the decomposers and detritivores that aid this process?

Accepted Answer

A) A horizon 
B) B horizon 
C) C horizon 
D) R horizon 
E) O horizon 
A) A horizon 
B) B horizon 
C) C horizon 
D) R horizon 
E) O horizon

Question 14

All of the following are examples of grasslands EXCEPT ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A) tundra 
B) steppes 
C) prairies 
D) savannas 
E) None of these answers are correct. 
A) tundra 
B) steppes 
C) prairies 
D) savannas 
E) None of these answers are correct.

Question 15

Prairies are found in which of the following biome classifications?

Accepted Answer

A) tropical 
B) boreal 
C) temperate 
D) polar 
E) None of these answers are correct. 
A) tropical 
B) boreal 
C) temperate 
D) polar 
E) None of these answers are correct.

Question 16

Grasslands provide which of the following ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

A) nutrient cycling 
B) soil formation 
C) carbon sequestration 
D) wildlife habitats 
E) All of these answers are correct. 
A) nutrient cycling 
B) soil formation 
C) carbon sequestration 
D) wildlife habitats 
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 17

What are advantages of shelterbelts?

Accepted Answer

A) They increase wildlife habitat. 
B) They protect the crops and grasses from wind damage. 
C) They reduce soil erosion and water pollution. 
D) They allow recreational use while protecting habitats. 
E) They reduce taxes to the landowner if their land stays protected. 
A) They increase wildlife habitat. 
B) They protect the crops and grasses from wind damage. 
C) They reduce soil erosion and water pollution. 
D) They allow recreational use while protecting habitats. 
E) They reduce taxes to the landowner if their land stays protected.

Question 18

Science Literacy Use the following graphic to answer the next questions.  
-Desertification can produce drier B and C horizons.What is the most likely hypothesis for this?

Accepted Answer

A) The thick grass roots in the upper horizons take up the water before it can reach the lower horizons. 
B) The grazing animals leave waste on the surface which prevents water from filtering into the lower horizons. 
C) Hot fires cause the moisture to evaporate out of the soil horizons. 
D) When the upper horizons are lost the lower horizons are exposed to more incoming sunlight,drying out the lower horizons. 
A) The thick grass roots in the upper horizons take up the water before it can reach the lower horizons. 
B) The grazing animals leave waste on the surface which prevents water from filtering into the lower horizons. 
C) Hot fires cause the moisture to evaporate out of the soil horizons. 
D) When the upper horizons are lost the lower horizons are exposed to more incoming sunlight,drying out the lower horizons.

Question 19

Which area seems to be at threat for major desertification?

Accepted Answer

A) New Mexico and western Texas 
B) New Mexico 
C) Mexico and southern Texas 
D) Arizona 
E) the Great Plains 
A) New Mexico and western Texas 
B) New Mexico 
C) Mexico and southern Texas 
D) Arizona 
E) the Great Plains

Question 20

Science Literacy Use the following graphic to answer the next questions.  
-Which horizon would be the most vulnerable to desertification?

Accepted Answer

A) O 
B) B 
C) C 
D) R 
A) O 
B) B 
C) C 
D) R

Exam 20: soil Resources and Grasslands Restoring the Range

This layer contains rocks that are in the process of being broken down in order to produce new soil.Which horizon is this?

The long root systems of native prairie grasses allow them to access greater supplies of water and generally pass through which three soil horizons?

Which two processes are essential to soil formation?

Science Literacy Use the following graphic to answer the next questions. -Which horizon is most fertile for plant growth?

Which of the following crops was NOT originally derived from grasslands?

What happens when lands are undergrazed?

Explain why planned grazing is considered to be an approach based on biomimicry.

Which of the following is a way to protect our grasslands?

Which type of grasslands are also known as savannas?

Which statement is correct?

How does overgrazing lead to soil erosion?

Decomposers and detritivores break down organic material to help form topsoil.Which layer of soil contains the decomposers and detritivores that aid this process?

All of the following are examples of grasslands EXCEPT ____________________.

Prairies are found in which of the following biome classifications?

Grasslands provide which of the following ecosystem services?

What are advantages of shelterbelts?

Science Literacy Use the following graphic to answer the next questions. -Desertification can produce drier B and C horizons.What is the most likely hypothesis for this?

Which area seems to be at threat for major desertification?

Science Literacy Use the following graphic to answer the next questions. -Which horizon would be the most vulnerable to desertification?

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Information Literacy and Toxicology Lead in the Water

Ecosystems and Nutrient Cycling Engineering Earth

Population Ecology Gray Wolves Return to Yellowstone

Community Ecology the Florida Everglades: a Community in Cris

evolution and Extinction a Tropical Murder Mystery

Biodiversity Palm Oil Plantations Threaten Tropical Forests

Preserving Biodiversity a Forest Without Elephants

Human Populations the Kerala Model

Urbanization and Sustainable Communities Creating Green Cities

Environmental Health Eradicating a Parasitic Nightmare

ecological Economics and Consumption Wall to Wall, Cradle to Cradle

environmental Policy the World Tackles Ozone Depletion

managing Solid Waste a Plastic Surf

Freshwater Resources Toilet to Tap

Water Pollution Suffocating the Gulf

marine Ecosystems Ocean Acidification: the Other Co2 Problem

Forests Returning Trees to Haiti

Mineral Resources No Stone Unturned

Feeding the World a Gene Revolution

sustainable Agriculture: Raising Crops Farming Like an Ecosystem

Agriculture: Raising Livestock Can Meat Be Part of a Healthy, Environmentally Conscious Diet

Fisheries and Aquaculture Fish in a Warehouse

coal Bringing Down the Mountain

Oil and Natural Gas the Bakken Oil Boom

Air Pollution the Youngest Scientists

global Climate Change Climate Refugees

Nuclear Power the Future of Fukushima

Sun, Wind, Water, and Earth Energy Fueled by the Sun

Biofuels Gas From Grass

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