Deck 13: Soil

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a physical process affecting break down of parent material?

A)freezing and thawing
B)glaciers
C)drought
D)flowing water

Answer 1

drought

Question 2

Two processes which chemically alter parent material are

A)oxidation and hydrolysis.
B)decomposition and oxidation.
C)hydrolysis and liming.
D)freezing and thawing.

Answer 2

oxidation and hydrolysis.

Question 3

Which of the following do plants need to live?

A)water
B)carbon dioxide
C)oxygen
D)All of these are correct.

Answer 3

All of these are correct.

Question 4

Which soil profile contains material leached from other horizons?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 5

Soil building begins with the physical fragmentation of layers of rock.This fragmentation process is known as

A)erosion.
B)weathering.
C)breakage.
D)None of these statements is correct.

Question 6

What is the name of the process in which the chemical structure of rock is altered when it combines with water molecules to form new compounds?

A)aeration
B)chemical weathering
C)hydrolysis
D)oxidation

Question 7

Which of the following does NOT influence the kind of soil that develops on a site?

A)Temperature
B)Rainfall
C)The atmosphere
D)Wind

Question 8

Which horizon has the highest amount of organic matter?

A)A
B)B
C)C

Question 9

All of the following affect the thickness of the soil that develops on a site EXCEPT

A)the parent material.
B)the slope of the land.
C)rate of decomposition of organic matter.
D)rainfall.

Question 10

________ and high moisture increase the decomposition rate of organic matter.

A)High sunlight
B)High pH
C)High parent material
D)High temperatures

Question 11

Organisms affect the soil in which of the following ways?

A)by releasing nutrients
B)by burrowing
C)through decomposition
D)All of these are correct.

Question 12

In regions with ________,basic ions are leached from the soil and more acidic materials are left behind.

A)high rainfall
B)high temperatures
C)low rainfall
D)permafrost

Question 13

A grassland soil ________ than a woodland soil.

A)has a thicker A horizon
B)has a greater diversity of invertebrates
C)has less organic matter
D)has fewer air spaces

Question 14

Which of the following is a correct statement about soil structure?

A)Soils with high amounts of clay are highly friable.
B)The particle size of the parent material determines the soil's ability to hold water and air.
C)Sandy soils hold water.
D)Soil organisms decrease the pore space in soils.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a typical soil component?

A)Air
B)Climate
C)Bacteria
D)Water

Question 16

The surface of the Earth is altered by

A)plate tectonics.
B)abrasion.
C)chemical weathering.
D)erosion.
E)All of the options are correct.

Question 17

By avoiding excessive tillage,soil quality is enhanced by

A)minimizing loss of organic matter.
B)increasing compaction.
C)disrupting the lives of soil organisms.
D)minimizing loss of organic matter,increasing compaction and disrupting the lives of soil organisms.

Question 18

Maintaining good soil quality involves

A)practices that limit compaction of the soil.
B)planting different crops in a field in different years.
C)adding new organic matter in the form of manure or by incorporating crop residue into the soil.
D)All of these statements are correct.

Question 19

Humus

A)is formed from organic matter.
B)decreases the pH of the soil.
C)helps to form pores that help aerate the soil.
D)All of the statements are correct.

Question 20

Which of the following statement about soil conservation is accurate?

A)Terracing reduces soil erosion.
B)Waterways allow water to run off the land rapidly.
C)Strip farming is used on level ground.
D)Terracing reduces soil erosion,waterways allow water to run off the land rapidly and strip farming is used on level ground.

Question 21

Which of the following best matches the description?
The crust and solid outer mantle of the earth.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 22

The A horizon

A)is a loam.
B)contains more nutrients than the B horizon.
C)contains fewer organisms than the B horizon.
D)has a different parent material than the B horizon.

Question 23

Which of the following best matches the description?
Horizontal layer of soil.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 24

Land unsuitable for crops may be used for which of the following?

A)grazing
B)recreation
C)lumber
D)All of these are correct.

Question 25

Which of the following is typically a pioneer organism that colonizes the surface of bare rocks?

A)humus
B)algae
C)lichens
D)fungi

Question 26

Which of the following best matches the description?
Soil organic matter.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 27

Soil erosion is linked to which of the following environmental issues?

A)air pollution
B)water pollution
C)soil pollution
D)greenhouse effect

Question 28

Which of the following best matches the description?
Ability of soil to crumble.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 29

Which of the following best matches the description?
The way soil particles clump together.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 30

Which farming practice(s)reduce(s)soil erosion?

A)planting wind breaks
B)contour farming and terracing
C)planting cover crops
D)planting wind breaks,contour farming and terracing,and planting cover crops

Question 31

Which of the following best matches the description?
Material that is weathered to become the mineral part of the soil.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 32

Desert soils

A)have poorly developed horizons.
B)accumulate more litter than other soils.
C)have a thick B horizon.
D)None of the statements is correct.

Question 33

Which of the following best matches the description?
A thin flowing layer of the earth just below the outer mantle.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 34

Land and soil are related in which of the following ways?

A)They are really the same thing.
B)Soil is found on the surface of the land.
C)Land is formed by geologic process and soil is not.
D)None of these statements is correct.

Question 35

Organic food ________ than conventionally grown food.

A)is less expensive
B)is more nutritious
C)is less likely to contain pesticides
D)uses less labor

Question 36

Which of the following best matches the description?
The size of the particles that make up soil.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 37

The primary purpose of conservation tillage is to

A)reduce the number of times a field is plowed.
B)add nutrients to the soil.
C)incorporate organic material into the soil.
D)allow surface water to flow more evenly.

Question 38

Which of the following is able to reduce both wind and water soil erosion?

A)leaving crop residue on the soil
B)wind breaks
C)terracing
D)None of the answers are correct.

Question 39

Which of the following best matches the description?
Physical and chemical processes involved in the breakdown of parent material into soil.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 40

Conservation tillage methods ________ than conventional tillage.

A)require more plowing
B)use more fuel
C)require more time
D)experience less topsoil loss

Question 41

Which of the following best matches the description?
Method of tilling and planting at right angles to the slope.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 42

Strip farming is a type of soil conservation or quality management practice.

Question 43

Which of the following best matches the description?
Movement of minerals from the A horizon to the B horizon.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 44

Soil is a mixture of minerals,organic material,living organisms,air,and water.

Question 45

River bottoms and delta regions have a very deep topsoil layer.

Question 46

Which of the following best matches the description?
Series of layers seen as one digs down into soil.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 47

The mineral portion of the soil consists of humus and the roots of plants.

Question 48

Which of the following best matches the description?
Soil type with good drainage and texture that is ideal for agriculture.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 49

Which of the following best matches the description?
Process of breaking up large particles by chemical reactions.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 50

Which of the following best matches the description?
Planting of trees to prevent wind erosion.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 51

Desert soils have very poorly developed horizons.

Question 52

Most plants grow well in very acidic soils.

Question 53

Which of the following best matches the description?
Level area constructed on steep slopes for agricultural purposes.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 54

Grassland soils usually have a shallow A horizon and a deep B horizon.

Question 55

Fragmentation of parent material occurs from freezing and thawing of water within pores and cracks.

Question 56

Soil structure refers to the way various soil particles clump together.

Question 57

Oxidation and hydrolysis can chemically alter parent material.

Question 58

Which of the following best matches the description?
Process of breaking up large particles by physical forces.

A)weathering
B)parent material
C)friable
D)soil profile
E)humus
F)chemical weathering
G)terrace
H)soil structure
I)terrace.
J)mechanical weathering
K)leaching
L)contour farming
M)loam
N)horizon
O)windbreak
P)soil texture
Q)lithosphere
R)asthenosphere

Question 59

Loam soil is primarily clay with small amounts of sand and silt.

Question 60

Forest soils typically have a deep A horizon and shallow B horizon.

Question 61

Depletion of soil fertility is a major cause of low per capita food production in Africa.

Question 62

Conservation tillage is an agricultural method that assures maximum water conservation.

Question 63

Phytoremediation is:

A)A style of land use planning in agriculture
B)A method crop rotation
C)Use of specialized plants to clean up the environment
D)Use of plants to increase agricultural production

Question 64

Humus is not important to soil fertility.

Question 65

Land that cannot be cultivated will not be productive for other uses.

Question 66

Misuse of land reduces its soil fertility and causes air- and water-quality problems.

Question 67

Waterways with little vegetation generally increase erosion.

Question 68

There is essentially no difference between soil texture and soil structure.

Question 69

Most roots grow down to the C horizon.

Question 70

Geologic processes build and erode the earth's surface.

Question 71

Natural or native landscaping is intended to balance our needs and aesthetics with those of:

A)Local community laws
B)Agricultural policies
C)Native American customs
D)The environment

Question 72

Phytoremediation is:

A)A slow process that may take many growing seasons to reduce pollution
B)Only possible in areas with mild climates
C)A process that can reduce pollution in less than a year
D)A process that has been used only in rural areas

Question 73

Misuse of soil can reduce soil fertility.

Question 74

An important function of soil is to buffer and detoxify chemicals.

Question 75

Organic green waste includes:

A)Yard waste
B)Food scraps
C)Biodegradable products
D)All of the statements are correct.

Question 76

Terracing,waterways,and windbreaks can help reduce soil erosion.

Question 77

Physical,chemical,and biological factors contribute to soil formation.

Question 78

Soil quality management can enhance organic matter,manage pests,and prevent soil compaction.