Deck 12: Weathering, erosion, and Soil Resources

Question 1

The moderately leached soil rich in aluminum and iron compounds that is characteristic of the eastern United States is a ____________ type of soil.

A) Marble
B) Pedocal
C) Laterite
D) Pedalfer

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following minerals is/are least susceptible to chemical weathering in a moist,temperate climate?

A) Quartz
B) Calcite
C) Ferromagnesians
D) Feldspars

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Lateritic soils

A) Are rich in nutrients.
B) Are the common soils of tropical rain forests.
C) Are kept soft and workable by the action of sun and rain.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Soils are formed by a series of processes commonly referred to as

A) Lithification.
B) Diagenesis.
C) Sedimentation.
D) Weathering.

Question 5

Mechanical weathering can include all of the following except

A) Salts crystallizing in cracks in rocks.
B) Solution of limestone by acid rain.
C) Water freezing and thawing in rocks.
D) The action of plant roots working into crevices.

Question 6

The composition of a soil is controlled by

A) The composition of bedrock on which it forms.
B) Climate.
C) The extent of chemical weathering.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Question 7

Organic matter in soil is found principally in the

A) A horizon.
B) B horizon.
C) C horizon.
D) R layer.

Question 8

Soil erosion is a significant contributor to this

A) Storm water runoff pollution.
B) Ground water recharge.
C) Deforestation.
D) Global warming.

Question 9

Soil erosion

A) Adds sediment load to streams, affecting stream hydrology and biology.
B) Adds sediments to coastal ocean water, blanketing light-dependent organisms such as corals and reducing their viability.
C) Adds agricultural chemicals to stream water and coastal water.
D) All are true.

Question 10

Higher temperatures along with moister climates generally increase the rate of

A) Biological weathering only.
B) Biological and chemical weathering.
C) Biological and mechanical weathering.
D) Biological, chemical and mechanical weathering.

Question 11

Uncontaminated rain water has a pH of 5.6 (slightly acidic)because

A) Oxides of sulfur are always present in the atmosphere, even from natural sources.
B) Droplets of water necessarily condense on atmospheric particulate.
C) Most water vapor originates by evaporation from the oceans and sea water is acidic.
D) Upon condensation, water chemically reacts with carbon dioxide forming a weak carbonic acid.

Question 12

Feldspars chemically weather through a reaction with water to become clay minerals.This chemical reaction is especially rapid

A) The more acidic the water.
B) The more alkaline the water.
C) The lower the water temperature.
D) For larger feldspar crystals.

Question 13

Soil composed of broadly similar proportions of sand,clay and silt is

A) Loam.
B) Laterite.
C) Pedocal.
D) Leached.

Question 14

One of the key components of chemical weathering is the presence of

A) Water.
B) Neutrality.
C) Alkalinity.
D) Acidity.

Question 15

The color of a soil reflects

A) Organic matter content (brown or black) and iron content (red).
B) Type of vegetation growing on the soil.
C) Development of peds.
D) Degree of soil horizon maturity.

Question 16

The process by which soluble minerals are dissolved and removed from soil is termed

A) Soil creep.
B) Organic.
C) Leaching.
D) Erosion.

Question 17

The tendency of the soils to form clumps of soil particles or lumps is referred to as the soil

A) Fertility.
B) Texture.
C) Structure.
D) Chemistry.

Question 18

Based on the chemical composition of the minerals given below,weathering of ____________ produces sulfuric acid in solution.

A) Quartz
B) Calcite
C) Pyrite
D) Halite

Question 19

Which of the following types of soil would be likely to drain most readily (be most permeable)?

A) Clay
B) Silt
C) Sand
D) Loam

Question 20

The B soil horizon is also known as

A) The zone of leaching or zone of loss.
B) The zone of accumulation or zone of gain.
C) Bedrock.
D) Topsoil.

Question 21

Higher organic matter content in the soil imparts a blackish coloration to the soil.

Question 22

When soil is eroded from farmland,

A) The nutrient-rich topsoil is least affected.
B) Crop yields and crop nutritional quality may be reduced.
C) New soil quickly forms replacing that which is lost.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Question 23

The process of planting alternating bands of different crops to disrupt wind flow and slow wind erosion is

A) Strip cropping.
B) Contour plowing.
C) Terracing.
D) Lateritization.

Question 24

Soil erosion from farmland can be reduced by all of the following methods except

A) Contour plowing.
B) Terracing of fields.
C) Complete clearing of fields after harvest.
D) Use of windbreaks.

Question 25

Degradation of soil fertility has no effect on the farmland needed to feed the world by diminishing its availability.

Question 26

The presence of iron in a soil may give it a yellow or red color from iron oxides.

Question 27

Chemical and mechanical weathering are two processes,unrelated to each other.

Question 28

In areas with adequate rainfall,such as the northern United States,soil formation is rapid and easily keeps pace with soil erosion.

Question 29

Abundant water promotes chemical weathering because most of the relevant reactions involve water.

Question 30

Terracing of farmland

A) Is a very new soil-conservation method.
B) Reduces surface-water runoff velocity and thus the efficiency of soil erosion and transport.
C) Substantially reduces wind erosion by flattening field surfaces.
D) Is only used on very steep slopes.

Question 31

The finer rock fragments are,the more subject they are to chemical weathering,because finer fragments have a higher surface-to-volume ratio.

Question 32

The tendency to form clumps or peds is undesirable in a soil to be used for agriculture.

Question 33

Which of the following factor is a contributor to soil erosion?

A) Burrowing animals
B) Rain
C) Wind
D) All the choices are correct.

Question 34

Soil and water conservation can be brought about by techniques such as terracing and contour plowing that would slow down the surface runoff.

Question 35

Which of the following is the most true?

A) At this time, soil is eroding in the U.S. about 10 times faster than it is forming.
B) Soil erosion is always easily reversible, using conservation techniques.
C) Very little farmland in the United States has experienced moderate to severe erosion lately.
D) The most important agent of soil erosion is winter frost heave.

Question 36

Consequences of sediment pollution include more rapid infilling of reservoirs and clogging of stream channels.

Question 37

Soil formation is dependant upon

A) Climate.
B) Nature of the parent material and organic matter.
C) Topography.
D) Time.
E) All the choices are correct.

Question 38

Best management practices

A) Are measures implemented to minimize soil erosion.
B) Are farming methods that add fertilizer to soil.
C) Are livestock feeding techniques that increase the production of dairy and meat products.
D) Are programs for better management of forests.

Question 39

All soils,by definition,must show well-developed A,B and C horizons.

Question 40

The typical soil of a tropical rain forest also is excellent for farming because it supports such lush plant growth.

Question 41

Worldwide,the amount of arable land per capita is increasing as a consequence of expanded irrigation and improved farming methods.

Question 42

The U.S.Department of Agriculture has become increasingly concerned about soil erosion,because expansion of agricultural activities between 1982 and 1992 resulted in sharp increases in rates of soil erosion loss from farmland.

Question 43

Off-road vehicles should only use existing roads to minimize their environmental impact.

Question 44

Wetland soils may serve a water-purification role.

Question 45

Irrigation in dry climates may dissolve and thus mobilize,toxic elements in the soil.

Question 46

The basic strategy in controlling soil erosion is to slow down the eroding agents,wind and water.