Soil

Components of Soil

100

What is the parent material of soil?
a) Fossils
b) Plants
c) Rocks and Minerals
d) Dirt

c) Rocks and Minerals

200

Which of the following is NOT organic material?
a) Ladybugs
b) Newspaper
c) Rocks
d) Leaves

c) Rocks

300

What type of soil has the largest particles and roughest texture, and dries out the fastest because water moves through it quickly?

Sand

400

What type of soil has the smallest particles and smoothest texture and the smallest spaces which keeps water from moving through it?

Clay

500

22. If the percentage of water in soil went up, which other part would most likely go down?
a) rock pieces
b) air
c) water
d) organic material

b) air

Improving Soil

100

What is soil mostly composed of?
a) rock pieces
b) air
c) water
d) organic material

a) rock pieces

200

23. The flowers in Billy Joe’s garden are dying. The roots and stems are waterlogged, getting too much water. What should Billy Joe do?
a) Mix more clay in with the soil.
b) Mix more sand in with the soil.
c) Water the flowers more.
d) Add fertilizer.

b) Mix more sand in with the soil.

300

Farmer Bob needs to add nutrients to his soil. Which of these things can he use?
a) Manure from a neighbor’s farm
b) Rocks from the field across the street
c) Fertilizer from the store.
d) Both A and C

d) Both A and C

400

28. Jose’s crops did not grow well this summer because there was very little organic matter in the soil. It is now autumn. What could Jose use to add organic material to his soil?
a) Water the garden a whole bunch before winter.
b) Plow or till up the soil to add air.
c) Add dead leaves, fertilizer, and manure to the soil.
d) Add rocks and minerals to the soil.

c) Add dead leaves, fertilizer, and manure to the soil.

500

Mother Hen is trying to grow large sunflowers in her garden, but they keep falling over. They keep wilting because they aren’t getting enough water. What should she do?
a) Mix more clay in with the soil.
b) Mix more sand in with the soil.
c) Water the flowers more.
d) Add fertilizer.

a) Mix more clay in with the soil.

Weathering and Erosion

100

What two processes create soil?
a) Weathering & Erosion
b) Wind & Ice
c) Slip & Slide
d) Heat & Pressure

a) Weathering & Erosion

200

What can you do to prevent soil erosion?
a) Plant trees, bushes, and plants
b) Water the soil more often
c) Build a retaining wall
d) Both A and C

d) Both A and C

300

How do plants prevent soil erosion?
a) Plants provide the soil with nutrients.
b) Plants make the soil look beautiful.
c) Plant roots hold the soil in place.
d) Plants are not important to soil erosion.

c) Plant roots hold the soil in place.

400

How long does it usually take for one inch of soil to form?
a) 10 years
b) 100 years
c) 1,000 years
d) 1,000,000 years

c)1,000 years

500

Which of these statements gives an accurate description of the composition of soil?
a) Soil contains 50% organic material, 20% minerals, 10% air, and 10% water.
b) Soil contains 45% minerals, 25% air, 25% water, and 5% organic material.
c) Soil contains 20% minerals, 15% air, 15% water, and 50% organic material.
d) Soil contains 45% air, 50% water, and 5% organic material.

b) Soil contains 45% minerals, 25% air, 25% water, and 5% organic material.

Plants and Soil

100

What is NOT needed for plants to grow?
a) Soil
b) Water
c) Sunlight
d) Air

a) Soil

200

If your soil is not fertile enough to give the plants the nutrients they need to grow, what should you add to your soil?
a) Organic material
b) Sand
c) Silt
d) Clay

a) Organic material

300

Which of these is a FALSE statement?
a) Water and air occupy all the open spaces between particles in soil.
b) Plants grow better in soils that have the right amount of air and water.
c) Plants cannot survive in soil if it has any water or air in it.
d) Water fills open air spaces when plants are watered.

c) Plants cannot survive in soil if it has any water or air in it.

400

Why is organic matter important to soil?
a) Organic matter in soil provides nutrients that plants need to live and grow.
b) Organic matter adds movement to the soil with living animals.
c) Organic matter cleans the soil of harmful materials.
d) Organic matter provides water and air for plants.

a) Organic matter in soil provides nutrients that plants need to live and grow.

500

.Farmer Jane’s soil is very tightly packed. It has a lot of clay in it. The plants’ roots have a hard time getting down into the soil. What could she do?
a) Get some sandy soil and till it into her soil.
b) Nothing, she will just have to give up gardening.
c) Buy new soil at the store.
d) Get some clay and till it into the soil.

a) Get some sandy soil and till it into her soil.

Miscellaneous

100

What is an example of organic matter?
a) Brick
b) Rocks
c) Water
d) Leaves

d)Leaves

200

If your soil is clay and holds too much water with little air, what can you add to the soil to fix it?
a) Organic material
b) Sand
c) Silt
d) Clay

b) Sand

300

What are the different layers of soils from TOP to BOTTOM? ( There are three.)

Topsoil, subsoil, and bedrock.

400

Peter’s home has a sloping backyard. The family puts in retaining walls made of large boulders part way down the hill. Why?
a) They look nice.
b) They keep the soil in place.
c) To improve the view.
d) To keep the house from rolling down the hill.

b) They keep the soil in place.

500

Juan’s class did an experiment to grow plants without soil. He found that plants can grow without soil. What is the main reason why plants need soil?
a) For food.
b) To hold them in place
c) To make water
d) To make the soil pretty

b) To hold them in place