A Review of Soil Characteristics

Soil consists of... (check all that apply)

• minerals

• air

• organic matter

• living things

• water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which of the following is an example of physical weathering?

• Constant winds blow sand at high speeds against rocks, slowly removing small particles.

• Water flowing over a stream bottom dissolves soft minerals from the rocks and deposits them downstream.

• Leaves fall from trees, are shredded by detritivores into small organic material.

• Animal feces is deposited on the ground or buried in the soil.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Which of the following is an example of chemical weathering?

• Growing tree roots rub against rocks breaking them apart.

• Water flowing over a stream bottom dissolves soft minerals from the rocks and deposits them downstream.

• Leaves fall from trees, are shredded by detritivores into small organic material.

• Freezing and thawing cycles allow water to seep into small cracks in rocks and fracture them into smaller pieces.

Which of the following is an example of biological weathering?

• Boulders become unstable, topple over, and smash into smaller pieces in a montane biome.

• Freezing and thawing cycles allow water to seep into small cracks in rocks and fracture them into smaller pieces.

• Organisms called lichens secrete acids that dissolve rocks.

• Acid rain falls on soft minerals like exposed limestone and slowly dissolve it.

Approximately how long does it take for 1 inch of soil to form?

• A week

• A year

• A decade

• A century

This soil profile shows a cross-sectional view of the soil horizons in mature soils. In this profile the soil horizons are numbered from top to bottom 1 through 6. Which of the following correctly labels these layers in order from top to bottom?

• A B C D E F

• A B C E O R

• O A E B C R

• B E R O C A

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

This soil profile shows a correctly labeled cross-sectional view of the soil horizons in mature soils. Which layer would be composed almost exclusively of living organisms or once living material?

• O

• A

• B

• E

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

This soil profile shows a correctly labeled cross-sectional view of the soil horizons in mature soils. Which layer would be absent if infiltration and leaching occurred very slowly or were nonexistent in an area?

• O

• A

• B

• E

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which of the following would speed up the process of soil accumulation in an area?

• The climate remains warm and wet.

• A slope faces southward.

• Young plants grow rapidly in cracks in the soil surface.

• Parent material in an area is highly erodible.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which of the following would slow down the process of soil accumulation in an area?

• Worms and soil organisms are eradicated from an areas.

• Long periods of time pass without disturbance of the soil surface.

• Land surface is subject to strong winds.

• Land surface is flat but vegetated.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4