Soil Properties and Functions

What is the color of soil that is rich in organic matter?

• Black

• Blue

• Pink

• White

Which of the following best describes the texture of sandy soil?

• Sticky and smooth

• Gritty and loose

• Hard and rocky

• Wet and spongy

Which property of soil helps plants get the water they need to grow?

• Ability to retain water

• Color

• Smell

• Temperature

What is the main reason why clay soil holds more water than sandy soil?

• It is lighter in color

• It has smaller particles

• It is warmer

• It has more air spaces

If you rub a small amount of soil between your fingers and it feels smooth and sticky, what type of soil is it most likely to be?

• Sandy soil

• Clay soil

• Rocky soil

• Peaty soil

A student wants to find out which soil type is best for growing beans. She plants beans in sandy, clay, and loamy soils and waters them equally. What should she observe to decide which soil is best?

• The color of the soil

• The height and health of the bean plants

• The smell of the soil

• The temperature of the soil

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

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You pour water onto three different soil samples. Sample A absorbs water quickly, Sample B absorbs water slowly, and Sample C does not absorb much water at all. Which sample is most likely to be sandy soil?

• Sample A

• Sample B

• Sample C

• All of them

Why might a farmer choose to mix compost into the soil before planting crops?

• To make the soil look darker

• To improve the soil’s ability to support plant growth

• To make the soil harder

• To keep the soil dry

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A gardener notices that plants in one part of the garden are not growing well. The soil there is very light in color and feels gritty. Using what you know about soil properties, what could be a reason for the poor plant growth?

• The soil holds too much water

• The soil does not retain enough water for the plants

• The soil is too warm

• The soil is too dark

Tags

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Imagine you are planning a school garden. You have three types of soil: sandy, clay, and loamy. Based on their properties, which soil would you choose to grow the most kinds of plants, and why?

• Sandy soil, because it is dry and loose

• Clay soil, because it holds a lot of water

• Loamy soil, because it has a good mix of sand, silt, and clay and supports plant growth well

• None, because plants do not need soil

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

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