Soil Quiz Prep

What do plants need to survive?

Sunlight, air, water, soil

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

What is soil made of?

Organic matter

Sand, silt, clay

Weathered rocks

None of the above

All of the above

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

Which is the largest sized weathered rock?

Humus

Organic Matter

Silt

Clay

Sand

TRUE or FALSE?TRUE or FALSE?

Silt has a silky texture.

What are the four layers of soil?

Top soil, Sub soil, parent material, and bedrock

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

Which soil types makes up the eastern United States?

Rainforest

Tropical grassland

Grassland

Desert

Forest

Sand

Silt

Clay

Organic Matter

Loam

Best for plants

sticky

Grainy

Silky

Dead plants and animals

Match the soil types with their characteristics

What are the soil horizons? List in order from top to bottom.

O, A, B, C, R

TRUE or FALSE?TRUE or FALSE?

Organic Matter is one of the soil layers

List the types of consistence used to describe soil.

Loose, Friable, Firm

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

Sticky, silky, and grainy all describe

Organic Matter

Fertilizers

Color

Consistence

Texture

What is located beneath parent material?

bedrock

TRUE or FALSE?TRUE or FALSE?

‘A’ is the first horizon of soil.

TRUE or FALSE?TRUE or FALSE?

Earthworms play an important role in healthy soil and plant growth.

What is the cycle of nutrients?

How nutrients are used and replenished in soil

A plant takes in nutrients from the soil through its roots. The nutrients are used to help the plant grow. When it dies, it falls to the ground where it decomposes and turns back into

nutrients to be used by another plant.

What is located in the ‘O’ horizon?

The soil surface, like leaf litter and grass clippings

What is located in the parent material layer?

Slightly broken up bedrock and very little organic matter

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

Topsoil contains which of the following?

Water

Air

Organic matter

Sand, silt, and clay

All of the above

What are nutrients?

Chemicals that can dissolve in water and be absorbed by plant roots

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

I find this format to be helpful for my performance on the quiz.

It is, but I have a better one

I’ll tell you after the quiz

Not sure

No

Yes

TRUE or FALSE?TRUE or FALSE?

With a little more studying tonight, I will be ready to ace this quiz.

Explain the four major soil layers

Topsoil, Subsoil, Parent Material, Bedrock

Top soil (horizon O-very top layer, and A) located at the top and contains large amounts of organic matter/humus—

tends to be a small layer, less than 20 cm deep. Sub soil (horizon B) located below top soil (horizon A), tends

to consist of clay, few nutrients, little organic matter. Parent material (horizon C) consists of slightly broken up bedrock, plants roots rarely penetrate this layer,

very little organic matter. Bedrock (horizon R) is hard rock that lies beneath all soil layers.

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

What is the best type of soil for a garden?

Humus

Clay

Silt

Sand

Loam

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

Which horizon is needed the most for a healthy garden?

R

O

C

B

A

What is the consistence for desert soil?

Loose

TRUE or FALSE?TRUE or FALSE?

Clay is good for growing.

How is soil made?

The weathering of rocks and accumulation of organic matter

What is soil?

Refer to your homework analysis question number 5 to add to your definition

What is the difference between sand, silt and clay?

Sand: grainy, loose, largest particlesSilt: silky, friable, medium sized

particlesClay: sticky, firm, smallest particles

Describe grassland soil.

Wet and dry seasons but smaller amounts of rain. Large amounts of organic matter and nutrients; good for farming; soil is reddish brown,

loose consistence, and silky texture

Describe forest soil

hot and cold seasons, large amount of rain to support much tree growth;

good farming soil; brown to reddish brown soil color; loose consistence

What is texture?

qualitative observation describing the size of the particles; how they feel

What is organic matter?

material from living organisms, including decomposing plants and animals

What is composition?

what soil is made of, the specific ingredients that make up something

What is the difference between evidence and opinion?

Evidence is supported by fact and direct observation. Opinion is based on thoughts and

feelings…no direct supporting observation