Question 1

The ideal texture for a soil to minimize the risk of pollution is one that

Accepted Answer

A)  is very coarse,so that it drains efficiently.
B)  is very fine,so that it minimizes the contamination to groundwater.
C)  is very fine,so that it improves the ability to dissolve hazardous materials.
D)  is of moderate sized particles,to reduce ponding while still having some filtering capabilities.E) A) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 2

In terms of particle sizes,secondary minerals are usually

Accepted Answer

A)  smaller than primary minerals because they have undergone fairly intense chemical weathering processes compared to primary minerals.
B)  smaller than primary minerals because they have undergone fairly intense physical weathering processes compared to primary minerals.
C)  larger than primary minerals because they are fairly resistant to chemical weathering processes compared to primary minerals.
D)  larger than primary minerals because they are fairly resistant to physical weathering processes compared to primary minerals.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 3

All of the following are in the topsoil layer and contribute directly to processes occurring there except

Accepted Answer

A)  earthworms.
B)  plant litter.
C)  humus.
D)  bacteria.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 4

Which of the following is not a component of soil?

Accepted Answer

A)  Minerals
B)  Dead organic material
C)  Living organic material
D)  Water
E)  All are components of soilF) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 5

The B layer in this soil is loess.What soil order does it belong to?

Accepted Answer

A)  Inceptisol
B)  Alfisol
C)  Aridisol
D)  Ultisol
E)  MollisolF) C) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 6

What is a major difference between Inceptisols and Entisols?

Accepted Answer

A)  Inceptisols have a weak B horizon while Entisols have no B horizon.
B)  Inceptisols are more common in areas where weathering and leaching occur while Entisols are more common where new landscapes have formed.
C)  Inceptisols are usually found in wetter areas while Entisols tend to occur in drier areas.
D)  All of these are major differences between Inceptisols and Entisols.E) A) and B)
F) All of the above

Question 7

Acidic soils tend to be

Accepted Answer

A)  agriculturally productive because the high concentration of cations in them causes them to attract nutrients with positive ions.
B)  agriculturally productive because the low concentration of cations in them causes them to attract nutrients with positive ions.
C)  agriculturally unproductive because the high concentration of cations in them causes them to leach away nutrients with positive ions.
D)  agriculturally unproductive because the low concentration of cations in them causes them to leach away nutrients with positive ions.E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 8

How might soil be used to either cover up or solve a crime?

Accepted Answer

A)  Rubbing soil on a surface eliminates any fingerprints it may have
B)  Criminals can use soil to effectively cover up traces of bodily fluids
C)  Each soil has distinct characteristics that can be traced back to it place of origin
D)  Since all soil is the same,it isn't very useful in committing or solving a crimeE) A) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 9

Gelisols generally are most closely associated with

Accepted Answer

A)  lack of organic matter.
B)  fast rates of chemical weathering.
C)  salinization.
D)  permafrost.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 10

The soil shown in the photograph below has a reddish tint,which may mean that

Accepted Answer

A)  it has abundant aluminum and/or iron oxides.
B)  it contains abundant organic matter.
C)  it has been waterlogged at some point.
D)  there are salts or other minerals that have been deposited by the evaporation of water.E) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 11

Which of the following is not true about the spatial scales at which soil scientists study soils?

Accepted Answer

A)  The smallest individual unit with which soils are described is called a soil pedon.
B)  A pedon can be about 1 to 10 square meters and deep enough (about 2 meters deep) to distinguish soil horizons.
C)  A pedon must be significantly different in properties from the pedons adjacent to it.
D)  Boundaries between different soil types on the landscape can be gradational or fairly abrupt.E) B) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 12

The thick ________ horizon in the soil profile shown in the diagram below is one of the distinguishing features of the ________ soil type.

Accepted Answer

A)  B; Ultisol
B)  O; Ultisol
C)  B; Oxisol
D)  O; OxisolE) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 13

The diagram below is most likely from

Accepted Answer

A)  humid environment because of the abundant organic matter and evidence of oxidation.
B)  dry environment because of the visible lack of soil erosion.
C)  a waterlogged environment because there is strong evidence of anaerobic conditions.
D)  a temperate environment because of the well-developed horizons.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 14

The soil pictured below is

Accepted Answer

A)  Vertisols.
B)  Oxisols.
C)  Gelisols.
D)  Spodosols.E) A) and C)
F) B) and C)

Question 15

In the diagram below,eluviation has begun to create a distinct horizon in which image?

Accepted Answer

A)  1
B)  2
C)  3
D)  4E) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 16

The primary difference between the O and A horizons is that the O horizon usually has

Accepted Answer

A)  more leaching than the A horizon.
B)  less leaching than the A horizon.
C)  more plant litter than the A horizon.
D)  less plant litter than the A horizon.E) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 17

Soils with shale-derived parent material usually differ from those from sandstone-derived parent material in that they tend to

Accepted Answer

A)  be more drought-prone than the sandstone-derived soils.
B)  break down organic matter slower than sandstone-derived soils.
C)  resist weathering more than sandstone-derived soils.
D)  form clays with more soluble cations than the sandstone-derived soils.E) All of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 18

Soils that are most likely to be compacted have

Accepted Answer

A)  high porosity.
B)  high permeability.
C)  low porosity.
D)  low permeability.E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 19

Which of the following is not a function that humus and other organic matter serve in making a soil healthy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Improving infiltration
B)  Retaining water
C)  Increasing evaporation rates
D)  Retaining and cycling nutrients
E)  Reducing erosionF) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 20

Which of the following is not true about the C horizon?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has no organic matter.
B)  It accumulates iron,aluminum,clay,and other materials leached down from layers above it.
C)  It is little affected by the processes that impact the layers above it.
D)  It is also known as the regolith.E) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Exam 16: Soils

What is a major difference between Inceptisols and Entisols?

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How might soil be used to either cover up or solve a crime?

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The soil shown in the photograph below has a reddish tint,which may mean that

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The primary difference between the O and A horizons is that the O horizon usually has

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Soils that are most likely to be compacted have

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In terms of particle sizes,secondary minerals are usually

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Soils with shale-derived parent material usually differ from those from sandstone-derived parent material in that they tend to

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All of the following are in the topsoil layer and contribute directly to processes occurring there except

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The ideal texture for a soil to minimize the risk of pollution is one that

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The B layer in this soil is loess.What soil order does it belong to?

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Which of the following is not a function that humus and other organic matter serve in making a soil healthy?

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The thick ________ horizon in the soil profile shown in the diagram below is one of the distinguishing features of the ________ soil type.

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Which of the following is not a component of soil?

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In the diagram below,eluviation has begun to create a distinct horizon in which image?

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Gelisols generally are most closely associated with

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The soil pictured below is

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Acidic soils tend to be

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Which of the following is not true about the C horizon?

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The diagram below is most likely from

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Which of the following is not true about the spatial scales at which soil scientists study soils?

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The thick horizon in the soil profile shown in the diagram below is one of the distinguishing features of the soil type.

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