Question 1

In regards to soil-formation,which of the following best describes the role of climate?

Accepted Answer

A) Because all soils are ancient,they show the climatic conditions of the period in which they formed. 
B) Of the five principle soil-forming factors,climate is the least significant with little correlation between soil and climates worldwide. 
C) Temperature and moisture determine the chemical reactions,organic activity,and water movement within soils. 
D) Relative humidity and atmospheric pressure are the dormant climatic factors that influence soil development. 
E) Soil forms at such a slow rate,while climate changes more rapidly,so the role of climate is minimal,yet not insignificant. 
A) Because all soils are ancient,they show the climatic conditions of the period in which they formed. 
B) Of the five principle soil-forming factors,climate is the least significant with little correlation between soil and climates worldwide. 
C) Temperature and moisture determine the chemical reactions,organic activity,and water movement within soils. 
D) Relative humidity and atmospheric pressure are the dormant climatic factors that influence soil development. 
E) Soil forms at such a slow rate,while climate changes more rapidly,so the role of climate is minimal,yet not insignificant. C

Question 2

The southeast United States is dominated by which soil order?

Accepted Answer

A) Ultisols 
B) Alfisols 
C) Oxisols 
D) Mollisols 
E) Entisols 
A) Ultisols 
B) Alfisols 
C) Oxisols 
D) Mollisols 
E) Entisols A

Question 3

Salinization is likely to occur in

Accepted Answer

A) the tropics. 
B) areas of high potential evapotranspiration rates. 
C) humid climate regions. 
D) areas characterized by coniferous forests. 
E) cold,wet climates. 
A) the tropics. 
B) areas of high potential evapotranspiration rates. 
C) humid climate regions. 
D) areas characterized by coniferous forests. 
E) cold,wet climates. B

Question 4

Expandable clay soils,such as montmorillonite,characterize this soil order.

Accepted Answer

A) Oxisols 
B) Mollisols 
C) Vertisols 
D) Aridisols 
E) Spodosols 
A) Oxisols 
B) Mollisols 
C) Vertisols 
D) Aridisols 
E) Spodosols

Question 5

Which of the following soil horizon designations is the correct sequence from the surface to the bedrock?

Accepted Answer

A) O,E,C,B,A 
B) A,B,C,O,R 
C) S,O,I,L 
D) A,B,C,E,O,R 
E) O,A,E,B,C,R 
A) O,E,C,B,A 
B) A,B,C,O,R 
C) S,O,I,L 
D) A,B,C,E,O,R 
E) O,A,E,B,C,R

Question 6

Soil texture refers to

Accepted Answer

A) differing soil colors in a pedon. 
B) the mixture and proportions of individual mineral particles. 
C) the different soil horizons. 
D) the roughness or smoothness of a soil as felt by a human hand. 
E) pebbles,gravel,cobble,and other materials greater than 2 mm in diameter found in soils. 
A) differing soil colors in a pedon. 
B) the mixture and proportions of individual mineral particles. 
C) the different soil horizons. 
D) the roughness or smoothness of a soil as felt by a human hand. 
E) pebbles,gravel,cobble,and other materials greater than 2 mm in diameter found in soils.

Question 7

Which of the following is correct regarding the color of soil?

Accepted Answer

A) Dark soils always indicate high organic content. 
B) Despite the importance of color in describing soils,there is no standard methods for descriptions. 
C) Soil color is used solely to determine the moisture content of soil-darker soils have a higher moisture content,whereas lighter soils have less water content. 
D) Color reflects composition and chemical makeup of a soil. 
E) There are only a few hues possible for soils,so color is not an important physical characteristic of soils. 
A) Dark soils always indicate high organic content. 
B) Despite the importance of color in describing soils,there is no standard methods for descriptions. 
C) Soil color is used solely to determine the moisture content of soil-darker soils have a higher moisture content,whereas lighter soils have less water content. 
D) Color reflects composition and chemical makeup of a soil. 
E) There are only a few hues possible for soils,so color is not an important physical characteristic of soils.

Question 8

Why is cation-exchange capacity (CEC)an important soil characteristic?

Accepted Answer

A) CEC is an indication of the soil permeability;the lower the CEC the higher the permeability. 
B) CEC is a measure of soil fertility;the higher the CEC the higher the soil fertility. 
C) CEC is an indirect way to measure soil pH;it indicates whether the soil is neutral,alkaline,or acidic. 
D) CEC is used to infer soil texture without having to use a soil texture triangle. 
E) CEC is a measure of all of the chemical properties of soil,providing a single,easy to obtain measurement. 
A) CEC is an indication of the soil permeability;the lower the CEC the higher the permeability. 
B) CEC is a measure of soil fertility;the higher the CEC the higher the soil fertility. 
C) CEC is an indirect way to measure soil pH;it indicates whether the soil is neutral,alkaline,or acidic. 
D) CEC is used to infer soil texture without having to use a soil texture triangle. 
E) CEC is a measure of all of the chemical properties of soil,providing a single,easy to obtain measurement.

Question 9

____are high latitude soils containing permafrost and large amounts of organic matter.

Accepted Answer

A) Alfisols 
B) Ultisols 
C) Inceptisols 
D) Gelisols 
E) Spodosols 
A) Alfisols 
B) Ultisols 
C) Inceptisols 
D) Gelisols 
E) Spodosols

Question 10

Describe the NRCS Soil Taxonomy.

Accepted Answer

The U.S.soil classification system,Soil

Question 11

Oxisols have a ___cation-exchange and,therefore,____fertility.

Accepted Answer

A) high;high 
B) low;high 
C) low;low 
D) high;low 
E) moderate;moderate 
A) high;high 
B) low;high 
C) low;low 
D) high;low 
E) moderate;moderate

Question 12

These mature soils are found in the tropics.

Accepted Answer

A) Oxisols 
B) Mollisols 
C) Aridisols 
D) Andisols 
E) Gelisols 
A) Oxisols 
B) Mollisols 
C) Aridisols 
D) Andisols 
E) Gelisols

Question 13

These soils are the most spatially widespread,extending from the equator to high latitudes.

Accepted Answer

A) Vertisols 
B) Alfisols 
C) Entisols 
D) Gelisols 
E) Ultisols 
A) Vertisols 
B) Alfisols 
C) Entisols 
D) Gelisols 
E) Ultisols

Question 14

What are some of the concerns regarding the rate and amount of soil loss in the United States.What does a cost benefit analysis of soil loss prevention show?

Accepted Answer

Soil erosion is the breakdown,detachment

Question 15

Warming temperatures have accelerated the thawing of Gelisols.This is of particular concern because

Accepted Answer

A) Gelisols contain about half of the pool of global carbon and this release of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere could further affect warming climate. 
B) as the permafrost melts,the meltwater will runoff,further contributing to global sea-level rise. 
C) Gelisols are an important soils for growing specialty cold weather crops.The thawing of the Gelisols will adversely impact this lucrative market. 
D) Gelisols are the youngest,least developed soils on the planet.Warming will further stifle the horizontal development of these soils. 
E) Once Gelisols thaw,they will lack the characteristics of Gelisols and this soil order will become extinct. 
A) Gelisols contain about half of the pool of global carbon and this release of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere could further affect warming climate. 
B) as the permafrost melts,the meltwater will runoff,further contributing to global sea-level rise. 
C) Gelisols are an important soils for growing specialty cold weather crops.The thawing of the Gelisols will adversely impact this lucrative market. 
D) Gelisols are the youngest,least developed soils on the planet.Warming will further stifle the horizontal development of these soils. 
E) Once Gelisols thaw,they will lack the characteristics of Gelisols and this soil order will become extinct.

Question 16

Rounded peds have ___ space between them than other peds,and are therefore ___for plant growth.

Accepted Answer

A) less;better 
B) less;worse 
C) more;worse 
D) more;better 
E) equal;neither better nor worse 
A) less;better 
B) less;worse 
C) more;worse 
D) more;better 
E) equal;neither better nor worse

Question 17

The basic sampling unit,in soil surveys representing all the characteristics and variability used for classification,is

Accepted Answer

A) soil profile. 
B) pedon. 
C) soil horizon. 
D) polypedon. 
E) regolith. 
A) soil profile. 
B) pedon. 
C) soil horizon. 
D) polypedon. 
E) regolith.

Question 18

The practice of leaving crop residue on the field between plantings to help prevent soil erosion is known as

Accepted Answer

A) slash and burn agriculture. 
B) swidden. 
C) shifting cultivation. 
D) precision agriculture. 
E) no-till agriculture. 
A) slash and burn agriculture. 
B) swidden. 
C) shifting cultivation. 
D) precision agriculture. 
E) no-till agriculture.

Question 19

Soil Texture Triangle

A soil that is 40% sand,40% silt,and 20% clay is classified as

Accepted Answer

A) loam. 
B) silty clay. 
C) silt loam. 
D) clay loam. 
E) sandy clay. 
A) loam. 
B) silty clay. 
C) silt loam. 
D) clay loam. 
E) sandy clay.

Question 20

Why are soil colloids important in soils?

Accepted Answer

A) Soil colloids are an indication of soil moisture.The higher number of colloids,the greater the soil moisture is. 
B) Without colloids,leaching would dissolve important chemicals from the soil,making them unavailable to plant. 
C) Soil colloids have a neutralizing effect,increasing the overall alkalinity of soil and making them prime for certain agricultural crops. 
D) As one of the shapes of an individual ped,soil colloids control rooting of plants. 
E) Soil colloids is a measure of the maximum water available for plants use after the water has drained from large pore spaces. 
A) Soil colloids are an indication of soil moisture.The higher number of colloids,the greater the soil moisture is. 
B) Without colloids,leaching would dissolve important chemicals from the soil,making them unavailable to plant. 
C) Soil colloids have a neutralizing effect,increasing the overall alkalinity of soil and making them prime for certain agricultural crops. 
D) As one of the shapes of an individual ped,soil colloids control rooting of plants. 
E) Soil colloids is a measure of the maximum water available for plants use after the water has drained from large pore spaces.

In regards to soil-formation,which of the following best describes the role of climate?

The southeast United States is dominated by which soil order?

Salinization is likely to occur in

Expandable clay soils,such as montmorillonite,characterize this soil order.

Which of the following soil horizon designations is the correct sequence from the surface to the bedrock?

Soil texture refers to

Which of the following is correct regarding the color of soil?

Why is cation-exchange capacity (CEC)an important soil characteristic?

____are high latitude soils containing permafrost and large amounts of organic matter.

Describe the NRCS Soil Taxonomy.

Oxisols have a _cation-exchange and,therefore,__fertility.

These mature soils are found in the tropics.

These soils are the most spatially widespread,extending from the equator to high latitudes.

What are some of the concerns regarding the rate and amount of soil loss in the United States.What does a cost benefit analysis of soil loss prevention show?

Warming temperatures have accelerated the thawing of Gelisols.This is of particular concern because

Rounded peds have _ space between them than other peds,and are therefore _for plant growth.

The basic sampling unit,in soil surveys representing all the characteristics and variability used for classification,is

The practice of leaving crop residue on the field between plantings to help prevent soil erosion is known as

Soil Texture Triangle A soil that is 40% sand,40% silt,and 20% clay is classified as

Why are soil colloids important in soils?

Essentials of Geography

Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons

Earth’s Atmosphere

Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures

Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Water and Atmospheric Moisture

Weather

Water Resources

Earth’s Climatic Regions

Climate Change

The Dynamic Planet

Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanism

Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement

River Systems

Aeolian Processes and Arid Landscapes

Oceans and Coastal Systems

Glacial Landscapes and the Cryosphere

Ecosystem Essentials

Terrestrial Biomes

Filters

Exam 18: The Geography of Soils

In regards to soil-formation,which of the following best describes the role of climate?

The southeast United States is dominated by which soil order?

Salinization is likely to occur in

Expandable clay soils,such as montmorillonite,characterize this soil order.

Which of the following soil horizon designations is the correct sequence from the surface to the bedrock?

Soil texture refers to

Which of the following is correct regarding the color of soil?

Why is cation-exchange capacity (CEC)an important soil characteristic?

____are high latitude soils containing permafrost and large amounts of organic matter.

Describe the NRCS Soil Taxonomy.

Oxisols have a ___cation-exchange and,therefore,____fertility.

These mature soils are found in the tropics.

These soils are the most spatially widespread,extending from the equator to high latitudes.

What are some of the concerns regarding the rate and amount of soil loss in the United States.What does a cost benefit analysis of soil loss prevention show?

Warming temperatures have accelerated the thawing of Gelisols.This is of particular concern because

Rounded peds have ___ space between them than other peds,and are therefore ___for plant growth.

The basic sampling unit,in soil surveys representing all the characteristics and variability used for classification,is

The practice of leaving crop residue on the field between plantings to help prevent soil erosion is known as

Soil Texture Triangle A soil that is 40% sand,40% silt,and 20% clay is classified as

Why are soil colloids important in soils?

Essentials of Geography

Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons

Earth’s Atmosphere

Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures

Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Water and Atmospheric Moisture

Weather

Water Resources

Earth’s Climatic Regions

Climate Change

The Dynamic Planet

Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanism

Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement

River Systems

Aeolian Processes and Arid Landscapes

Oceans and Coastal Systems

Glacial Landscapes and the Cryosphere

Ecosystem Essentials

Terrestrial Biomes

Filters

Oxisols have a _cation-exchange and,therefore,__fertility.

Rounded peds have _ space between them than other peds,and are therefore _for plant growth.