Question 1

The final cover on any type of landfill should consist of soil material with rapid permeability and a high rate of infiltration.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

It has been found that continued, repeated application of an organic toxin to a particular soil will _____ the capacity of that soil's microflora to degrade the compound in question.

Accepted Answer

A) gradually inhibit 
B) have no effect on 
C) gradually enhance 
A) gradually inhibit 
B) have no effect on 
C) gradually enhance C

Question 3

Which of the following types chemical would be classed as a pesticide?

Accepted Answer

A) herbicides 
B) rodenticides 
C) insecticides 
D) both B and C 
E) all of the above 
A) herbicides 
B) rodenticides 
C) insecticides 
D) both B and C 
E) all of the above E

Question 4

The radionuclide Cesium-137 behaves in soils much like the element potassium.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The adsorption of many pesticides is greater in strongly acid soils than in neutral to alkaline soils.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which class of organic toxins is often intentionally applied to soils?

Accepted Answer

A) refrigerants 
B) pesticides 
C) fuels 
D) preservatives 
E) plasticizers 
A) refrigerants 
B) pesticides 
C) fuels 
D) preservatives 
E) plasticizers

Question 7

Phytoremediation is a system by which growing plants are used to decontaminate polluted soils.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which group of organic insecticides is most damaging to earthworms in soils?

Accepted Answer

A) carbamates 
B) organo phosphates 
C) chlorinated hydrocarbons 
A) carbamates 
B) organo phosphates 
C) chlorinated hydrocarbons

Question 9

Toxic organic compounds that contaminate soils are an environmental problem because they may ____.

Accepted Answer

A) kill or inhibit soil organisms (other than any pest targeted) 
B) kill or injure plants (other than any target weeds). 
C) contaminate or be taken up by plants and so cause toxic effects to animals or people eating the plants 
D) leach to groundwater cause toxic effects in drinking water or aquatic ecosystems 
E) all of the above 
A) kill or inhibit soil organisms (other than any pest targeted) 
B) kill or injure plants (other than any target weeds). 
C) contaminate or be taken up by plants and so cause toxic effects to animals or people eating the plants 
D) leach to groundwater cause toxic effects in drinking water or aquatic ecosystems 
E) all of the above

Question 10

Most practical solutions to toxic levels of indoor radon involve ____.

Accepted Answer

A) bioremediation 
B) increased cation exchange 
C) improved ventilation with fresh air 
D) sealing off cracks in basement walls and foundations 
E) both C and D 
A) bioremediation 
B) increased cation exchange 
C) improved ventilation with fresh air 
D) sealing off cracks in basement walls and foundations 
E) both C and D

Question 11

Bioremediation of soils is often brought about by amending the polluted soils with fertilizers containing mineral nutrients.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Herbicides are generally the most toxic of pesticides to soil organisms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Clay, especially of the 2:1 types, tends to adsorb larger quantities of organic chemicals per gram than does the organic matter component of soils.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Except for a very small number of accidental spills, pesticides used in agriculture have not yet been found to contaminate actual groundwater wells.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Maintaining soil reaction at pH 7.0 is likely to virtually eliminate any significant _______ by heavy metals applied to soils with sewage sludge.

Accepted Answer

A) plant uptake 
B) leaching 
C) adsorption 
D) precipitation 
E) A and B 
A) plant uptake 
B) leaching 
C) adsorption 
D) precipitation 
E) A and B

Question 16

The greatest environmental or social cost of pesticide use in the United States is the damage to sport and commercial fishing.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

One disadvantage of bioremediation is that this technology is usually much more expensive than standard engineering approaches for decontaminating polluted soils.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

A pesticide is more likely to contaminate groundwater if it has which of the following characteristics?

Accepted Answer

A) highly volatile (high vapor pressure) 
B) highly soluble in water 
C) strongly adsorbed to soil colloids 
D) rapidly degraded by soil microorganisms 
E) all of the above 
A) highly volatile (high vapor pressure) 
B) highly soluble in water 
C) strongly adsorbed to soil colloids 
D) rapidly degraded by soil microorganisms 
E) all of the above

Question 19

Radon is a chemically inert gas that emanates from certain soils and builds up in confined spaces such as the basements of buildings.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Most classes of pesticides include some kind of aromatic ring in their chemical structure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

The final cover on any type of landfill should consist of soil material with rapid permeability and a high rate of infiltration.

It has been found that continued, repeated application of an organic toxin to a particular soil will _____ the capacity of that soil's microflora to degrade the compound in question.

Which of the following types chemical would be classed as a pesticide?

The radionuclide Cesium-137 behaves in soils much like the element potassium.

The adsorption of many pesticides is greater in strongly acid soils than in neutral to alkaline soils.

Which class of organic toxins is often intentionally applied to soils?

Phytoremediation is a system by which growing plants are used to decontaminate polluted soils.

Which group of organic insecticides is most damaging to earthworms in soils?

Toxic organic compounds that contaminate soils are an environmental problem because they may ____.

Most practical solutions to toxic levels of indoor radon involve ____.

Bioremediation of soils is often brought about by amending the polluted soils with fertilizers containing mineral nutrients.

Herbicides are generally the most toxic of pesticides to soil organisms.

Clay, especially of the 2:1 types, tends to adsorb larger quantities of organic chemicals per gram than does the organic matter component of soils.

Except for a very small number of accidental spills, pesticides used in agriculture have not yet been found to contaminate actual groundwater wells.

Maintaining soil reaction at pH 7.0 is likely to virtually eliminate any significant _______ by heavy metals applied to soils with sewage sludge.

The greatest environmental or social cost of pesticide use in the United States is the damage to sport and commercial fishing.

One disadvantage of bioremediation is that this technology is usually much more expensive than standard engineering approaches for decontaminating polluted soils.

A pesticide is more likely to contaminate groundwater if it has which of the following characteristics?

Radon is a chemically inert gas that emanates from certain soils and builds up in confined spaces such as the basements of buildings.

Most classes of pesticides include some kind of aromatic ring in their chemical structure.

The Soils Around US

Formation of Soils From Parent Materials

Soil Classification

Soil Architecture and Physical Properties

Soil Water: Characteristics and Behavior

Soil and the Hydrologic Cycle

Soil Aeration and Temperature

Soil Colloids: Seat of Soil Chemical and Physical Activity

Soil Acidity

Soils of Dry Regions: Alkalinity, Salinity, and Sodicity

Organisms and Ecology of the Soil

Soil Organic Matter

Nitrogen and Sulfur Economy of Soils

Soil Phosphorus and Potassium

Micronutrients and Other Trace Elements

Practical Nutrient Management

Soil Erosion and Its Control

Geographic Soils Information

Prospects for Global Soil Quality

Filters

Exam 18: Soils and Chemical Pollution

The final cover on any type of landfill should consist of soil material with rapid permeability and a high rate of infiltration.

It has been found that continued, repeated application of an organic toxin to a particular soil will _____ the capacity of that soil's microflora to degrade the compound in question.

Which of the following types chemical would be classed as a pesticide?

The radionuclide Cesium-137 behaves in soils much like the element potassium.

The adsorption of many pesticides is greater in strongly acid soils than in neutral to alkaline soils.

Which class of organic toxins is often intentionally applied to soils?

Phytoremediation is a system by which growing plants are used to decontaminate polluted soils.

Which group of organic insecticides is most damaging to earthworms in soils?

Toxic organic compounds that contaminate soils are an environmental problem because they may ____.

Most practical solutions to toxic levels of indoor radon involve ____.

Bioremediation of soils is often brought about by amending the polluted soils with fertilizers containing mineral nutrients.

Herbicides are generally the most toxic of pesticides to soil organisms.

Clay, especially of the 2:1 types, tends to adsorb larger quantities of organic chemicals per gram than does the organic matter component of soils.

Except for a very small number of accidental spills, pesticides used in agriculture have not yet been found to contaminate actual groundwater wells.

Maintaining soil reaction at pH 7.0 is likely to virtually eliminate any significant _______ by heavy metals applied to soils with sewage sludge.

The greatest environmental or social cost of pesticide use in the United States is the damage to sport and commercial fishing.

One disadvantage of bioremediation is that this technology is usually much more expensive than standard engineering approaches for decontaminating polluted soils.

A pesticide is more likely to contaminate groundwater if it has which of the following characteristics?

Radon is a chemically inert gas that emanates from certain soils and builds up in confined spaces such as the basements of buildings.

Most classes of pesticides include some kind of aromatic ring in their chemical structure.

The Soils Around US

Formation of Soils From Parent Materials

Soil Classification

Soil Architecture and Physical Properties

Soil Water: Characteristics and Behavior

Soil and the Hydrologic Cycle

Soil Aeration and Temperature

Soil Colloids: Seat of Soil Chemical and Physical Activity

Soil Acidity

Soils of Dry Regions: Alkalinity, Salinity, and Sodicity

Organisms and Ecology of the Soil

Soil Organic Matter

Nitrogen and Sulfur Economy of Soils

Soil Phosphorus and Potassium

Micronutrients and Other Trace Elements

Practical Nutrient Management

Soil Erosion and Its Control

Geographic Soils Information

Prospects for Global Soil Quality

Filters