Question 1

The soil shown in the photograph below has a greenish or grayish 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. 
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. C

Question 2

Clay soils will usually have a higher cation exchange capacity than sandy soils because

Accepted Answer

A) clay particles have round surfaces that reduce surface area where positively charged particles can accumulate. 
B) clay particles have round surfaces that reduce surface area where negatively charged particles can accumulate. 
C) clay particles have elongated surfaces that support negative charges. 
D) clay particles have elongated surfaces that support positive charges. 
A) clay particles have round surfaces that reduce surface area where positively charged particles can accumulate. 
B) clay particles have round surfaces that reduce surface area where negatively charged particles can accumulate. 
C) clay particles have elongated surfaces that support negative charges. 
D) clay particles have elongated surfaces that support positive charges. C

Question 3

If a soil is too sandy,it will usually

Accepted Answer

A) lose its water and nutrients too easily. 
B) be too compacted for most engineering applications. 
C) have a high cation exchange capacity. 
D) form steep bluffs and encourage contact metamorphism. 
A) lose its water and nutrients too easily. 
B) be too compacted for most engineering applications. 
C) have a high cation exchange capacity. 
D) form steep bluffs and encourage contact metamorphism. A

Question 4

In the soil profile below,iron is present in both the top and bottom layer,as labeled,but why is only the second layer a reddish color?

Accepted Answer

A) The iron oxide was leached from the top layer in what was most likely a wet environment. 
B) The iron oxide was leached from the top layer in what was most likely an arid environment. 
C) When exposed to air,the iron oxide loses its reddish tint in what was most likely a wet environment. 
D) When exposed to air,the iron oxide loses its reddish tint in what was most likely an arid environment. 
A) The iron oxide was leached from the top layer in what was most likely a wet environment. 
B) The iron oxide was leached from the top layer in what was most likely an arid environment. 
C) When exposed to air,the iron oxide loses its reddish tint in what was most likely a wet environment. 
D) When exposed to air,the iron oxide loses its reddish tint in what was most likely an arid environment.

Question 5

Hygroscopic water

Accepted Answer

A) is generally unavailable to plants because its high surface tension causes it to adhere so tightly to the soil particles. 
B) allows water to flow downward into the subsurface because it is often found in permeable soils. 
C) generally enhances transpiration rates by allowing plants to be more active. 
D) is water that runs off the surface after the soil reaches field capacity. 
A) is generally unavailable to plants because its high surface tension causes it to adhere so tightly to the soil particles. 
B) allows water to flow downward into the subsurface because it is often found in permeable soils. 
C) generally enhances transpiration rates by allowing plants to be more active. 
D) is water that runs off the surface after the soil reaches field capacity.

Question 6

Podzolization is most likely to occur in the ________ horizon.

Accepted Answer

A) A 
B) B 
C) C 
D) E 
A) A 
B) B 
C) C 
D) E

Question 7

Loess is transported by ________ and is important because ________.

Accepted Answer

A) flowing streams; it tends to braid streams and dam the water 
B) mass-wasting processes down slopes; it can cause debris avalanches 
C) wind around glaciers; it is fertile 
D) flowing streams; erodes very quickly 
A) flowing streams; it tends to braid streams and dam the water 
B) mass-wasting processes down slopes; it can cause debris avalanches 
C) wind around glaciers; it is fertile 
D) flowing streams; erodes very quickly

Question 8

Which of the following types of soil is most strongly influenced by its climate?

Accepted Answer

A) Andisol 
B) Histosol 
C) Inceptisol 
D) Gelisol 
A) Andisol 
B) Histosol 
C) Inceptisol 
D) Gelisol

Question 9

What type of organisms live in soil?

Accepted Answer

A) Earthworms 
B) Insects 
C) Bacteria 
D) Vertebrates 
E) All of these choices are correct. 
A) Earthworms 
B) Insects 
C) Bacteria 
D) Vertebrates 
E) All of these choices are correct.

Question 10

The use of strip cropping helps to control soil erosion by

Accepted Answer

A) increasing the cation exchange capacity. 
B) increasing saltation. 
C) reducing leaching. 
D) reducing runoff. 
A) increasing the cation exchange capacity. 
B) increasing saltation. 
C) reducing leaching. 
D) reducing runoff.

Question 11

The most direct impact of the process of capillary action is to

Accepted Answer

A) contribute to overland flow. 
B) decrease the water available for transpiration. 
C) increase the infiltration rate. 
D) move water to the surface. 
A) contribute to overland flow. 
B) decrease the water available for transpiration. 
C) increase the infiltration rate. 
D) move water to the surface.

Question 12

This soil profile is in an area where

Accepted Answer

A) rainy conditions persist year-round. 
B) dry conditions persist year-round. 
C) conditions are neither too wet nor too dry. 
A) rainy conditions persist year-round. 
B) dry conditions persist year-round. 
C) conditions are neither too wet nor too dry.

Question 13

The limited horizonation in the soil type pictured below occurs because

Accepted Answer

A) the subsurface is covered by permafrost. 
B) precipitation is limited. 
C) volcanic ash has penetrated very deeply beneath the surface in this soil type. 
D) leaf litter is so abundant that it tends to leach downward across all of the layers. 
A) the subsurface is covered by permafrost. 
B) precipitation is limited. 
C) volcanic ash has penetrated very deeply beneath the surface in this soil type. 
D) leaf litter is so abundant that it tends to leach downward across all of the layers.

Question 14

The eluviation in this Alfisol is most evident at a depth of ________ feet.

Accepted Answer

A) 0.5 
B) 1 
C) 2 
D) 3 
A) 0.5 
B) 1 
C) 2 
D) 3

Question 15

Which of the following soil types is most likely to be found in mountainous or sandy regions?

Accepted Answer

A) Mollisols 
B) Histosols 
C) Entisols 
D) Inceptisols 
A) Mollisols 
B) Histosols 
C) Entisols 
D) Inceptisols

Question 16

Which of the following is not true of soil?

Accepted Answer

A) Soil contains a complex food web 
B) Fertilized soils are a source of water pollution 
C) Soil serves as a sink for carbon dioxide 
D) Soil can immobilize contaminants and remediate waste 
E) All of these choices are correct. 
A) Soil contains a complex food web 
B) Fertilized soils are a source of water pollution 
C) Soil serves as a sink for carbon dioxide 
D) Soil can immobilize contaminants and remediate waste 
E) All of these choices are correct.

Question 17

Soils that were covered by continental ice sheets and have not developed since the last glacial advance are classified as

Accepted Answer

A) Andisols. 
B) Histosols. 
C) Entisols. 
D) Inceptisols. 
A) Andisols. 
B) Histosols. 
C) Entisols. 
D) Inceptisols.

Question 18

Which of the following is not a function that organic matter serves in soil?

Accepted Answer

A) Separates soil particles 
B) Bonds nutrients 
C) Cycles nutrients vital for health 
D) Serves as an energy source for organisms 
A) Separates soil particles 
B) Bonds nutrients 
C) Cycles nutrients vital for health 
D) Serves as an energy source for organisms

Question 19

Compared with Mollisols,Alfisols tend to be somewhat

Accepted Answer

A) more fertile and agriculturally productive. 
B) more likely to become acidic. 
C) more narrowly distributed around the world. 
D) more prone to calcification. 
A) more fertile and agriculturally productive. 
B) more likely to become acidic. 
C) more narrowly distributed around the world. 
D) more prone to calcification.

Question 20

In the map below,the pedogenic regime known as laterization would most likely be a factor at

Accepted Answer

A) A. 
B) B. 
C) C. 
D) D. 
A) A. 
B) B. 
C) C. 
D) D.

The soil shown in the photograph below has a greenish or grayish tint,which may mean that

Clay soils will usually have a higher cation exchange capacity than sandy soils because

If a soil is too sandy,it will usually

In the soil profile below,iron is present in both the top and bottom layer,as labeled,but why is only the second layer a reddish color?

Hygroscopic water

Podzolization is most likely to occur in the ________ horizon.

Loess is transported by and is important because .

Which of the following types of soil is most strongly influenced by its climate?

What type of organisms live in soil?

The use of strip cropping helps to control soil erosion by

The most direct impact of the process of capillary action is to

This soil profile is in an area where

The limited horizonation in the soil type pictured below occurs because

The eluviation in this Alfisol is most evident at a depth of ________ feet.

Which of the following soil types is most likely to be found in mountainous or sandy regions?

Which of the following is not true of soil?

Soils that were covered by continental ice sheets and have not developed since the last glacial advance are classified as

Which of the following is not a function that organic matter serves in soil?

Compared with Mollisols,Alfisols tend to be somewhat

In the map below,the pedogenic regime known as laterization would most likely be a factor at

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Weather Systems and Severe Weather

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Climates Around the World

Water Resources

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Exam 16: Soils

The soil shown in the photograph below has a greenish or grayish tint,which may mean that

Clay soils will usually have a higher cation exchange capacity than sandy soils because

If a soil is too sandy,it will usually

In the soil profile below,iron is present in both the top and bottom layer,as labeled,but why is only the second layer a reddish color?

Hygroscopic water

Podzolization is most likely to occur in the ________ horizon.

Loess is transported by ________ and is important because ________.

Which of the following types of soil is most strongly influenced by its climate?

What type of organisms live in soil?

The use of strip cropping helps to control soil erosion by

The most direct impact of the process of capillary action is to

This soil profile is in an area where

The limited horizonation in the soil type pictured below occurs because

The eluviation in this Alfisol is most evident at a depth of ________ feet.

Which of the following soil types is most likely to be found in mountainous or sandy regions?

Which of the following is not true of soil?

Soils that were covered by continental ice sheets and have not developed since the last glacial advance are classified as

Which of the following is not a function that organic matter serves in soil?

Compared with Mollisols,Alfisols tend to be somewhat

In the map below,the pedogenic regime known as laterization would most likely be a factor at

The Nature of Physical Geography

Energy and Matter in the Atmosphere

Atmospheric Motion

Atmospheric Moisture

Weather Systems and Severe Weather

Atmosphere-Ocean-Cryosphere Interactions

Climates Around the World

Water Resources

Understanding Landscapes

Plate Tectonics and Regional Features

Volcanoes,deformation,and Earthquakes

Weathering and Mass Wasting

Streams and Flooding

Glaciers and Glacial Landforms

Coasts and Changing Sea Levels

Ecosystems and Biogeochemical Cycles

Biomes

Filters

Loess is transported by and is important because .