Question 1

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. 
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.

Question 2

The soil pictured below is

Accepted Answer

A) Vertisols. 
B) Oxisols. 
C) Gelisols. 
D) Spodosols. 
A) Vertisols. 
B) Oxisols. 
C) Gelisols. 
D) Spodosols.

Question 3

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) Mollisol 
A) Inceptisol 
B) Alfisol 
C) Aridisol 
D) Ultisol 
E) Mollisol

Question 4

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. 
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.

Question 5

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. 
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.

Question 6

Soils that are most likely to be compacted have

Accepted Answer

A) high porosity. 
B) high permeability. 
C) low porosity. 
D) low permeability. 
A) high porosity. 
B) high permeability. 
C) low porosity. 
D) low permeability.

Question 7

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. 
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.

Question 8

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. 
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.

Question 9

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 crime 
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 crime

Question 10

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; Oxisol 
A) B; Ultisol 
B) O; Ultisol 
C) B; Oxisol 
D) O; Oxisol

Question 11

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

Question 12

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. 
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.

Question 13

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. 
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.

Question 14

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. 
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.

Question 15

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

Question 16

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. 
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.

Question 17

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. 
A) earthworms. 
B) plant litter. 
C) humus. 
D) bacteria.

Question 18

Gelisols generally are most closely associated with

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

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. 
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.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

A) 1 
B) 2 
C) 3 
D) 4 
A) 1 
B) 2 
C) 3 
D) 4

What is a major difference between Inceptisols and Entisols?

The soil pictured below is

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

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

The diagram below is most likely from

Soils that are most likely to be compacted have

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

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

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

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

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

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

In terms of particle sizes,secondary minerals are usually

Acidic soils tend to be

Which of the following is not a component of soil?

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

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

Gelisols generally are most closely associated with

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

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

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Exam 16: Soils

What is a major difference between Inceptisols and Entisols?

The soil pictured below is

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

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

The diagram below is most likely from

Soils that are most likely to be compacted have

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

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

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

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

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

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

In terms of particle sizes,secondary minerals are usually

Acidic soils tend to be

Which of the following is not a component of soil?

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

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

Gelisols generally are most closely associated with

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

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

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

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