Earth s Changing Surface. Weathering and Soil Formation. *** Practice Test ***

Transcription

1 Earth s Changing Surface Chapter 2: Weathering and Soil Formation *** Practice Test ***

2 Soil that is rich in humus can easily support plant life is said to be.

3 Soil that is rich in humus can easily support plant life is said to be fertile.

4 Plowing field along the curves of a slope is called.

5 Plowing field along the curves of a slope is called contour plowing.

6 Living animals in the soil help the soil by.

7 Living animals in the soil help the soil by mixing the soil and making humus.

8 What kind of weathering causes mineral composition of rocks to change?

9 What kind of weathering causes mineral composition of rocks to change? Chemical weathering

10 Decomposers are the soil organisms that.

11 Decomposers are the soil organisms that break down and digest the remains of dead animals.

12 How long did it take the thick, fertile soil of North American prairies to develop?

13 How long did it take the thick, fertile soil of North American prairies to develop? Many thousands of years

14 What can cause the loss of soil that is not protected by plant cover?

15 What can cause the loss of soil that is not protected by plant cover? Erosion by water or wind

16 One cause of mechanical weathering is, or the wearing away of rock by rock particles.

17 One cause of mechanical weathering is abrasion, or the wearing away of rock by rock particles.

18 When animals add their wastes to the soil, then die and decay in the soil, they are contributing to the formation of.

19 When animals add their wastes to the soil, then die and decay in the soil, they are contributing to the formation of humus.

20 What ecological disaster occurred on the Great Plains during the 1930s?

21 What ecological disaster occurred on the Great Plains during the 1930s? Dust Bowl (severe wind erosion of prairie/farm soil)

22 What kind of weathering is caused by plant roots and animal activity?

23 What kind of weathering is caused by plant roots and animal activity? mechanical weathering

24 Most of the work of mixing humus within the soil is done by.

25 Most of the work of mixing humus within the soil is done by earthworms.

26 A permeable rock weathers easily because it.

27 A permeable rock weathers easily because it contains many small, connected air spaces.

28 The particle size, or texture, of soil determines.

29 The particle size, or texture, of soil determines the amount of air and water the soil can hold.

30 Ice wedging causes mechanical weathering by means of and of water.

31 Ice wedging causes mechanical weathering by means of freezing and thawing of water.

32 Iron becomes soft and crumbly and reddish-brown because it has been chemically weathered by.

33 Iron becomes soft and crumbly and reddish-brown because it has been chemically weathered by oxygen or oxidation.

34 What agent of mechanical weathering in which rock is worn down by a grinding action?

35 What agent of mechanical weathering in which rock is worn down by a grinding action? abrasion

36 The two most important factors in determining the rate of weathering are and.

37 The two most important factors in determining the rate of weathering are rock type and climate.

38 Soil formation begins with the weathering of.

39 Soil formation begins with the weathering of bedrock.

40 Loam is made up of,, and.

41 Loam is made up of silt, sand, and clay.

42 In conservation plowing, why are dead weeds and stalks of the previous year s crop left in the ground?

43 In conservation plowing, why are dead weeds and stalks of the previous year s crop left in the ground? to retain moisture and keep the soil in place (prevent erosion)

44 The best type of soil in which to grow plants is called.

45 The best type of soil in which to grow plants is called loam.

46 Uniformitarianism means that.

47 Uniformitarianism means that the same geological processes operate today that operated in the past.

48 Compare and contrast topsoil and subsoil.

49 Compare and contrast topsoil and subsoil. Both are made from minerals and rock material weathered from bedrock. Topsoil is darker and closer to the surface and has more humus while subsoil is below the topsoil and has very little humus.

50 Describe three ways soil can be damaged or lost.

51 Describe three ways soil can be damaged or lost. 1. water erosion. 2. wind erosion. 3. exhausted by too much farming.

52 Bacteria and fungi in soil are called because they break down dead plants and animals.

53 Bacteria and fungi in soil are called decomposers because they break down dead plants and animals.

54 Some plants produce acids that result in weathering.

55 Some plants produce acids that result in chemical weathering.

56 What is the most important factor in causing marble statues to weather?

57 What is the most important factor in causing marble statues to weather? carbonic acid in rain water

58 Chemical weathering can be caused by, or precipitation combined with pollutants.

59 Chemical weathering can be caused by acid rain, or precipitation combined with pollutants.

60 Rock that contains tiny, connected spaces through which water can move is.

61 Rock that contains tiny, connected spaces through which water can move is permeable.

62 One agent of chemical weathering is, which combines with water to form H2CO3.

63 One agent of chemical weathering is carbon dioxide, which combines with water to form H2CO3.

64 Humus makes soil, or rich in nutrients that plants need to grow.

65 Humus makes soil fertile, or rich in nutrients that plants need to grow.

66 Humus is found in the Horizon, also known as.

67 Humus is found in the A Horizon, also known as topsoil.

68 The layer of soil containing fine particles and minerals but little organic matter is called the Horizon, or.

69 The layer of soil containing fine particles and minerals but little organic matter is called the B Horizon, or subsoil.

70 Why is it important to aerate the soil?

71 Why is it important to aerate the soil? Plant roots and soil animals need oxygen and water in the soil. Loose soil holds more air and water.

72 What is litter, in reference to soil formation?

73 What is litter, in reference to soil formation? Layer of dead plant material (leaves and stems) on the topsoil.

74 Describe two ways burrowing animals enrich soil with substances that plants need to grow.

75 Describe two ways burrowing animals enrich soil with substances that plants need to grow. 1. Add humus and nitrogen to the soil with their waste. 2. Mix the soil with their digging.

76 What is crop rotation?

77 What is crop rotation? When farmers plant different crops in fields every year to keep the soil from being depleted or exhausted by using up the same nutrients year after year.

78 Explain how every living thing on land depends on soil.

79 Explain how every living thing on land depends on soil. Plants (producers) need the soil and all animals (consumers) need the plants for food and oxygen.

80 Who was George Washington Carver?

81 Who was George Washington Carver? ( ) He taught new methods of soil conservation and encouraged farmers to plant peanuts to restore soil fertility.

82 Describe how freezing and thawing of water causes mechanical weathering.

83 Describe how freezing and thawing of water causes mechanical weathering. Water seeps into cracks in the rocks and then freezes causing expansion which causes the rock to crack more and allow more water into the rock.

84 How is bedrock related to topsoil?

85 How is bedrock related to topsoil? The rock particles and minerals in the topsoil come from weathered bedrock.

86 Consider the importance of rain forests, coral reefs, and topsoil. Which do you think is more important to a healthy biosphere on the Earth?

87 Consider the importance of ecosystems located in rain forests, coral reefs, and topsoil. Which do you think is more important to a healthy biosphere on the Earth? Any choice could be valid. Give your opinion and support it with facts.