Earth Science: The Changing Surface of Earth, Book G

Chapter 2: Weathering and Soil

Weathering and Soil

1.
Why is ice wedging most obvious in the mountains?
A)because gravity pulls on the water in the cracks more if it's found higher in the mountains
B)because the pressure in the mountains allows for the repeated freezing and thawing of water caught in cracks of rocks
C)because the altitude directly contributes to how the water freezes in the cracks of rocks
D)because the temperature changes in the mountains allow for the repeated freezing and thawing of water caught in cracks of rocks
2.
How do farmers attempt to manage crops to reduce soil erosion?
A)They plant shelter belts to protect crops from wind erosion.
B)They practice no-till farming.
C)They use animals to graze over vegetation instead of plowing.
D)all answers are correct
3.
How is surface area related to chemical weathering?
A)Increased surface area allows for more interactions of rocks with water and oxygen.
B)Increased surface area allows for more interactions of rocks with plants and animals.
C)Decreased surface area allows for more interactions of rocks with water and oxygen.
D)Decreased surface area allows for more ice wedging.
4.
How does soil erosion affect topsoil?
A)It washes it away.
B)It moves the topsoil to other areas where it is more needed.
C)It keeps it moist.
D)It makes it more fertile.
5.
How can rock type within the parent rock affect the type of vegetation that grows there?
A)Different rocks create different depths of parent rock that affect plant growth.
B)Different rocks make water absorption more difficult.
C)Different rocks provide different root stability for plant growth.
D)Different rocks provide different nutrients for plant growth.
6.
How do chemical and mechanical weathering differ?
A)Mechanical and chemical weathering can happen with the help of animals.
B)Plant roots can help mechanical weathering occur, but have no impact on soil when it comes to chemical weathering.
C)Chemical weathering can occur with the help of water reacting with carbon dioxide, and water has nothing to do with mechanical weathering.
D)Mechanical weathering occurs when rocks are broken by physical processes, and chemical weathering happens when chemical reactions dissolve minerals.
7.
Why is soil erosion more common in areas that lack adequate vegetation?
A)because gravity pulls on the plants and increases erosion
B)because plant roots help keep the soil in place
C)because the lack of adequate vegetation affects the soil pressure and erosion rate
D)because soil erosion is stopped by reduced vegetation
8.
Why does clearing tropical rain forests have an adverse effect on soil quality?
A)The soil is only good for farmers for a few years before the nutrients are gone because the soil is almost infertile below the first few centimeters.
B)Uprooting trees makes the soil vulnerable to erosion.
C)Burning fields leaves ash and soot in the soil, making it impossible to grow crops.
D)By clearing rain forests soil is vulnerable to direct sunlight that damages the richness of the soil.
9.
A soil's composition is dependent on weathering because __________.
A)it keeps the soil moist
B)it makes the soil more fertile
C)it moves the topsoil to other areas where it is more needed
D)it contributes sediment to the soil
10.
In which horizon of a soil profile is the parent material usually found?
A)horizon D
B)horizon B
C)horizon C
D)horizon A
11.
How do construction sites attempt to reduce erosion?
A)They spray exposed soil with water to prevent wind erosion.
B)They cover exposed ground with plastic to prevent wind erosion.
C)all answers are correct
D)They replace topsoil that has been removed during construction.
12.
A human activity that contributes to soil erosion is __________.
A)all answers are correct
B)farming
C)raising livestock
D)construction
13.
Each layer of a soil profile is called a __________.
A)humus
B)horizontal
C)litter
D)horizon
14.
In which horizon of a soil profile does leaching normally occur?
A)horizon A
B)horizon D
C)horizon B
D)horizon C
15.
Surface processes that work to break down rock is called__________.
A)weathering
B)erosion
C)oxidation
D)ice wedging
16.
How does climate affect chemical and mechanical weathering?
A)Chemical weathering occurs more rapidly in warm, wet climates, and mechanical weathering occurs more in cold climates.
B)Chemical and mechanical weathering occur more rapidly in warm, wet climates.
C)Chemical weathering occurs more rapidly in dry climates and mechanical weathering occurs more in windy climates.
D)Mechanical weathering occurs more rapidly in warm, wet climates, and chemical weathering occurs more in cold climates.
17.
Soil is a mixture of __________.
A)decayed organic matter and oxygen
B)weathered rock and water
C)all answers are correct
D)mineral fragments
18.
__________ is a method in which level-topped areas are built into steep-sided hills.
A)Weathering
B)Terracing
C)No-till farming
D)Ice wedging
19.
Decayed organic material turns into a dark colored material called ___________.
A)soil
B)humus
C)clay
D)litter
20.
How does grazing affect soil?
A)all answers are correct
B)Overgrazing can leave soil vulnerable to wind and water erosion.
C)Grazing can be used in place of plowing in no-till farming.
D)Grazing can improve soil quality due to organic matter that livestock leaves behind.
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