3.1.01a
1)
Which of the following has the greatest effect on the ability of soil to hold water?
a) The age of the soil particles
b) The size of the soil particles
c) The color of the soil particles
d) The luster of the soil particles
2) Someone just bought a new farm and wants to know if the soil is good for growing corn. Which test
would give the farmer that information?
a) Layer because it will shows the organic material at various stages of decomposition.
b) Soil profile because allows the farmer to observe from the ground surface to the parent
bedrock.
c) Soil picture because the farmer can observe the vegetation growing.
d) Horizon because the farmer can observe the soil’s texture.
3)
The rate at which water can pass through a substance is called ______.
a) Flow
b) Fast
c) Permeability
d) Slow
4) An artist is trying to determine which rock sample to use to create a blue color. Which property would
identify the rock’s pigment?
a) Texture
b) Powder from streak test
c) Crystal arrangement
d) Color of the rock
5) The Mohs scale for minerals is shown below.
softest
1
Talc
2
Gypsum
3
Calcite
4
Fluorite
5
Apatite
hardest
6
Feldspar
7
Quartz
8
Topaz
9
Corundum
10
Diamond
An unknown mineral can be scratched by topaz, but not by feldspar. According to the Mohs scale, which
of the following best describes the hardness of the unknown mineral?
a) Less than 5
b) More than 8
c) Less than 8, but more than 6
d) More than 4, but less than 6
6) How is a rock different from a mineral?
a) Rocks don’t change.
b) A rock is made up of minerals.
c) A mineral is made up of rocks
d) Minerals are harder than rocks.
3.1.01a
7) Industrial diamonds are found in drills, rock-cutting saws, and metal-cutting tools. Explain why diamonds
are used to make these items. Support your reasoning with evidence.
8) Soil in some regions of Ohio have a high sand content. Which of the following properties of sandy soil
might affect its use in agriculture?
a) Sand is porous. Water quickly goes through sand carrying nutrients with it.
b) Because sand is composed mostly of clay, it is too hard for the roots to grow.
c) Sand is very absorbent. It holds too much water and can drown the plants.
d) Sand contains chemicals such as silicon dioxide which are harmful to most plants.
9) The first picture below shows an astronaut’s footprint on the surface of the moon. The second picture
shows soil horizons on Earth. What are two similarities between soil on Earth and on the Moon?
a) Roots hold the soil together.
b) Rain causes both soils to erode.
c) Because there is no wind, footprints stay forever.
d) The composition of both includes various minerals.
10) Elena found a piece of a mineral while on a hike. She wants to identify the mineral she found.
a) Identify at least two physical properties of minerals.
b) Describe how Elena can test the mineral she found for each of the physical properties that you
identified in part a.
3.1.01a
11) Using the Soil Composition Triangle, identify which soil type has a balanced property mix of the three key
components.
a) Loam
b) Silt loam
c) Silty clay
d) Clay loam
12) What do scientists use to classify the different types of soil?
a) Climate
b) Plant types
c) Soil composition
d) Size of animal population
13) Which statement about soil particle size form largest to smallest is correct?
a) Sand, gravel, clay, silt
b) Gravel, sand, silt, clay
c) Gravel, silt, sand, clay
d) Gravel, sand, clay, silt
14. Check the products that are ONLY made of materials that are mined from rocks, minerals and/or soil.
o
o
o
o
o
Cotton t-shirt
Yogurt
Jewelry
Drinking Straw
Vitamins
o
o
o
o
o
Cell phone
Cars
Roads
Paper
Loom bands
o
o
o
o
Video games
Wool coat
Plastic Ruler
Raincoat
3.1.01a
Use the diagram below to answer question 15.
15. Does soil type influence possible uses? Justify your answer.