Earth Systems, Structures and Processes
6.E.2.3
Name:
Directions: Read the following selections. Write the questions and answers in complete sentences.
6.E.2.3
Although weathered rock is the basic component of soil, the composition
and texture of soil and its fertility and resistance to erosion are greatly
influenced by plant roots and debris, bacteria, fungi, worms, insects,
rodents, and other organisms. The upper-most layer of the continental
crust is covered by soil.The ingredients in soils can vary from place to
place and around the Earth. Different soils have many properties such as
texture, particle size, pH, fertility and ability to hold moisture. Depending
upon the combination of properties, soils have great variability intheir
ability to support structures and plant growth. Forces deep inside Earth at
the surface produce a slow cycle that builds, destroys, and changes the
rocks in the crust. Plate movements start the rock cycle by helping to form
magma, the source of igneous rocks. Plate movements also cause faulting,
folding and other motions of the crust that help to form sedimentary and
metamorphic rock. Minerals form as hot magma cools inside the crust, or
as lava hardens on the surface. When these liquids cool to a solid state,
they form crystals. When elements and compounds that are dissolved in
water leave a solution, crystallization of minerals occurs. Soil is a mixture
of: rock particles, minerals, decayed organic matter, water and air.
Soil is a mixture of: rock particles, minerals, decayed organic matter,
water and air. Soil forms as rock is broken down by weathering and mixes
with other materials on the surface.
Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
Questions:
1. What is the basic component of soil?
Answer: Weathered rock is the basic component of soil.
2. What are the composition, texture, and fertility of the soil greatly influenced by?
Answer: They are greatly influenced by plant roots and debris, bacteria, fungi,
worms, insects, rodents, and other organisms.
Earth Systems, Structures and Processes
6.E.2.3
3. What layer of the Earth is covered by soil?
Answer: The upper-most layer of the continental crust is covered by soil.
4. Can the ingredients of soil vary from place to place? Yes or No
5. What are some of the properties of soil?
Answer: Different soils have many properties such as texture, particle size, pH,
fertility and ability to hold moisture.
6. What is the texture of soil?
Answer: The texture of soil is how the soil feels to the touch.
7. What does soil “pH” mean?
Answer: The “pH” is simply a measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is,
and soil acidity or alkalinity (soil pH) is important because it influences how
easily plants can take up nutrients from the soil.
8. What does “fertility” of the soil mean?
Answer: Soil fertility is the characteristic of soil that supports abundant plant life.
9. What is the slow cycle that builds, destroys, and changes the rocks in the crust
called?
Answer: The Rock Cycle
10. What starts the Rock Cycle?
Answer: Plate movements start the rock cycle by helping to form magma, the
source of igneous rocks.
11. What is the Rock Cycle?
Answer: The cycle that builds, destroys and changes the rocks in the crust of the
Earth.
12. What is the source of igneous rocks?
Answer: Magma is the source of igneous rocks.
13. What causes sedimentary and metamorphic rocks to form?
Answer: Plate movements also cause faulting, folding and other motions of the
crust that help to form sedimentary and metamorphic rock.
14. How are minerals formed?
Answer: Minerals form as hot magma cools inside the crust, or as lava hardens on
the surface.
15. When does crystallization of minerals occur?
Answer: When elements and compounds that are dissolved in water leave a
solution, crystallization of minerals occurs.
16. What is soil?
Answer: Soil is a mixture of: rock particles, minerals, decayed organic matter,
water and air.
Earth Systems, Structures and Processes
6.E.2.3
17. How is soil formed?
Answer: Soil forms as rock is broken down by weathering and mixes with other
materials on the surface.
18. Which environment would produce soil at a faster rare?
A. An environment located in warm, wet regions.
B. An environment that consists of many slopes.
C. An environment without vegetation.
D. An environment with high rates of erosion.
19. A class is conducting an experiment on how different types of soil can affect the
growth of a plant. Which are the main factors the class should consider when
designing the experiment?
A. The soil texture and the amount of water it can hold.
B. The types and amounts of sugars found in the soil.
C. The color of the container for the soil and the plant.
D. The shape and color of the seeds planted in the soil.