Soil

Question 1

If you look at soil with a hand lens, you will find small pieces of rocks, minerals, and _______________.

Answer 1

Humus

Question 2

You might not see them, but soil is made up of ____________, air, and _______________________ as well.

Answer 2

Water, living things

Question 3

When plants and animals die, _______________ and fungi decompose them.

Answer 3

Bacteria

Question 4

All the layers of soil, from Earth’s surface down to the bedrock, are shown in a(n) ______________________.

Answer 4

Soil profile

Question 5

The different layers of a soil profile are called ________________ and include topsoil, ___________________, and weathered ________________.

Answer 5

Horizon, subsoil, bedrock

Question 6

The property of soil that refers to the size of soil particles is called _________________. Clay is fine with small particles and sandy soil is _____________________ with large particles.

Answer 6

Texture, coarse

Question 7

Other properties of soil are color and ______________________, which indicators how easily __________________ passes through soil.

Answer 7

Permeability, water

Question 8

The spaces between the particles in soil, called pore spaces, determine how __________________ the soil is.

Answer 8

Porous

Question 9

Soil that is permeable to air and ________________ will allow living things to survive.

Answer 9

Water

Question 10

If the soil does not hold enough water, crop plants can _____________. If the soil holds too much water, crop plants can __________________.

Answer 10

Dry up, drown

Question 11

What do you think pedologists, scientists who study soil, can learn by picking up a handful of soil?

Answer 11

They can learn if the soil is course or fine by picking it up.