1. All of the following EXCEPT __________ can weather rock. a. sunlight b. freezing and thawing c. animals d. plants

2. When materials containing iron are exposed to water and oxygen, oxidation can occur.

3. What kind of weathering causes the mineral composition of rocks to change? a. mechanical weathering b. permeable weathering c. chemical weathering d. general weathering

4. Ice wedging causes mechanical weathering of rock by means of a
Ice wedging causes mechanical weathering of rock by means of a. heating and cooling. b. plant growth. c. animal actions. d. freezing and thawing of water.

5. Which is an example of chemical weathering
Which is an example of chemical weathering? a) A rock breaking into fragments. b) A rock being scratched by rocks embedded in the bottom of a glacier. c) A rock dissolving in water. d) Sediment being moved down a hillside.

6. Which does not contribute to the rate of weathering. a. Rock type c
Which does not contribute to the rate of weathering? a. Rock type c. Climate b. Rock composition d. Fossils

7. Soil formation begins with the weathering of a. litter. b. bedrock. c
Soil formation begins with the weathering of a. litter. b. bedrock. c. the A horizon. d. humus.

8. If a river in flood picks up a house and moves it downstream, this is a) Chemical weathering b) Mechanical weathering c) Erosion d) All of the above

9. Soil is a valuable resource because it a
Soil is a valuable resource because it a. is important to all living things on land. b. contains sand and gravel. c. is rich in decomposers. d. has all three soil horizons.

10. Which factor has the least effect on the weathering of a rock
Which factor has the least effect on the weathering of a rock? A) composition of the rock B) exposure of the rock to the atmosphere C) the number of fossils found in the rock D) climatic conditions

11. In which horizon is humus concentrated? a. A – horizon c. C – horizon b. B – Horizon d. O – horizon

12. Which describes a residual soil. a
Which describes a residual soil? a. Soil from sediment deposited by glaciers b. Sand that has collected in a floodplain c. Fine-grained sediment that was deposited by wind d. Layers of material that weathered from bedrock below

13. Which of the following statements is NOT true of soil. a
Which of the following statements is NOT true of soil? a. It is a loose covering of broken rock particles and decaying organic matter. b. There is one kind of soil in the United States c. Living organisms add nutrient to it d. It takes a long time to form

14. What is one source of organic matter in soil. a. Acid precipitation b
What is one source of organic matter in soil? a. Acid precipitation b. Weathered topsoil c. Dead fungi, bacteria, and protozoa d. eroding bedrock

15. For which movement of earth materials is gravity not the main force
For which movement of earth materials is gravity not the main force? A) snow tumbling in an avalanche B) moisture evaporating from an ocean C) boulders carried by a glacier D) sediments flowing in a river

16. Why is weathering an important process in soil formation. A
Why is weathering an important process in soil formation? A. Weathered material is the main component in the soil. B. Weathering brings water into the soil layers. C. Weathered material provides the organic nutrients into the soil. D. Weathering removes the soil, and therefore prevents soil formation

17. The color of a soil ___________. a
The color of a soil ___________. a. Is a reliable indicator of its fertility b. It always dark brown or black c. Is not dependent on the amount of humus d. Is determined by its composition and climate

18. Which is considered NOT a factor of soil formation. a. Topography c
Which is considered NOT a factor of soil formation? a. Topography c. Time b. Parent material d. Chemistry

19. Which is usually the primary factor that affects the rate of weathering? a. Topography c. Climate b. Volume d. Biological organisms

20. Which of the following has the potential for the most erosion. a
Which of the following has the potential for the most erosion? a. Water flowing across a flatland b. Wind blowing materials in the air, again the force of gravity c. Wind blowing materials down a slope d. Water flowing down a steep slope

21. In which of the following climates would chemical weathering most readily occur? a. Wet and warm c. Wet and cool b. Dry and warm d. Dry and cool

22. The loss of topsoil to erosion is bad because a) Topsoil contains most of the nutrients. b) Topsoil protects the rich organic material beneath it. c) When the topsoil is gone it means that the entire soil profile has eroded away. d) All of the above

23. Going down in a soil, each soil horizon downward becomes a) More altered from the original rock. b) Less altered and more like the original rock. c) Darker and more organic rich. d) A & C