Deck 9: Weathering and Soils

Question 1

How does physical weathering change the surface area of rocks and affect the rate of chemical weathering?

A) Increases surface area and thereby decreases chemical weathering
B) Decreases surface area and thereby decreases chemical weathering
C) Increases surface area and thereby increases chemical weathering
D) Decreases surface area and thereby increases chemical weathering

Answer 1

Increases surface area and thereby increases chemical weathering

Question 2

What will chemical weathering do to the rate of physical weathering?

A) Decreases physical weathering
B) Increases physical weathering
C) No change--the processes are separate

Answer 2

Increases physical weathering

Question 3

What combination of conservation techniques will best reduce soil loss from a sloped field?

A) Decreasing slope angle; plowing across the slope
B) Decreasing slope angle; plowing down the slope
C) Increasing slope angle; plowing across the slope
D) Increasing slope angle; plowing down the slope

Answer 3

Decreasing slope angle; plowing across the slope

Question 4

Identical marble statues were erected at the same time in four cities with the following climate
characteristics.
Using the chart above, which town's statue will undergo the most weathering in a 50-year period?

A) Audrytown
B) Bogglesville
C) Cumberburg
D) Dumble

Question 5

-Complete the following weathering concept map by selecting the correct term for number 1.

A) Hydrolysis
B) Physical
C) Wedging
D) Chemical
E) Unloading

Question 6

-Complete the following weathering concept map by selecting the correct term for number 2.

A) Hydrolysis
B) Physical
C) Wedging
D) Chemical
E) Unloading

Question 7

-Complete the following weathering concept map by selecting the correct term for number 3.

A) Hydrolysis
B) Physical
C) Wedging
D) Chemical
E) Unloading

Question 8

-Complete the following weathering concept map by selecting the correct term for number 4.

A) Hydrolysis
B) Physical
C) Wedging
D) Chemical
E) Unloading

Question 9

-Complete the following weathering concept map by selecting the correct term for number 5.

A) Hydrolysis
B) Physical
C) Wedging
D) Chemical
E) Unloading

Question 10

The following is from Environmental Compliance in U.S. Agricultural Policy: Past Performance and Future Potential, by Roger Claassen, Vince Breneman, Shawn Bucholtz, Andrea Cattaneo, Robert Johansson, and Mitch Morehart, AER-832, USDA/ERS, June 2004.
Since its inception in the 1930s, U.S. agricultural policy has been designed to support farmers' incomes while promoting soil conservation practices. By the 1970s, however, policymakers recognized that existing farm price and income support programs were not always consistent with soil conservation efforts. An unintended effect of these programs was to encourage producers to maintain or expand production of relatively erosive crops, such as row crops (corn, cotton, soybeans), sometimes on highly erosion-prone soils. At the same time, the Government was helping farmers reduce soil erosion and related damages through conservation cost-sharing programs. Policymakers further recognized-aside from concerns about consistency-that farm program payments could be used as incentives to encourage better conservation behavior.

-What hypothesis is discussed in this passage?

A) Incentive programs were encouraging soil conservation as intended.
B) Incentive programs were not encouraging soil conservation as intended.
C) Incentive programs were having no effect on soil conservation.
Match the causes of soil erosion with the soil conservation practice intended to reduce that erosion.

Question 11

The following is from Environmental Compliance in U.S. Agricultural Policy: Past Performance and Future Potential, by Roger Claassen, Vince Breneman, Shawn Bucholtz, Andrea Cattaneo, Robert Johansson, and Mitch Morehart, AER-832, USDA/ERS, June 2004.
Since its inception in the 1930s, U.S. agricultural policy has been designed to support farmers' incomes while promoting soil conservation practices. By the 1970s, however, policymakers recognized that existing farm price and income support programs were not always consistent with soil conservation efforts. An unintended effect of these programs was to encourage producers to maintain or expand production of relatively erosive crops, such as row crops (corn, cotton, soybeans), sometimes on highly erosion-prone soils. At the same time, the Government was helping farmers reduce soil erosion and related damages through conservation cost-sharing programs. Policymakers further recognized-aside from concerns about consistency-that farm program payments could be used as incentives to encourage better conservation behavior.

-Wind velocity:

A) Keep soil covered
B) Contour plowing
C) Provide shelter for fields
D) Return organic matter to soil

Question 12

The following is from Environmental Compliance in U.S. Agricultural Policy: Past Performance and Future Potential, by Roger Claassen, Vince Breneman, Shawn Bucholtz, Andrea Cattaneo, Robert Johansson, and Mitch Morehart, AER-832, USDA/ERS, June 2004.
Since its inception in the 1930s, U.S. agricultural policy has been designed to support farmers' incomes while promoting soil conservation practices. By the 1970s, however, policymakers recognized that existing farm price and income support programs were not always consistent with soil conservation efforts. An unintended effect of these programs was to encourage producers to maintain or expand production of relatively erosive crops, such as row crops (corn, cotton, soybeans), sometimes on highly erosion-prone soils. At the same time, the Government was helping farmers reduce soil erosion and related damages through conservation cost-sharing programs. Policymakers further recognized-aside from concerns about consistency-that farm program payments could be used as incentives to encourage better conservation behavior.

-Character of the soil:

A) Keep soil covered
B) Contour plowing
C) Provide shelter for fields
D) Return organic matter to soil

Question 13

The following is from Environmental Compliance in U.S. Agricultural Policy: Past Performance and Future Potential, by Roger Claassen, Vince Breneman, Shawn Bucholtz, Andrea Cattaneo, Robert Johansson, and Mitch Morehart, AER-832, USDA/ERS, June 2004.
Since its inception in the 1930s, U.S. agricultural policy has been designed to support farmers' incomes while promoting soil conservation practices. By the 1970s, however, policymakers recognized that existing farm price and income support programs were not always consistent with soil conservation efforts. An unintended effect of these programs was to encourage producers to maintain or expand production of relatively erosive crops, such as row crops (corn, cotton, soybeans), sometimes on highly erosion-prone soils. At the same time, the Government was helping farmers reduce soil erosion and related damages through conservation cost-sharing programs. Policymakers further recognized-aside from concerns about consistency-that farm program payments could be used as incentives to encourage better conservation behavior.

-Maintain vegetation:

A) Keep soil covered
B) Contour plowing
C) Provide shelter for fields
D) Return organic matter to soil

Question 14

The following is from Environmental Compliance in U.S. Agricultural Policy: Past Performance and Future Potential, by Roger Claassen, Vince Breneman, Shawn Bucholtz, Andrea Cattaneo, Robert Johansson, and Mitch Morehart, AER-832, USDA/ERS, June 2004.
Since its inception in the 1930s, U.S. agricultural policy has been designed to support farmers' incomes while promoting soil conservation practices. By the 1970s, however, policymakers recognized that existing farm price and income support programs were not always consistent with soil conservation efforts. An unintended effect of these programs was to encourage producers to maintain or expand production of relatively erosive crops, such as row crops (corn, cotton, soybeans), sometimes on highly erosion-prone soils. At the same time, the Government was helping farmers reduce soil erosion and related damages through conservation cost-sharing programs. Policymakers further recognized-aside from concerns about consistency-that farm program payments could be used as incentives to encourage better conservation behavior.

-Slope of the land surface:

A) Keep soil covered
B) Contour plowing
C) Provide shelter for fields
D) Return organic matter to soil

Question 15

The following is from Environmental Compliance in U.S. Agricultural Policy: Past Performance and Future Potential, by Roger Claassen, Vince Breneman, Shawn Bucholtz, Andrea Cattaneo, Robert Johansson, and Mitch Morehart, AER-832, USDA/ERS, June 2004.
Since its inception in the 1930s, U.S. agricultural policy has been designed to support farmers' incomes while promoting soil conservation practices. By the 1970s, however, policymakers recognized that existing farm price and income support programs were not always consistent with soil conservation efforts. An unintended effect of these programs was to encourage producers to maintain or expand production of relatively erosive crops, such as row crops (corn, cotton, soybeans), sometimes on highly erosion-prone soils. At the same time, the Government was helping farmers reduce soil erosion and related damages through conservation cost-sharing programs. Policymakers further recognized-aside from concerns about consistency-that farm program payments could be used as incentives to encourage better conservation behavior.

-What processes play the most important role in soil formation?

A) Evaporation and transpiration
B) Weathering and biological activity
C) Compaction and cementation

Question 16

The following is from Environmental Compliance in U.S. Agricultural Policy: Past Performance and Future Potential, by Roger Claassen, Vince Breneman, Shawn Bucholtz, Andrea Cattaneo, Robert Johansson, and Mitch Morehart, AER-832, USDA/ERS, June 2004.
Since its inception in the 1930s, U.S. agricultural policy has been designed to support farmers' incomes while promoting soil conservation practices. By the 1970s, however, policymakers recognized that existing farm price and income support programs were not always consistent with soil conservation efforts. An unintended effect of these programs was to encourage producers to maintain or expand production of relatively erosive crops, such as row crops (corn, cotton, soybeans), sometimes on highly erosion-prone soils. At the same time, the Government was helping farmers reduce soil erosion and related damages through conservation cost-sharing programs. Policymakers further recognized-aside from concerns about consistency-that farm program payments could be used as incentives to encourage better conservation behavior.

-What process is the removal of materials?

A) Chemical weathering
B) Physical weathering
C) Erosion

Question 17

The following is from Environmental Compliance in U.S. Agricultural Policy: Past Performance and Future Potential, by Roger Claassen, Vince Breneman, Shawn Bucholtz, Andrea Cattaneo, Robert Johansson, and Mitch Morehart, AER-832, USDA/ERS, June 2004.
Since its inception in the 1930s, U.S. agricultural policy has been designed to support farmers' incomes while promoting soil conservation practices. By the 1970s, however, policymakers recognized that existing farm price and income support programs were not always consistent with soil conservation efforts. An unintended effect of these programs was to encourage producers to maintain or expand production of relatively erosive crops, such as row crops (corn, cotton, soybeans), sometimes on highly erosion-prone soils. At the same time, the Government was helping farmers reduce soil erosion and related damages through conservation cost-sharing programs. Policymakers further recognized-aside from concerns about consistency-that farm program payments could be used as incentives to encourage better conservation behavior.

-What type of chemical weathering causes rust to form?

A) Dissolution
B) Hydrolysis
C) Oxidation

Question 18

The following is from Environmental Compliance in U.S. Agricultural Policy: Past Performance and Future Potential, by Roger Claassen, Vince Breneman, Shawn Bucholtz, Andrea Cattaneo, Robert Johansson, and Mitch Morehart, AER-832, USDA/ERS, June 2004.
Since its inception in the 1930s, U.S. agricultural policy has been designed to support farmers' incomes while promoting soil conservation practices. By the 1970s, however, policymakers recognized that existing farm price and income support programs were not always consistent with soil conservation efforts. An unintended effect of these programs was to encourage producers to maintain or expand production of relatively erosive crops, such as row crops (corn, cotton, soybeans), sometimes on highly erosion-prone soils. At the same time, the Government was helping farmers reduce soil erosion and related damages through conservation cost-sharing programs. Policymakers further recognized-aside from concerns about consistency-that farm program payments could be used as incentives to encourage better conservation behavior.

-What type of chemical weathering occurs when minerals dissolve in water?

A) Dissolution
B) Hydrolysis
C) Oxidation

Question 19

The following is from Environmental Compliance in U.S. Agricultural Policy: Past Performance and Future Potential, by Roger Claassen, Vince Breneman, Shawn Bucholtz, Andrea Cattaneo, Robert Johansson, and Mitch Morehart, AER-832, USDA/ERS, June 2004.
Since its inception in the 1930s, U.S. agricultural policy has been designed to support farmers' incomes while promoting soil conservation practices. By the 1970s, however, policymakers recognized that existing farm price and income support programs were not always consistent with soil conservation efforts. An unintended effect of these programs was to encourage producers to maintain or expand production of relatively erosive crops, such as row crops (corn, cotton, soybeans), sometimes on highly erosion-prone soils. At the same time, the Government was helping farmers reduce soil erosion and related damages through conservation cost-sharing programs. Policymakers further recognized-aside from concerns about consistency-that farm program payments could be used as incentives to encourage better conservation behavior.

-What is the main way by which ions are removed from soils?

A) Organic activity
B) Leaching
C) Transport

Question 20

What materials are you likely to find in a soil horizon from the surface down?

A) Weathered parent material, organics, leached materials
B) Organics, weathered parent material, leached materials
C) Organics, leached materials, weathered parent material

Question 21

What processes play key roles in soil formation?

A) Physical weathering
B) Chemical weathering
C) Both chemical and physical weathering

Question 22

Predict the quality of soils in a tropical rain forest.

A) High quality due to rich organic input.
B) High quality due to high levels of leaching.
C) Low quality due to low organic input.
D) Low quality due to high levels of leaching.

Question 23

Which scenario would result in the most erosion?

A) Large agricultural population, abundant rainfall and strong average winds.
B) Small agricultural population, abundant rainfall and strong average winds.
C) Large agricultural population, sparse rainfall and low average winds.
D) Small agricultural population, sparse rainfall and strong average winds.

Question 24

Fractured rocks weather more rapidly than unfractured rocks.

Question 25

The volume decreases when water changes to ice.

Question 26

Carbonic acid forms when carbon dioxide reacts with rainwater.

Question 27

The pH value of a solution decreases with increasing concentrations of hydrogen ions.

Question 28

Regolith is essentially the same as soil.

Question 29

Soils renew at a rate that is much slower than the rate by which they presently erode.

Question 30

Biologic weathering is essential for soil formation.

Question 31

Biologic weathering occurs at both the macro- and micro-levels.

Question 32

Quartz is easily weathered compared to other minerals.

Question 33

Porosity describes how rapidly water moves through a rock.

Question 34

Permeability describes how rapidly water moves through a rock.

Question 35

High temperatures increase the rate of chemical weathering.

Question 36

Basalt parent rock would form a soil very similar to that formed from limestone.