SOPHIA PATHWAYS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
MILESTONE 1 EXAM SCRIPT 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS APPROVED A+
◉ What do volcano eruptions do to our atmosphere. Answer: -
Release CO2, SO2, HCl
-debris and particulates can block sunlight, making a cooler climate
◉ Factors that affect the amount of solar energy at the surface of the
Earth:. Answer: -Earth's rotation (once every 24 hours)
-tilt of Earth's axis (23.5 degrees)
-revolution around the sun (once per year)
-closest to sun in winter, furthest in summer
◉ O Horizon. Answer: Surface litter: leaves and partially
decomposed organic debris. Thick in deciduous forests, thin in the
tundra.
◉ A Horizon. Answer: Topsoil: organic matter (humus), living
organisms, inorganic minerals. Topsoil is very thick in grasslands.
◉ E Horizon. Answer: Zone of leaching: dissolved and suspended
materials move downward. In-between A and B horizon.
,◉ B Horizon. Answer: Subsoil: tends to be yellowish in color due to
the accumulation of Fe, Al, humic compounds, and clay leached
down from A and E horizons. Can be rich in nutrients in areas with
lots of rainwater.
◉ C Horizon. Answer: Weathered parent material: partially broken-
down inorganic minerals
◉ parent material. Answer: The rock and minerals from which the
soil derives. Nature of parent rock can be native to the area or
transported by wind, water, glaciers, etc.
◉ clay. Answer: -very fine particles
-compacts easily
-forms large, dense clumps when wet
-low permeability to water, thus upper layers bcome waterlogged
◉ gravel. Answer: -coarse particles
-consists of rock fragments
◉ loam. Answer: -about equal mixtures of clay, sand, silt, and humus
-rich in nutrients
,-holds water but does not become waterlogged
◉ sand. Answer: -sedimentary material coarser than silt
-water flow through too quickly for most crops
-good for crops and plants requiring low amounts of water
◉ silt. Answer: -sedimentary material consisting of very fine
particles between the size of sand and clay
-easily transported by water
◉ What color soil is most fertile?. Answer: a rich dark brown
◉ waterlogging. Answer: saturation of soil with water resulting in a
rise of the water table
◉ problems of waterlogging. Answer: salty water envelops deep
roots killing plants; lowers productivity; eventual destruction of
plant life
◉ solutions of waterlogging. Answer: switch to less water-
demanding plants in susceptible areas; utilize conservation-tillage
farming; plant waterlog-resistant plants; install drainage popes
, ◉ salinization. Answer: a soil degradation process caused by
repeated annual application of irrigation water in dry climates,
which leads to the gradual accumulation of salts in the upper soil
layers
◉ problems of salinization. Answer: stunted crop growth; lower
yield; eventual destruction of plant life
◉ solutions of salinization. Answer: take land out of production for a
while; install drainage pipes; flush soil with freshwater; planted
halophytes (salt-loving plants) like barley, cotton, sugar, or wheat
◉ desertification. Answer: occurs when the productive potential of
soil, especially on arid or semiarid land, falls by 10% or more
because of a combination of prolonged drought and human activities
that reduce or degrade topsoil
◉ problems of desertification. Answer: loss of native vegetation;
increased wind erosion; salinization; drop in water table; reduced
surface water supply
◉ solutions of desertification. Answer: reduce overgrazing; reduce
deforestation; reduce destructive forms of planting, irrigation, and
mining; plant trees and grasses to hold soil
MILESTONE 1 EXAM SCRIPT 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS APPROVED A+
◉ What do volcano eruptions do to our atmosphere. Answer: -
Release CO2, SO2, HCl
-debris and particulates can block sunlight, making a cooler climate
◉ Factors that affect the amount of solar energy at the surface of the
Earth:. Answer: -Earth's rotation (once every 24 hours)
-tilt of Earth's axis (23.5 degrees)
-revolution around the sun (once per year)
-closest to sun in winter, furthest in summer
◉ O Horizon. Answer: Surface litter: leaves and partially
decomposed organic debris. Thick in deciduous forests, thin in the
tundra.
◉ A Horizon. Answer: Topsoil: organic matter (humus), living
organisms, inorganic minerals. Topsoil is very thick in grasslands.
◉ E Horizon. Answer: Zone of leaching: dissolved and suspended
materials move downward. In-between A and B horizon.
,◉ B Horizon. Answer: Subsoil: tends to be yellowish in color due to
the accumulation of Fe, Al, humic compounds, and clay leached
down from A and E horizons. Can be rich in nutrients in areas with
lots of rainwater.
◉ C Horizon. Answer: Weathered parent material: partially broken-
down inorganic minerals
◉ parent material. Answer: The rock and minerals from which the
soil derives. Nature of parent rock can be native to the area or
transported by wind, water, glaciers, etc.
◉ clay. Answer: -very fine particles
-compacts easily
-forms large, dense clumps when wet
-low permeability to water, thus upper layers bcome waterlogged
◉ gravel. Answer: -coarse particles
-consists of rock fragments
◉ loam. Answer: -about equal mixtures of clay, sand, silt, and humus
-rich in nutrients
,-holds water but does not become waterlogged
◉ sand. Answer: -sedimentary material coarser than silt
-water flow through too quickly for most crops
-good for crops and plants requiring low amounts of water
◉ silt. Answer: -sedimentary material consisting of very fine
particles between the size of sand and clay
-easily transported by water
◉ What color soil is most fertile?. Answer: a rich dark brown
◉ waterlogging. Answer: saturation of soil with water resulting in a
rise of the water table
◉ problems of waterlogging. Answer: salty water envelops deep
roots killing plants; lowers productivity; eventual destruction of
plant life
◉ solutions of waterlogging. Answer: switch to less water-
demanding plants in susceptible areas; utilize conservation-tillage
farming; plant waterlog-resistant plants; install drainage popes
, ◉ salinization. Answer: a soil degradation process caused by
repeated annual application of irrigation water in dry climates,
which leads to the gradual accumulation of salts in the upper soil
layers
◉ problems of salinization. Answer: stunted crop growth; lower
yield; eventual destruction of plant life
◉ solutions of salinization. Answer: take land out of production for a
while; install drainage pipes; flush soil with freshwater; planted
halophytes (salt-loving plants) like barley, cotton, sugar, or wheat
◉ desertification. Answer: occurs when the productive potential of
soil, especially on arid or semiarid land, falls by 10% or more
because of a combination of prolonged drought and human activities
that reduce or degrade topsoil
◉ problems of desertification. Answer: loss of native vegetation;
increased wind erosion; salinization; drop in water table; reduced
surface water supply
◉ solutions of desertification. Answer: reduce overgrazing; reduce
deforestation; reduce destructive forms of planting, irrigation, and
mining; plant trees and grasses to hold soil
