NR501 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025/2026
Desertification examples - CORRECT ANSWER -Historic: Easter Island - Polynesians grew only
sweet potatoes on new fertile land but their population grew quickly and they lacked education
on soil productivity. Soil loss, land degradation, and deforestation led to their society failing.
Present: Haiti - poor societies are linked to poor soil management and degradation so it's
difficult to generate food.
Salinization examples: - CORRECT ANSWER -Historic: Mesopotamia - hot and dry climate
required transported irrigation which made for a productive civilization for a little while. Salts
began to accumulate because of the low permeability and precipitation while the over irrigation
made the water table rise along with a high concentration of salts. They tried to switch crops
but nothing would grow.
Present: Australia - little rain fall, a high salt content in weathered rocks, native vegetation
cleared for cropland, and irrigation causing water table rise lead to increase in salinity. The
increase is called "saline seep." It affects urban infrastructure, agriculture, ecosystems and their
economy.
Entisols - CORRECT ANSWER --ent
Ochric epipedon, lowest degree of weathering, only A horizon
~15% global - alluvium flood plains, sand dunes, thin soils over exposed bedrock, occurs
anywhere
Inceptisols - CORRECT ANSWER --ept
Ochric epipedon, cambric subsurface horizon, only A and B, no clay, low to moderate
weathering
~17% global - Appalachian region, mountainous, "young" bedrock from erosion
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025/2026
Desertification examples - CORRECT ANSWER -Historic: Easter Island - Polynesians grew only
sweet potatoes on new fertile land but their population grew quickly and they lacked education
on soil productivity. Soil loss, land degradation, and deforestation led to their society failing.
Present: Haiti - poor societies are linked to poor soil management and degradation so it's
difficult to generate food.
Salinization examples: - CORRECT ANSWER -Historic: Mesopotamia - hot and dry climate
required transported irrigation which made for a productive civilization for a little while. Salts
began to accumulate because of the low permeability and precipitation while the over irrigation
made the water table rise along with a high concentration of salts. They tried to switch crops
but nothing would grow.
Present: Australia - little rain fall, a high salt content in weathered rocks, native vegetation
cleared for cropland, and irrigation causing water table rise lead to increase in salinity. The
increase is called "saline seep." It affects urban infrastructure, agriculture, ecosystems and their
economy.
Entisols - CORRECT ANSWER --ent
Ochric epipedon, lowest degree of weathering, only A horizon
~15% global - alluvium flood plains, sand dunes, thin soils over exposed bedrock, occurs
anywhere
Inceptisols - CORRECT ANSWER --ept
Ochric epipedon, cambric subsurface horizon, only A and B, no clay, low to moderate
weathering
~17% global - Appalachian region, mountainous, "young" bedrock from erosion
