PSC 3100 Exam 1 questions with
complete solutions
Nearly every drop of water in rivers, lakes, estuaries and aquifers has traveled through soil or
flowed over its surface. - correct answer ✔✔True
An idealized soil is composed of... - correct answer ✔✔50% soil solids and 50% pore space
Soil organic matter includes organic material in various forms of decay AND all living organisms
in the soil. - correct answer ✔✔True
Clay-sized particles are the largest sized particles found in the fine earth fraction of soil. - correct
answer ✔✔False
Examples of chemical weathering processes include __________. - correct answer
✔✔hydrolysis & reactions with oxygen
Soils provide plant roots with air. - correct answer ✔✔True
The most abundant class of minerals in the earth's crust are _________. - correct answer
✔✔Feldspars
Many primary minerals are composed of Si-tetrahedra. If Al substitutes for Si in the tetrahedra
(as in feldspars), the resulting mineral will weather more easily due to structural strain. - correct
answer ✔✔True
, From the following list, select all the rocks and/or minerals that effervesce when dilute acid is
dropped on them.
A. Gneiss
B. Sodium bicarbonate
C. Biotite
D. Limestone
E. Calcium carbonate
F. Iron oxide
G. Marble
H. Quartz
I. Feldspar - correct answer ✔✔Sodium bicarbonate, Calcium carbonate, Marble, Limestone
The attraction of water to itself is called cohesion and the attraction of water to surfaces is
called 1.-----. - correct answer ✔✔Equals adhesion (100%)
Matric potentials are always negative - correct answer ✔✔True
Reasons why the development of irrigation is considered a major technological innovation that
led to the rise of many civilizations include (choose all the correct responses):
A. It helps control regional flooding.
B. It can improve agricultural yields.
C. It permits farming in areas where it would otherwise be too dry.
D. It permits farming in areas at times when it would otherwise be too dry (i.e., seasonal water
control).
E. It is an inexpensive practice that is easily maintained. - correct answer ✔✔It permits farming
in areas where it would otherwise be too dry, It can improve agricultural yields, It permits
farming in areas at times when it would otherwise be too dry (i.e., seasonal water control)
complete solutions
Nearly every drop of water in rivers, lakes, estuaries and aquifers has traveled through soil or
flowed over its surface. - correct answer ✔✔True
An idealized soil is composed of... - correct answer ✔✔50% soil solids and 50% pore space
Soil organic matter includes organic material in various forms of decay AND all living organisms
in the soil. - correct answer ✔✔True
Clay-sized particles are the largest sized particles found in the fine earth fraction of soil. - correct
answer ✔✔False
Examples of chemical weathering processes include __________. - correct answer
✔✔hydrolysis & reactions with oxygen
Soils provide plant roots with air. - correct answer ✔✔True
The most abundant class of minerals in the earth's crust are _________. - correct answer
✔✔Feldspars
Many primary minerals are composed of Si-tetrahedra. If Al substitutes for Si in the tetrahedra
(as in feldspars), the resulting mineral will weather more easily due to structural strain. - correct
answer ✔✔True
, From the following list, select all the rocks and/or minerals that effervesce when dilute acid is
dropped on them.
A. Gneiss
B. Sodium bicarbonate
C. Biotite
D. Limestone
E. Calcium carbonate
F. Iron oxide
G. Marble
H. Quartz
I. Feldspar - correct answer ✔✔Sodium bicarbonate, Calcium carbonate, Marble, Limestone
The attraction of water to itself is called cohesion and the attraction of water to surfaces is
called 1.-----. - correct answer ✔✔Equals adhesion (100%)
Matric potentials are always negative - correct answer ✔✔True
Reasons why the development of irrigation is considered a major technological innovation that
led to the rise of many civilizations include (choose all the correct responses):
A. It helps control regional flooding.
B. It can improve agricultural yields.
C. It permits farming in areas where it would otherwise be too dry.
D. It permits farming in areas at times when it would otherwise be too dry (i.e., seasonal water
control).
E. It is an inexpensive practice that is easily maintained. - correct answer ✔✔It permits farming
in areas where it would otherwise be too dry, It can improve agricultural yields, It permits
farming in areas at times when it would otherwise be too dry (i.e., seasonal water control)
