BA mixture of tiny rock pieces, dead plant material, water, air, and tiny living things
CPure dirt with nothing living in it
DSand from the beach
Soil is a complex mixture. It contains tiny pieces of rock (sand, silt, and clay), decayed plant and animal material (called organic matter or humus), water, air pockets, and billions of living organisms like worms, insects, and microscopic bacteria. All these parts together make soil capable of supporting plant life.
Question 2 True / False
Soil is the same everywhere on Earth.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: False
Soil varies greatly from place to place. Beach soil is sandy and drains quickly. Forest soil is dark and rich with decomposed leaves. Clay-heavy soil is dense and sticky when wet. Desert soil has very little organic matter. The type of soil depends on the rocks beneath it, the climate, the plants growing in it, and how long the soil has been forming.
Question 3 Short Answer
Why do plants need soil?
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: Plants need soil because their roots grow into it to anchor the plant in place, absorb water, and take in nutrients (minerals from broken-down rocks and organic matter). Without soil, most land plants would have nothing to root into and no way to get the water and nutrients they need to grow.
Soil is essentially a plant's pantry and anchor system. Understanding this connection helps explain why soil quality matters for farming and why protecting soil from erosion is important.