AccelePrep for the ACT Test 2nd Edition Student Text

294 • P OWER U P ! T HE E XCLUSIVE C AMBRIDGE S AMPLE E XAM

PASSAGE IV The chart below shows various physical characteristics of soil components. Physical Characteristics of Soil Components

Relative Ability* to Hold Positively Charged Minerals (Ca +2 , K + , Mg +2 )

Diameter of Particles, d ( μ m)

Relative Ability* to Maintain Air Spaces

Relative Ability* to Retain Water

Clay Silt Sand

Soil Components

1 2 3 4

4 3 2 1

1 2 3 4

d < 2

d d

20 1

#

2

Coarse Sand

200 1

#

20

, 2 000 # # *Relative abilities are rated from 1, indicating the most able, to 4, indicating the least able. 23. The soil type that is LEAST able to hold substances such as magnesium (Mg +2 ) is: A. sand. B. coarse sand. C. silt. D. clay. d 200

26. Loam is a type of soil that is mostly clay, but it also contains some sand and silt particles. Which prediction is most likely to be accurate about the ability of loam to support plant ‰”‘™–Šǫ F. Plants will grow well because loam primarily has small particles that can hold minerals and retain water, yet it also has enough large particles to provide air spaces containing oxygen. G. Plants will grow well because loam primarily has large particles that can provide air spaces containing oxygen, yet it also has enough small particles that can hold minerals and retain water. H. Plants will not grow well because although loam is excellent at maintaining air spaces for oxygen, it will not hold enough minerals or water. J. Plants will not grow well because although loam has enough minerals and air spaces for oxygen, it cannot retain enough water.

24. Based on the information in the chart, which of the following statements best describes the relationship between a soil’s particle size and its ‘–Š‡” ’Š›•‹…ƒŽ…Šƒ”ƒ…–‡”‹•–‹…•ǫ F. As particle size increases, the ability to hold positively charged minerals increases. G. As particle size decreases, the ability to retain water decreases. H. As particle size decreases, the ability to maintain air spaces increases. J. As particle size increases, the ability to retain water decreases. 25. The size of particles in the soil type that is neither most able nor least able for any of the listed abilities must be: A. less than 20 μ m. B. greater than or equal to 20 μ m. C. greater than or equal to 2 μ m and less than 200 μ m. D. greater than or equal to 2 μ m and less than or equal to 2,000 μ m.

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