Question

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

    The mineral particles found in soil range in size from microscopic clay particles to large boulders. The most abundant particles - sand, silt, and clay - are the focus of examination in studies of soil texture. Texture is the term used to describe the line composite sizes of particles in a soil sample, typically several representative handfuls. To measure soil texture, the sand, silt, and clay particles are sorted out by size and weight. The weights of each size are then expressed as a percentage of the sample weight.

    In the field, soil texture can be estimated by extracting a handful of sod and squeezing the damp soil into three basic shapes; cast, a lump formed by squeezing a sample in a clenched fist; thread, a pencil shape formed by rolling soil between the palms; and ribbon, a flatfish shape formed by squeezing a small sample between the thumb and index finger. The behavioral characteristics of the soil when molded into each of these shapes, if they can be formed at all, provides the basis for a general textural classification. The behavior of the soil in the hand test is determined by the amount of clay in the sample. Clay particles are highly cohesive, and when dampened, behave as a plastic. Therefore the higher the clay content in a sample, the more refined and durable the shapes into which it can be molded.

          Another method of determining soil texture involves the use of devices called sediment sieves, screens built with a specified mesh size. When the soil is filtered through a group of sieves, each with a different mesh size, the particles become grouped in corresponding size categories. Each category can be weighed to make a textural determination. Although sieves work well for silt, sand, and larger particles, they are not appropriate for clay particles. Clay is far too small to sieve accurately; therefore, in soils with a high proportion of clay, the fine particles are measured on the basis of their settling velocity when suspended in water. Since clays settle so slowly, they are easily segregated from sand and silt. The water can be drawn off and evaporated, leaving a residue of clay, which can be weighed.

It can be inferred from the passage that the sediment sieve has an advantage over the hand test in determining soil texture because _______

A. less training is required to use the sieve

B. the sieve allows for a more exact measure

C. the sieve can measure clay   

D. using the sieve takes less time

Answer 1

Đáp án B

Có thể suy ra từ bài đọc rằng dùng màng lọc có lợi hơn thí nghiệm bằng tay trong việc xác định kết cấu đất là do ______.

A. cần ít tập huấn hơn để sử dụng được màng lọc

B. màng lọc cho ra kết quả chính xác hơn

C. màng lọc có thể đo đất sét

D. dùng màng lọc tốn ít thời gian hơn

Đọc kĩ cả bài ta rút ra kết luận: việc xác định kết cấu đất qua thử nghiệm bằng tay chỉ cho ta sự phân loại kết cấu thông thường, trong khi đó việc sử dụng màng lọc để xác định kết cấu đất có lợi thế hơn ở chỗ nó cho phép những kết quả đo lường chính xác hơn