Factual Passage: Soil | Class 11 English Grammar PDF Download

Read the following passage carefully:

1. Soil is your garden’s natural growing medium, so it’s vital for the health and successful growth of your plants and crops that you keep it well maintained. Soil is basically rock that’s been ground down by the effects of the weather over a long period of time and made fertile by decayed organic matter (derived from dead insects and leaves). There are hundreds of different soil types, but they can broadly be classified as sandy, loamy or clay, referring to their basic texture. It is the texture that affects the drainage, aeration and nutrient content of the soil and you may have to take steps to improve on this in certain types of soil.
2. Take a handful of soil and run a small amount between your forefinger and thumb. Although all soils contain varying proportions of sand, silt and clay, you’ll readily be able to tell the difference between the main types.
3. Sandy soil feels gritty when dry and even it’s wet particles will not stick together. Loams, on the other hand, can be moulded in the hand when moist, but aren’t at all sticky and gritty and are fairly loose when dry. Clay soil is sticky and smooth when wet, but becomes polished when rubbed and baked hard when dry.
4. A loamy soil is a well-balanced amalgamation of sand, silt and clay, which combines excellent drainage with sufficient moisture retention to assure good growing conditions for most plants. It’s fairly easy to look after, although loamy soils do benefit from regular applications of well-rotted organic matter to prevent getting tightly packed.
5. The particle consistency of sandy soil doesn’t hold water well, with the result that plant foods are often taken away by rain before they can do any good. Again, well-rotted organic matter can be added to bind the soil particles together.
6. Clay soil is most difficult to work, usually becoming waterlogged, so they are virtually impossible to dig. Artificial drainage will probably be the first step in improving the texture of the soil and various additives will break down the structure to make use of its excellent food stocks.
7. There are various methods of improving your soil’s texture. Essentially this requires regular applications of a well-rotted organic substance called humus, which is obtained from decayed plant and animal matter (manure, compost, and seaweed, each provides ample sources).
8. The presence of chalk in soil can also affect the growth of plants: some prefer slightly acid (chalk-free) soils, while others grow more successfully in alkaline, chalky soils. Most fruits and vegetables, however, grow better in neutral soil.
9. Although benefiting the soil in some ways, compost, manure and fertilizers can actually add to its acidity, as organisms break them down. Over-acid soils can be treated with applications of lime—either hydrated (slaked) lime, or ground limestone (chalk). Of the two, ground limestone is your best choice.
10. To apply lime, sprinkle it on the broken top soil and mix it lightly but don’t dig in; leave to wash down by rain. Apply lime every other year if need be.
    An alkaline soil can be treated with manure, garden compost or peat, well dug in.

A. Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option:
Q.1. We should keep soil well maintained as________
(a) it absorbs and retains water
(b) it responds to the effects of weather
(c) it raises water table
(d) it is the garden’s natural growing medium.

Correct Answer is option (d)
it is the garden’s natural growing medium

Q.2. Loamy soil is the best for plant growth because________
(a) it is a well-balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay
(b) it has weak drainage and retention
(c) its texture responds slowly to decayed organic matter
(d) it gets tightly packed unless looked after well

Correct Answer is option (a)
it is a well-balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay

Q.3. Soil must be tested before growing fruits and vegetables because
(a) they need alkaline soil
(b) they prefer slightly acidic soil
(c) they grow better in neutral soil
(d) they flourish in over-acidic soil

Correct Answer is option (c)
they grow better in neutral soil

Q.4. Soil is divided into various types on the basis of________
(a) colour
(b) drainage
(c) texture
(d) aeration

Correct Answer is option (c)
texture

Q.5. Clay soils are the most difficult to work as________
(a) hey don’t hold water well
(b) hey usually become waterlogged
(c) he soil particles are not held together
(d) hey require natural drainage and additives

Correct Answer is option (b)
they usually become waterlogged

Q.6. ‘Consistency’ in para 5 means________
(a) in agreement with
(b) having same opinion
(c) thickness
(d) firmness

Correct Answer is option (b)
firmness

B. Answer the following questions in brief:
Q.7. Which soil is the best for plant growth? Why?

Loamy soil is the best for plant growth as it is well balanced mixture of sand, silt and clay.

Q.8. Why should soil be tested before growing fruits and vegetables?

Soil must be tested before growing fruits and vegetables as they grow better in natural soil.

Q.9. Write the similar meaning to
(a) Firmness (para 5)
(b) Collection or accumulation(para 4)

(a) Consistency
(b) Amalgamation

10. What do you know about clay soils?

Clay soils are the most difficult to work as they usually become water logged.

11. How can texture of soil be improved?

The texture of soil can be improved by applying a well rotted organic substance called humus.