Factual Passage: Soil | Class 11 English Grammar PDF Download

Read the following passage carefully:

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 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 this in certain types of soil.

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.

Sandy soil feels gritty when dry, and even when wet, its particles will not stick together. Loams, on the other hand, can be moulded in the hand when moist but aren’t sticky or gritty and are fairly loose when dry. Clay soil is sticky and smooth when wet, but it becomes polished when rubbed and hardens when dry.

A loamy soil is a well-balanced amalgamation of sand, silt, and clay, which combines excellent drainage with sufficient moisture retention to ensure 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 becoming tightly packed.

The texture of sandy soil doesn’t hold water well, so nutrients are often washed away by rain before they can benefit plants. Again, well-rotted organic matter can be added to bind the soil particles together.

Clay soil is the most difficult to work, as it usually becomes waterlogged and is 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 nutrient stocks.

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 provide ample sources).

The presence of chalk in soil can also affect the growth of plants: some prefer slightly acidic (chalk-free) soils, while others grow more successfully in alkaline, chalky soils. Most fruits and vegetables, however, grow better in neutral soil.

Although benefiting the soil in some ways, compost, manure, and fertilizers can actually add to its acidity as organisms break them down. Over-acidic 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.

To apply lime, sprinkle it on the broken topsoil, mix it lightly, but don’t dig it in; leave it to be washed down by rain. Apply lime every other year if needed.

An alkaline soil can be treated with manure, garden compost, or peat, well dug in.

Questions

A. Multiple-Choice Questions

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 the water table
(d) it is the garden’s natural growing medium

Correct Answer: (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: (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: (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: (c) texture

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

Correct Answer: (b) they usually become waterlogged

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

Correct Answer: (d) firmness

B. Short-Answer Questions

Q.7. Which soil is the best for plant growth? Why?
Loamy soil is the best for plant growth because it is a 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 because they grow better in neutral soil.

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

(a) Consistency
(b) Amalgamation

Q.10. What do you know about clay soils?
Clay soils are the most difficult to work because they usually become waterlogged.

Q.11. How can the texture of soil be improved?
The texture of soil can be improved by applying a well-rotted organic substance called humus.