URT chemistry practice test 20

Test Information Time allowed 10 minutes

Directions: Each passage is followed by several questions. After reading a passage, choose the
best answer to each question and fill in the corresponding oval on your answer document. You
may refer to the passages as often as necessary.
You are NOT permitted to use a calculator on this test.

Soil salinity is the concentration of potentially harmful salts dissolved in the groundwater that fills
soil pores. Salinity is determined by measuring a soil’s electrical conductivity
(EC) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). High EC indicates a high concentration of
dissolved salt particles; ESP indicates the proportion of electrical conductivity that is due to
dissolved sodium ions.

Soil samples were collected from five different distances west of a particular river. Figure 1
shows the electrical conductivity of the soil samples at four different depth ranges measured in
milli-Siemens per centimeter (mS/cm).

STEM ACADEMY
DR. SAIF SOLIMAN
Chemistry.saif@gmail.com

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 Figure 1
Figure 2 shows the exchangeable sodium percentage of the five sites at different depths.

STEM ACADEMY
DR. SAIF SOLIMAN
Chemistry.saif@gmail.com

2
 Figure 2
1. Figure 2 indicates that, compared with the soil tested in Sample 1, the soil tested in Sample 4
contains:
F. a higher percentage of sodium ions throughout.
G. a lower percentage of sodium ions throughout.
H. a higher percentage of sodium ions at shallower depths only.
J. a lower percentage of sodium ions at shallower depths only.
2. According to Figure 2, in the soil collected in Sample 3 at a depth of 30-60 cm, approximately
what percent of the soil conductivity is due to sodium ions?
A. 14%
B. 17%
C. 24%
D. 44%
3. Based on Figures 1 and 2, the electrical conductivity due to sodium ions in the sample
collected 40 m west of the river was:
F. greatest at a depth of 90-120 cm.
G. greatest at a depth of 0-30 cm.
H. least at a depth of 30-60 cm.
J. least at a depth of 0-30 cm.

STEM ACADEMY
DR. SAIF SOLIMAN
Chemistry.saif@gmail.com

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 4. Based on Figure 2, which of the following figures best represents the exchangeable sodium
percentage for the five soil samples collected at a depth of 90-120 cm?
A.

B.

C.

STEM ACADEMY
DR. SAIF SOLIMAN
Chemistry.saif@gmail.com

4
 D.

5. A student claimed that as soil moves away from a major water source, such as a river, the
salinity of the soil increases. Is this claim supported by Figures 1 and 2?
F. No; the electrical conductivity and exchangeable sodium percentage both decreased from
Sample 1 to Sample 5.
G. No; there was no consistent trend for electrical conductivity and exchangeable sodium
percentage.
H. Yes; the electrical conductivity and exchangeable sodium percentage both increased from
Sample 1 to Sample 5.
J. Yes; the electrical conductivity increased and exchangeable sodium percentage decreased
from Sample 1 to Sample 5.
A group of researchers performed the following study in order to investigate declines in primarily
carnivorous polar bear populations in the Arctic over a 10-year period.

STEM ACADEMY
DR. SAIF SOLIMAN
Chemistry.saif@gmail.com