AP Environmental Science 4.B: Soil Formation
Practice AP Environmental Science questions on soil formation, horizons, erosion, climate controls, and how vegetation affects water quality.
- Syllabus
- Effective Fall 2025
- Course
- AP Environmental Science
Practice AP Environmental Science questions on soil formation, horizons, erosion, climate controls, and how vegetation affects water quality.
The following diagram shows how an area changed over time. The dominant vegetation in each stage is labeled in the diagram. Each roman numeral represents a stage in the ecological process.

Describe how soil forms from stage II to stage III.
Describe how soil forms from stage II to stage III.
Accept one of the following:
- Wind/rain/weather can erode the rock/parent material.
- Wind/rain can break down rocks.
- Pioneer species (lichen/algae/fungi) die off adding small amounts of organic material.
- Pioneer species (lichens/algae/fungi) help break down rocks.
1 point