Humus often enhances the water and nutrient-retaining properties of topsoil. Which of the following might increase the humus content of a soil? Check all that apply.

Question

_____  mushroom compost
_____  leaf litter
_____  ground limestone
_____  phosphate fertilizer
_____  fish meal

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?

Gather Content
· What do you already know about humus? How does it relate to the question?

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
 

Answer 1

__X__  mushroom compost
__X__  leaf litter
_____  ground limestone
_____  phosphate fertilizer
__X__  fish meal


Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question is asking about the nature of humus.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o You are being asked to take what you already know and apply it to the composition of humus.
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        o Humus, which is decaying organic material.
        o Topsoil, which is a mixture of minerals, humus, and living things.

Gather Content
· What do you already know about humus? How does it relate to the question?
        o Humus is a layer of material that is made of decaying organic material.
        o Humus is a component of topsoil.

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o Limestone and phosphorus are inorganic.

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
       o To answer this question, you have to realize that any material that was living contributes to humus.

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
· Apply level:
       o This question asked you to link materials to the formation of humus. Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to use the concept of humus in a new situation. If you got the correct answer, great job! If you got an incorrect answer, where did the process break down? Did you remember that humus is composed of organic material or that inorganic material is classified differently?Did you have trouble extending the concept of humus to determine the correct answer?