Chapters 11-12 Test

Which of the following may act as a local base level? A) A lake into which a river flows B) A drainage divide C) The upper surface of a waterfall D) An interfluve

a. A lake into which a river flows

A cutoff on a meandering stream results in the formation of A) an oxbow lake B) a levee C) a point bar D) a terrace E) a braided stream

a. An oxbow lake

The sediment load consisting of coarse material too large to remain in suspension, moving along the channel bottom via traction and saltation is the A) bed load B) suspended load C) dissolved load D) flow load

a. Bed load

Natural levees are created during A) floods B) normal flow conditions C) low flow conditions D) degradation.

a. Floods

The average size of sediment in a natural levee is ________ that found in the surrounding floodplain. A) larger than B) smaller than C) the same size as

a. Larger than

A(n) ________ is a meander that becomes isolated from the rest of the river. A) oxbow lake B) undercut bank C) point bar D) cutoff

a. Oxbow lake

When rock is broken down and disintegrated without any chemical alterations, the process in operation is termed A) Physical weathering B) Chemical weathering C) Hydrolysis D) Carbonation

a. Physical weathering

A central peak, such as a volcanic mountain, generally produces a ________ drainage pattern. A) radial B) trellis C) parallel D) annular

a. Radial

Which of the following is used to measure streamflow? A) Stilling well and staff gauge B) Barometer and sling psychrometer C) Statistical methods of probability D) Reservoirs

a. Stilling well and staff gauge

The concave lower portion of a typical slope is called a a) Waning slope b) Pediment c) Debris slope d) Free face

a. Waning slope

Processes that are related expressly to streams and rivers are termed A) fluvial B) geomorphic C) limnetic D) lotic

a. fluvial

Excess sediment may result in which of the following channel patterns? A) V-shaped valleys B) Braided stream C) Meandering stream D) Straight, steep-walled channels

b. Braided stream

The process whereby streams deepen their channel is known as A) headwater erosion B) channel incision C) stream piracy D) saltation

b. Channel incision

A sinkhole that develops over a period of hours or days and forms from a collapse through the roof of an underground cavern is known as a A) solution sinkhole. B) collapse sinkhole. C) doline. D) karst valley.

b. Collapse sinkhole

The suspended load of a stream consists of particles that are A) rolled and bounced along the stream bed B) held aloft in the stream flow C) dragged along the stream bed D) dissolved in solution

b. Held aloft in the stream flow

A squeeze-and-release action works to loosen and lift rocks in a stream channel. This is an example of A) deposition B) hydraulic action C) abrasion D) suspension

b. Hydraulic action

________ streams have some groundwater input, but only flow for certain periods during a year. A) Perennial B) Intermittent C) Ephemeral D) Temporary

b. Intermittent

Faulted and jointed landscapes directs streams courses in patterns of right-angle turns forming this drainage pattern. A) Radial B) Rectangular C) Trellis D) Dendritic

b. Rectangular

Many of the Native American dwellings at Mesa Verde and elsewhere in the western United States are located under overhangs that form along the contact between permeable and impermeable rock layers. These overhangs (niches) were primarily created by what process? A) Exfoliation B) Salt-crystal growth C) Hydrolysis D) Frost wedging E) Carbonic acid solution

b. Salt-crystal growth

26) The bent trees, leaning utility posts, and fences in this diagram indicate which type of mass movement? A) debris avalanche B) soil creep C) landslide D) rockfall

b. Soil creep

The sediment load consisting of fine-grained clastic particles held aloft in the stream is the A) bed load B) suspended load C) dissolved load D) flow load

b. Suspended load

Hydration involves A) the chemical reaction of water B) the addition of water with little chemical change C) frost action D) salt crystal growth from evaporation

b. The addition of water with little chemical change

The area of land from which all water in it drains into the same place is known as a(n) A) interfluve B) watershed C) drainage divide D) fluvial units

b. Watershed

A tributary that is physically unable to join the main channel on a floodplain due to natural levees is called a A) alluvial stream B) yazoo tributary C) levee tributary D) meandering tributary

b. Yazoo tributary

Frost wedging is an example of ________ weathering processes. A) chemical B) physical C) biological D) both biological and chemical

b. physical

When a river reaches a base level, its forward velocity rapidly decelerates as it enters a larger body of standing water and ________ is formed. A) an estuary B) an alluvial terrace C) a delta D) a stream terrace

c. A delta

A yazoo tributary stream cannot join with the main river in an area because A) the yazoo flows in a different valley B) a small structural ridge separates the rivers C) a natural levee on the main river prevents its joining D) a man-made flow control structure keeps the rivers separate

c. A natural levee on the main river prevents its joining

A stream becomes graded when A) erosion and deposition are in equilibrium B) a local base level controls the stream C) a river achieves a longitudinal stream profile of a steeper upstream portion D) its basin becomes rejuvenated

c. A river achieves a longitudinal stream profile of a steeper upstream portion

Structural domes with concentric patterns of rock strata guide stream courses to form this drainage pattern. A) Radial B) Parallel C) Annular D) Dendritic

c. Annular

Salt-crystal growth (salt weathering) is prevalent in which climate type? A) Mesothermal B) Tropical C) Arid D) Polar

c. Arid

Maximum velocity in a straight channel is found A) near the bottom B) near the inside of a meander C) at the center and near the surface, corresponding with the deepest parts of the stream channel D) at the center and near the surface, corresponding with the shallowest parts of the stream channel

c. At the center and near the surface, corresponding with the deepest parts of the stream channel

A drainage divide that separates drainage basins that empty into different bodies of water surrounding a continent are known as A) catchments B) deltas C) continental divides D) interfluves

c. Continental divides

The portion of each meandering curve subject to the fastest water velocity undergoes the greatest erosive action. This action forms a steep A) meander scar B) oxbow C) cutback D) point bar

c. Cutback

What is the term applied to a watery mix of falling and tumbling rock, debris, and soil? A) rockfall B) mudflow C) debris avalanche D) landslide

c. Debris avalanche

The sediment load that travels in solution is A) bed load B) suspended load C) dissolved load D) flow load

c. Dissolved load

________ streams are not connected to groundwater systems and only flow after precipitation events. A) Perennial B) Intermittent C) Ephemeral D) Temporary

c. Ephemeral

The angle of repose represent a balance between the driving force and resisting force. Which of the following is the driving force? A) Friction B) Shear C) Gravity D) Inertia

c. Gravity

In which climates would rocks experience the highest amounts of chemical decomposition and decay? A) Cold and wet B) Cold and dry C) Hot and wet D) Hot and dry

c. Hot and wet

A basin in which water leaves via evapotranspiration or subsurface gravitational flow without reaching the ocean is said to have A) a disappearing stream B) sheetflow C) internal drainage D) None of the above

c. Internal drainage

Extensive landscapes formed by the dissolution of limestone and other carbonate rock and characterized by pitted, bumpy surface topography, poor surface drainage, and well-developed solutions channels are known as A) plains B) basins C) karst topography D) high tablelands

c. Karst topography

The downslope movement of a body of material made up of soil, sediment, or rock propelled by the force of gravity is known as A) lahar. B) downslope flow. C) mass movement. D) slide.

c. Mass movement

Which of the following is not a denudation process? a) Weathering b) Erosion c) Orogeny d) Mass movement

c. Orogeny

What is the term used to describe the consolidated or unconsolidated materials from which soils develop? A) Bedrock B) Regolith C) Parent material D) Outcrop

c. Parent material

What is ultimate base level? A) a drainage divide B) a dam C) sea level D) dependent on the geological substrate

c. Sea level

In polar and alpine regions, the thawing and saturation of the upper layer of soil results in a slow downslope movement called A) transitional slide B) mudflow C) solifluction lobe D) lahar

c. Solifluction lobe

The general term for channelized water flow, regardless of size, is A) river B) gully C) stream D) rill

c. Stream

If you live in an area that was flooded by the 100-year flood last year, you can conclude that A) the next 100-year flood will occur in exactly 100 years B) the next 100-year flood will occur in exactly 99 years C) there is a 1% chance you could be flooded by the 100-year flood again this year D) you do not have to worry about another flood of that size during your lifetime

c. There is a 1% chance you could be flooded by the 100-year flood again this year

Cones and cockpit karst develop in A) cold, midlatitude climates. B) arid regions. C) wet tropical areas. D) polar regions.

c. Wet tropical areas

If material is to move downslope, it must overcome which of the following? a) Friction b) The cohesion of particles to each other c) Inertial resistance of the material d) All of the above

d. All of the above

What is a factor that influences the weathering process? A) The climate of an area. B) Rock composition and structure C) The amount of vegetation in an area. D) All the above E) None of the above

d. All the above

This landform results when water exists a constricted channel and loses velocity. A) Meander scar B) Delta C) Alluvial terrace D) Alluvial fan

d. Alluvial fan

Rectangular drainage patterns form primarily as a result of A) differential resistance to erosion B) domal uplift C) flow through anticlinal and synclinal topography D) flow through a faulted landscape

d. Flow through a faulted landscape

_________ is a steep scarp or cliff whose presence indicates an outcrop of resistant rock. a) Waning slope b) Waxing slope c) Debris slope d) Free face

d. Free face

What is the term given to the sudden rapid movement of an unsaturated cohesive mass of regolith or bedrock? A) rockfall B) mudflow C) debris avalanche D) landslide

d. Landslide

Which of the following is NOT exogenic in nature? a) Weathering b) Erosion c) Denudation d) Tectonic uplift e) Mass wasting

d. Tectonic uplift

Which of the following is likely to occur if the gradient of a stream increases? (Assume that the discharge and sediment load remain unchanged.) A) The stream will begin to deposit more of its load B) The amount of aggradation in the channel will increase C) The amount of bed load transport will decrease D) The stream will begin to erode its channel and/or its banks

d. The stream will begin to erode its channel and/or its banks

Which of the following is INCORRECT regarding floodplains? A) They are formed by recurrent flooding in the area adjacent to the stream B) Natural levees on either side of a stream are formed during times when the stream is at flood stage and overflows the bank C) They are generally low-lying areas D) They are characterized by rapids and low waterfalls

d. They are characterized by rapids and low waterfalls

What is the process that breaks down rock at Earth's surface through disintegration of rocks into mineral particles or dissolving it into water known as? a) Erosion b) Mass movement c) Landmass Denudation d) Weathering

d. Weathering

As the discharge of a stream increases, which of the following also happens? A) Stream channels narrow, become shallower, and lose velocity B) The rate of flow decreases C) Channel width increases but channel depth decreases D) Width, depth, and velocity all increase

d. Width, depth, and velocity all increase

Which of the following can lead to the slope failure that causes mass movement? A) Saturation from rainfall B) Oversteepening of the slope C) Earthquakes D) Volcanic eruptions E) All the above

e. All the above

Bed load is moved by A) saltation B) traction C) suspension D) saltation, traction, and suspension E) both saltation and traction, but not suspension

e. Both saltation and traction, but not suspension

Which is typical of a rejuvenated system? A) Entrenched meanders B) Oxbow lakes C) Increased downcutting D) Terraces E) Entrenched meanders, increased downcutting and terraces

e. Entrenched meanders, increased downcutting and terraces

The yellow-red stains that occur on some rock surfaces are the result of ________ which is a form of ________ weathering. A) hydration; physical B) hydration; chemical C) solution; chemical D) oxidation; physical E) oxidation; chemical

e. Oxidation; chemical

Which of the following weathering processes does NOT involve water? A) Hydration B) Hydrolysis C) Crystallization D) Carbonation E) Pressure-release jointing

e. Pressure-release jointing