geo 11 ch. 14 post reading q

A(n) _____________ is a broad, flat-topped erosional remnant bounded on all sides by steep slopes. a. mesa b. alluvial fan c. butte d. playa

A

Desert soils, if developed, have all the following characteristics except ___________________________________. a. they are thick and plentiful b. they are usually thin and patchy c. deserts have limited soil formation d. the sparseness of vegetative cover enhances the water erosion of the soil

A

When one considers the desert, plants are not often factored into the equation. But plants do exist in desert regions. Which of the following is not a characteristic of desert plants? a. Typically large b. Shallow root system c. Slow-growing d. Hard, waxy stems and leaves

A

Which of the following is MOST accurate? Landforms in arid regions vary considerably due to differences in temperature, precipitation, wind, and _______________. a. tectonic events b. latitude c. longitude d. lake formations

A

Which of the following is not correct about wind? a. Wind has a higher density than water. b. Wind is a turbulent fluid. c. Wind transports sediment in much the same way as running water. d. Wind often flows at a greater velocity than water.

A

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a desert? a. Deserts cover over 50 percent of Earth's land surface. b. Deserts are often located low and middle latitudes. c. In a desert, the potential loss of water by evaporation exceeds the yearly precipitation. d. Deserts are subdivided into semiarid and arid regions.

a

_____________ dunes are long, parallel ridges of sand aligned generally parallel to the direction of the prevailing winds. a. Barchan b. Transverse c. Longitudinal d. Parabolic

c

Dunes that form long ridges perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction in areas that have abundant sand and no vegetation are known as ______________ dunes. a. transverse b. parabolic c. longitudinal d. barchan

A

In some deserts, there are infrequent and particularly intense rainstorms that create playa lakes. Which types of characteristics are common to these lakes? a. Most are shallow and have rapidly shifting boundaries as water flows in or leaves by evaporation and seepage into the ground. b. Playa lakes are primarily freshwater and are critical to life in the desert as they often last years, if not decades. c. Playa lakes are a source of freshwater for organisms in the desert's arid climate and create an entirely new population of fauna and flora. d. Playa lakes generally last only several minutes due to the high temperatures and arid climate of the desert.

A

Lisa is studying how dunes are formed. She understands they are formed by wind. But, what does the wind need to do in order to create a dune? a. Dunes form when wind flows over and around an obstruction. b. Dunes form when wind removes the fine-grained material from the surface of a rock. c. Dunes form when wind creates shallow depressions in variable dimensions. d. Springs are formed only when there has been a significant amount of precipitation.

A

Most people would conclude that wind is the most important erosional tool in deserts, but this is not true. Why? a. Running water, even though it occurs infrequently, causes most of the erosion in deserts. b. Fire, even though it occurs infrequently, causes most desert formations. c. Running water is common in most desert climates and shapes most of the landmasses. d. The dry conditions of the desert cause most of the erosion in deserts.

A

Scientists are studying air-pressure belts and global wind patterns. They are focusing on the effect of Earth's rotation on the Earth's atmospheric circulation pattern. What would happen if the Earth did not rotate? What happens since it does? a. If the Earth did not rotate, winds would move in a straight line from one zone to another. Since the Earth rotates, winds are deflected to the right of their direction of motion. b. If the Earth did not rotate, winds would be directed clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Since it does rotate, wind moves in a straight line from one zone to another. c. If the Earth did not rotate, there would not be wind on Earth. Since the Earth does rotate, winds are deflected counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere. d. If the Earth did not rotate, the Coriolis effect would occur, which is the deflection of air between latitudinal zones. Since the Earth does rotate, winds are not deflected to the right of their direction of motion.

A

Wind-blown silt and clay deposits composed of angular quarts grains, feldspar, micas, and calcite are known as loess. What sources does the distribution of loess show it is derived from? a. Loess is derived from Pleistocene glacial outwash deposits, deserts, and the floodplains of rivers in semiarid regions. b. Loess is derived from the Saharan desert thousands of years ago when the land was once a fertile plain. c. Loess is derived from the plentiful rainforests prior to their desertification. d. Loess is derived from floods that occurred thousands of years ago in today's arid regions.

A

___________ are erosional bedrock surfaces of low relief that slope gently away from mountain bases. a. Pediments b. Playas c. Mesas d. Buttes

A

___________________ dunes are crescent-shaped dunes whose tips point downwind. They form in areas that have a generally flat, dry surface with limited vegetation. a. Barchan b. Longitudinal c. Transverse d. Parabolic

A

Tyler is studying deserts in his college geology course, particularly the effects of global warming on desertification. Of course, this is a matter of great debate. His desire is to show his peers that global warming is contributing to desertification. How does he get started? a. Tyler should learn about the number of volcanic eruptions throughout history to determine if eruptions have contributed to the effects of global warming. b. Tyler should review the culture of the peoples in the desert. He should then plan a trip to visit the people in or nearby the desert to ask for their observations over the past 10 years. c. Tyler will want to make his own conclusions before diving in to study the effects of climate change on desertification. He should share such conclusions with his classmates. d. Tyler might be able to learn about the underlying causes of climate change by examining ancient desert regions. He may want to use the Sahara that was once a fertile savannah 6,000 years ago.

D

Which of the following is incorrect regarding chemical weathering? a. Most chemical weathering takes place in mid-latitude deserts. b. Chemical weathering is reduced by scarcity of organic acids produced by sparse vegetation. c. Chemical weathering is reduced by aridity. d. Most chemical weathering takes place during the summer months.

D

Which of the following is incorrect regarding wind erosion? a. Wind erodes material via abrasion. b. Wind erodes material via deflation. c. Running water, rather than wind, is responsible for most erosional landforms in arid regions. d. Wind is a relatively inefficient sorting agent.

D

Wind is effective in transporting all of the following except ________________. a. sand b. silt c. dust d. rocks

D

_____________ dunes with tips pointing upwind and are most common in coastal areas with abundant sand. a. Transverse b. Longitudinal c. Barchan d. Parabolic

D

Which of the following best describes an alluvial fan? a. Alluvial fans form when wind is particularly intense resulting in an excess amount of sand being deposited in a particular region of the desert. b. Alluvial fans form when sediment-laden streams flowing out from generally straight, steep mountain fronts deposit their load on the relatively flat desert floor. c. Alluvial fans form when there is a particularly intense rainstorm creating a freshwater pond with steep ridges. d. Alluvial fans are much different from deltas but are often found in similar regions.

b

Which of the following is the best definition of desertification? a. The expansion of deserts into the rainforest b. The expansion of deserts into formerly productive land c. The ability of a desert to turn into productive land d. An extensive amount of precipitation being poured into the Earth's desert

b

What is the problem with desert streams? Why are they inefficient? a. Desert streams are essentially nonexistent and are uncommon in arid regions. b. Desert streams have the ability to draw upon groundwater but do not have the ability to form a lake of any significance. c. Most desert streams are poorly integrated and flow only intermittently. d. Most desert streams flow continuously but do not have proper drainage systems.

c

Which of the following MOST accurately describes the desertification process in most regions? a. Desertification is not a natural process and would not ordinarily occur if it weren't for human activity. b. Deserts are increasing in size, but human activity is assisting in the decrease of desertification in many areas. c. Deserts are advancing into regions that have a desert on one side and a more humid environment on the other. d. Desertification is occurring primarily in regions with the potential to adjust to environmental pressures.

c