The velocity of a stream will tend to decrease toward its mouth due to a change in its slope, but this effect is often overridden by
A. an increased load.
B. a widening of the channel
C. the presence of a body of still water at the mouth.
D. an increased discharge.
ANSWER: 

The most important factor controlling stream erosion, transportation, and deposition is the river's
A. width.
B. velocity.
C. length.
D. depth.
ANSWER: 

Only a relatively small proportion of rain water ends up flowing as river water because
A. most of it slowly flows overland in very tiny, poorly defined channels.
B. most of it soaks into the ground.
C. much of it evaporates or is used by plants and transpired back into the atmosphere.
D. most of it is held near the surface as soil moisture. 
ANSWER: 

The speed or velocity of a river is affected mainly by the river's
A. slope, channel shape and dissolving ability.
B. slope, roughness and discharge.
C. channel shape, roughness and dissolving ability.
D. channel shape, roughness and abrasive ability. 
ANSWER: 

As the velocity of a river increases, its
A. ability to deposit sediment decreases and its ability to erode increases.
B. roughness must decrease.
C. slope must increase.
D. discharge always increases.
ANSWER: 

The rate of flow of a stream is not constant across the river from one bank to the other and from top to bottom. It tends to be slowest
A. on the top.
B. on the sides and bottom.
C. in the center of a straight stretch of water.
D. on the outside of a bend.
ANSWER: 

The main processes or work that rivers accomplish are to
A. erode, feed water into the ground and deposit sediment.
B. erode, transport sediment and feed water into the ground.
C. transport and deposit sediment and feed water into the ground.
D. erode, transport and deposit sediment.
ANSWER: 

The development of a bar in or along a river indicates
A. an increase in discharge.
B. an increase in velocity.
C. a decrease in velocity.
D. an increase in roughness.
ANSWER: 

Sediment is transported in several ways which include a bedload of
A. finer particles and a dissolved load of clay and silt.
B. coarser particles and a suspended load of clay and silt.
C. coarser particles and dissolved load of clay and silt.
D. finer particles and a suspended load of essentially invisible particles. 
ANSWER: 

The method(s) of erosion that is/are most dependent upon the turbulence of the river is/are
A. abrasion and braiding.
B. abrasion and rejuvenation.
C. hydraulic scouring and abrasion.
D. hydraulic action.
ANSWER: 

A balance between ? and deposition is created by a river. This means that if the
A. erosion; load decreases the river will erode.
B. discharge; load increases the river will erode.
C. erosion; deposition increases the river will also erode.
D. discharge; load decreases then deposition will increase.
ANSWER: 

Meander bends continually
A. become wider.
B. become narrower.
C. change size and position.
D. form the exact same shapes in different places.
ANSWER: 

Rejuvenation of a river might be accomplished by all of the following except
A. dry conditions due to prolonged drought.
B. regional uplift.
C. increased discharge caused by climatic change.
D. the lowering of sea level due to an ice age.
ANSWER: 

The term base level could conceivable apply to all of the following except
A. a reservoir formed behind a dam.
B. a desert lake totally surrounding by mountains.
C. the place where a tributary joins the main stream.
D. the place where the main stream starts to meander.
ANSWER: 

The final stage in valley development, theoretically, would be
A. a graded stream.
B. a peneplain.
C. a mature landscape.
D. sheet erosion.
ANSWER: 

A youthful stream usually will lack
A. waterfalls and rapids.
B. a narrow V-shaped valley.
C. a flood plain.
D. a high gradient.
ANSWER: 

Which of the following would not cause a stream system to change its activity from erosion to deposition?
A. rising sea level
B. regional subsidence
C. regional uplift
D. change from a humid to a dry climate
ANSWER: 

The depth to which a river can erode is called the
A. thalweg and its maximum depth is dependent upon the river's discharge.
B. base level whose maximum depth is sea level.
C. base level whose maximum depth is dependent upon the river's velocity.
D. thalweg and its ultimate depth is dependent upon the river's velocity.
ANSWER: 

Which of the following is not a correct association between the rock types and structure and the drainage pattern?
A. uniform or homogenous rock types produce a dendritic pattern
B. intersecting fractures or faults produce a rectangular pattern
C. alternating harder and softer rock types produce a trellis pattern
D. flat lying sedimentary rock layers also produce a rectangular pattern
ANSWER: 

Stream terraces can form when
A. an area is uplifted.
B. the base level is raised.
C. erosion is decreased.
D. deposition occurs equally on both sides of the river. 
ANSWER: 

Which is not a characteristic of incised meanders?
A. They are cut well below the level of the former flood plain.
B. They are always accompanied by a few pairs of stream terraces.
C. They form fairly rapidly.
D. The flow pattern is maintained as down cutting occurs. 
ANSWER: 

The term 100 year flood would refer to
A. the flood level that is reached once in 100 years, on average.
B. the cumulative level of all floods during a 100-year period.
C. an unnatural condition that occurs during a 100-year span due to human intervention.
D. an annual flood level that follows a 100-year cycle.
ANSWER: 

Shale tends to have a high porosity but is not suitable for aquifers because it
A. is formed by cementation.
B. lacks joints and fractures.
C. is soluble and dissolves in water.
D. is not permeable and does not allow water to flow easily.
ANSWER: 

The principal source(s) of ground water is/are
A. pools of water in caves and caverns.
B. inland flow from the oceans.
C. rain or melted snow that percolates into the ground.
D. rivers, streams and marshes.
ANSWER: 

Underground streams
A. exist under about half of the United States.
B. are the most important sources of ground water.
C. are only found in some caves or caverns.
D. supply water to most major rivers and streams on the surface.
ANSWER: 

In general, ground water tends to be most abundant
A. in poorly cemented sandstones and gravels.
B. the deeper the well is drilled.
C. in granites and metamorphic schists.
D. at higher elevations on ridge tops.
ANSWER: 

The capacity or ability of rock to transmit water is called
A. porosity.
B. infiltration.
C. permeability.
D. percolation.
ANSWER: 

Layers of rock that possess both porosity and
A. permeability are referred to as aquifers; a good example is clay.
B. permeability are referred to as aquicludes; a good example is clay.
C. pore pressure are referred to as artesian; a good example is clay.
D. permeability are referred to as aquifers; a good example may be sandstone.
ANSWER: 

The top of the zone of saturation is also called the
A. water table which tends to rise under hills and drop under valleys.
B. water table which tends to rise quickly after a rainstorm and drop just as fast.
C. capillary fringe which tends to rise quickly after a rainstorm and drop just as fast.
D. capillary fringe which tends to be flatter than other parts of the zone of saturation.
ANSWER: 

Ground water interacts with
A. carbon dioxide which makes it acidic. This enables it to effectively dissolve sandstone.
B. carbon dioxide which makes it acidic. This enables it to effectively dissolve limestone.
C. carbon in the soil to make it acidic. This enables it to effectively dissolve dark minerals.
D. carbon in the soil to make it energetic enough to dissolve iron oxide.
ANSWER: 

Which of the following rocks is typically the most permeable?
A. shale.
B. gravel.
C. unfractured basalt.
D. unfractured granite.
ANSWER: 

Recharging an aquifer is accomplished most readily if all the layers of rock above the aquifer are
A. porous.
B. permeable.
C. permeable and porous.
D. aquicludes.
ANSWER: 

Which activity is most frequently responsible for broad regional drawdown (lowering) of the water table?
A. urban manufacturing
B. mining
C. the generation of electricity
D. agriculture
ANSWER: 

Subsidence of the land surface may be related to ground water because
A. removal lessens the hydrostatic pressure (water-filled pores) that help support the surface.
B. capillary attraction exerts a direct upward pressure.
C. ground water percolation counteracts the force of gravity.
D. all ground water is subject to artesian pressure.
ANSWER: 

All deserts are characterized by
A. sand dunes.
B. very high temperatures.
C. very low rainfall.
D. alluvial fans.
ANSWER: 

Some deserts occur in rain shadows, like certain areas on the east side of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon, because as
A. dry air descends on the east side of the mountains it is compressed, warmed and evaporates moisture.
B. moist air rises over the mountain it is warmed causing evaporation.
C. moist air descends over the mountains it is warmed causing evaporation.
D. dry air rises over the mountains it expands and warms causing evaporation.
ANSWER: 

Deserts are often found in regions located about
A. 30o N or S of the equator due to hot rising air currents.
B. 30o N or S of the equator due to dry air masses that are warmed as they descend.
C. 30o N of the equator due to warm, dry rising air masses.
D. 30o S of the equator due to warm descending clouds.
ANSWER: 

Wind is often an effective force in deserts because
A. the soil always consists of very fine materials.
B. the wind blows hard all the time.
C. there is usually a lot of sand.
D. the soil tends to be dry and loose.
ANSWER: 

Strong winds on the desert are usually caused by
A. a wide range in daily air temperatures.
B. moisture evaporating into the air.
C. a strong Greenhouse Effect.
D. warm days and warm nights.
ANSWER: 

For humans, the most important property of loess is its
A. ability to stand as vertical cliffs without slumping.
B. ability to form highly fertile soils.
C. valuable mineral content.
D. potential to provide low-cost housing for many people. 
ANSWER: 

Choose the correct set of reasons for some deserts.
A. Some are a great distance from a moisture source; other coastal deserts are created by warm, dry winds blowing on shore.
B. Some are a great distance from a moisture source; other coastal deserts are created by warm ocean currents which warm the coastal winds and cause evaporation on land.
C. Some are located in the interiors of continents; other coastal deserts are created by cool, dry winds blowing on shore.
D. Some are located in the interiors of continents; other coastal deserts are created by warm ocean currents which warm the coastal winds and cause evaporation on land.
ANSWER: 

The process of desertification refers mainly to the creation of desert conditions due to the
A. rapid rise in the temperature and hence increased evaporation in an area.
B. steady decreases of precipitation in an area.
C. disruption of the balance of nature by human activity.
D. decrease of precipitation and the increase of warm winds.
ANSWER: 

Which of the following are not properly associated?
A. Blow outs and cirques are created by deflation.
B. Desert depressions and desert pavement are created by deflation.
C. Dunes and loess are wind deposits.
D. Desert varnish is created by wind, moisture and chemical reactions.
ANSWER: 

Most of the body of a valley glacier consists of
A. snowflakes.
B. recrystalized ice.
C. firn or granules.
D. meltwater.
ANSWER: 

If the Greenhouse Effect causes a warming trend, which of the following is most likely to occur in the long run?
A. Sea level will fall rapidly because of increased evaporation.
B. Glaciers will advance because of increased precipitation.
C. Glaciers will recede because of increased ablation.
D. Another glacial age will be started.
ANSWER: 

Glaciers move because of all of the following except
A. slippage along a bed rock base.
B. active sliding within the rigid zone.
C. plastic flow.
D. lubrication of water along the base.
ANSWER: 

The system of pluvial lakes that developed in the western U.S. was a result of
A. outwash from continental ice sheets.
B. ponding of waters by moraines daming.
C. a very wet and rainy period at the end of the Ice Age.
D. the gouging out of the land by moving ice sheets.
ANSWER: 

Outwash beyond the edge of the continental ice sheets can be identified by
A. thin deposits of ground moraine.
B. thick deposits of till.
C. large boulders that are scratched and polished.
D. layered and sorted alluvial deposits.
ANSWER: 

The bones and teeth of extinct mammoths dredged up from Atlantic continental shelves are used as evidence that
A. sea level was much lower during the Ice Age and the shelf was dry land.
B. some mammoths migrated to new lands by swimming.
C. mammoths lived near the edge of the ice, and their bones washed out to sea.
D. mammoths became frozen in the ice and their bones were left behind when the ice retreated.
ANSWER: 

One of the favored current theories about causes of glacial cycles is related to
A. astronomical factors such as changes in the shape of the Earth's orbit.
B. increases in the amount of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere.
C. changes in the position of the continents in the last 10,000 years.
D. changes in the thickness of Anarctic ice.
ANSWER: 

Glaciers can only develop at 
A. latitudes where it is below freezing most of the year.
B. higher elevations where it is below freezing most of the year.
C. higher elevations where it may snow anytime during the year.
D. latidudes where more snow accumulates than melts each year.
ANSWER: 

Which of the following is the most complete and correct sequence concerning the creation of glacial ice?
A. snow accumulates-becomes compacted,squeezing air out-recrystallizes to form glacial ice
B. snow accumulates-recrystallizes to form glacial-compacts into firn
C. snow collects as firn-recrystallizes into glacial ice-compacts to squeeze out air
D. snow recrystallizes-forms glacial ice-compacts into firn
ANSWER: 

In valley glaciers, the zone of wastage is always downslope from the zone of
A. accumulation but above the snowline.
B. saturation and the snowline.
C. saturation but above the snowline.
D. accumulation and the snowline.
ANSWER: 

Evidence of glacial activity and erosion is best demonstrated by
A. polished surfaces,striations, "V"shaped valleys and moraines.
B. polished surfaces,scratch marks and moraines.
C. striations, "V"shaped valleys and till.
D. scratch marks,alluvial fans and moraines.
ANSWER: 

Which of the following was not true during the last Ice Age?
A. Sea level dropped 300-400 feet and streams flowed faster because their base level was lowered.
B. Sea level dropped 200-300 feet and the base levels of rivers were raised.
C. Sea level dropped 300-400 feet and the base levels of rivers were lowered.
D. Coastlines shifted and more erosion occurred.
ANSWER: 

The motion of water particles in a passing water wave continues
A. from the surface to the deep sea floor.
B. to a depth equal to the wave height.
C. to a depth equal to about 1/3 the height of the wave.
D. to a depth equal to about 1/2 of the wavelength.
ANSWER: 

As the wave base interacts with the offshore bottom, the waves will 
A. slow, bunch up and become lower.
B. become spaced farther apart as they slow down.
C. slow and become lower.
D. slow and become slightly higher and steeper on the incoming side.
ANSWER: 

The height of a wave in the open sea from crest to trough is equal to
A. the wavelength.
B. the diameter of the orbit of the water particles.
C. 33 percent of the wavelength from crest to crest.
D. 50 percent of the depth of the water.
ANSWER: 

Longshore currents are created primarily by the
A. force of the wind.
B. moving rivers of sand on the beach face.
C. distance to the wave-generating area.
D. waves striking the shore at an angle.
ANSWER: 

Choose the correct choice concerning a comparison between typical summer and winter beach conditions.
A. Summer waves are lower, the beach is wider and steeper with more sand.
B. Summer waves are lower, the beach is narrower and steeper with less sand.
C. Winter waves are higher, the beach is narrower and steeper with less sand.
D. Winter waves are higher, the beach is wider and steeper with more sand.
ANSWER: 

The source of most of the sand on the beach is from
A. the bottom of sea canyons which is brought in by winter waves.
B. the erosion of sea cliffs by waves.
C. river sediment carried down to the ocean.
D. sediment left by melting glaciers.
ANSWER: 

The height a wave will ultimately reach in the open sea depends on all of the following except the
A. force of the wind.
B. duration of the storm.
C. depth of the water.
D. fetch.
ANSWER: 

On a rugged irregular coastline, most of the wave energy will be concentrated on the
A. sandy beaches.
B. baymouth bars.
C. barrier islands.
D. rocky headlands.
ANSWER: 

Choose the incorrect response concerning seismic sea waves.
A. They are often created by earthquakes and travel at hundreds of miles per hour.
B. They are called tsunami and appear as large waves, tens of feet high on the open ocean.
C. They may stir-up the deep ocean bottom, bunch up and become larger near the coastline.
D. They are ofter created by earthquakes and are not readily visible on the open ocean.
ANSWER: 

Perhaps one of the best solutions to beach erosion would be
A. the construction of jetties.
B. the construction of breakwaters.
C. to transport sediment around dams or truck it directly to the beach area.
D. the construction of breakwaters and sea walls.
ANSWER: 
