Quiz about Rocks, Weathering, Erosion and Soil

Question 1

A farmer has a steeply sloping pasture that is eroding. Which is the BEST option to stop the immediate erosion of the topsoil?

Accepted Answer

Increase the amount of vegetation on the sloping pasture.

Answer

Plant trees and shrubs at the bottom of the sloping pasture.

Answer

Increase the soil thickness by adding five inches of sandy soil.

Answer

Increase the organic content of the topsoil by adding earthworms.

Question 2

In a particular region, abundant growth of grasses covers the flat land surface. If overgrazing removes most of this vegetation, which weather phenomenon is MOST likely to occur?

Accepted Answer

dust storms

Answer

hail storms

Answer

rain storms

Answer

snow storms

Question 3

Rocks can be classified many different ways, including as igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. This classification is based on the

Accepted Answer

origin of the rocks.

Answer

use of the rocks.

Answer

size of the rocks.

Answer

hardness of the rocks.

Question 4

The sediments found in a riverbed are MOST likely a result of which action on nearby rock?

Accepted Answer

weathering

Answer

heat

Answer

faulting

Answer

pressure

Question 5

Most sedimentary rock is made from sediments of other rock. Which of these processes would the sediments MOST likely go through to form sedimentary rock?

Accepted Answer

compaction and cementation

Answer

folding and recrystallization

Answer

melting and solidifying

Answer

heating and pressure

Question 6

A rock formation in a land area contains fossils. Over time, tremendous heat and pressurechange the formation to produce a harder rock formation without fossils. Which change in rock type has occurred in this land area?

Accepted Answer

Sedimentary rock has turned into metamorphic rock.

Answer

Igneous rock has turned into sedimentary rock.

Answer

Igneous rock has turned into metamorphic rock.

Answer

Sedimentary rock has turned into igneous rock.

Question 7

Why are fossils rarely found in metamorphic or igneous rock?

Accepted Answer

Heat and pressure are great enough to destroy the structure of fossils found in these rocks.

Answer

Chemicals toxic to living organisms are released during formation of these rocks.

Answer

Decay of radioactive isotopes changes the fossils into a different rock structure.

Answer

Intense magnetic fields found where these rocks form keep organisms from living there.

Question 8

What is the name of the process in which igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are converted into one another in stages?

Accepted Answer

rock cycle

Answer

erosion cycle

Answer

magma cycle

Answer

tectonic cycle

Question 9

Marta was studying a diagram of the rock cycle. She wanted to know what could cause a sedimentary rock to become a metamorphic rock. Which processes must occur in order for a sedimentary rock to change into a metamorphic rock?

Accepted Answer

heating and pressure

Answer

compaction and cementation

Answer

melting and cooling

Answer

uplift and erosion

Question 10

Coal is solid rock that began as organic material that was deposited in a swamp. The formation of coal suggests that

Accepted Answer

geologic processes continue over millions of years.

Answer

coal is made mostly of skeletal remains of animals.

Answer

coal is formed from magma that has solidified over time.

Answer

it quickly becomes petrified when water is removed.

Question 11

In the Four Corners area of the southwestern United States, there are large rocky outcroppings of basalt. These were formed by ancient lava flows. Using this information, what class of rock is this?

Accepted Answer

igneous

Answer

metamorphic

Answer

sedimentary

Answer

weathered

Question 12

In order for rocks to be classified as igneous, the rocks must

Accepted Answer

be formed from magma.

Answer

solidify at the surface of Earth.

Answer

be eroded and deposited in layers.

Answer

change form when pressure is applied.

Question 13

According to the rock cycle, when liquid magma cools into a solid, what is formed?

Accepted Answer

igneous rock

Answer

lava

Answer

glaciers

Answer

metamorphic rock

Question 14

The Sphinx in Egypt has been changed by abrasive desert sands. Which process has MOST likely helped in breaking down the surface of the Sphinx?

Accepted Answer

weathering

Answer

cementation

Answer

deposition

Answer

faulting

Question 15

Cracks in rocks widen as water in them freezes and thaws. How does this affect the surface of the Earth?

Accepted Answer

It exposes rocks to increased rates of erosion and weathering.

Answer

It reduces the rates of soil formation.

Answer

It changes the chemical composition of the rocks.

Answer

It limits the exposure of rocks to acid precipitation.

Question 16

A group of students is taking a hike along a stream channel. One student picks up a rock from the stream and notices that the rock is very smooth and round. Which type of weathering MOST likely shaped the rock?

Accepted Answer

abrasion

Answer

exfoliation

Answer

fracturing

Answer

oxidation

Question 17

The roots of a plant can grow through cracks in a driveway, eventually causing the driveway to break. Which kind of process would be taking place?

Accepted Answer

weathering

Answer

erosion

Answer

exfoliation

Answer

sedimentation

Question 18

Fences are put along some beaches. For which reason are the fences MOST likely placed along beaches?

Accepted Answer

to prevent wind erosion

Answer

to increase water erosion

Answer

to increase weathering

Answer

to prevent deposition

Question 19

In what way can forest fires affect the lithosphere?

Accepted Answer

increasing soil erosion

Answer

causing air pollution

Answer

increasing seismic activity

Answer

causing violent dust storms

Question 20

What is the MOST likely cause of the shape of the rock formation in the photograph?

Accepted Answer

weathering

Answer

volcanic action

Answer

earthquake compaction

Answer

tectonic plate movement

Question 21

Which is the BEST evidence that rocks found deep underground were once exposed at the surface?

Accepted Answer

The rocks have been weathered by water.

Answer

The rocks have been melted by a magma.

Answer

The rocks have been broken by faults.

Answer

The rocks have been folded by pressure.

Question 22

Two processes are involved in the formation of a sand dune. Which two processes BEST describe how a sand dune forms?

Accepted Answer

wind erosion then deposition

Answer

plate movement then deposition

Answer

wind erosion then water erosion

Answer

water erosion then plate movement

Question 23

Which process accounts for the expansion and contraction of rocks?

Accepted Answer

mechanical weathering

Answer

organic decomposition

Answer

abrasion resistance

Answer

heat conduction

Question 24

Students notice after a rain that a construction site showed more pebbles and small rocks exposed on a sloped surface than on a level area which was covered with sand and mud. The BEST explanation for this is that the

Accepted Answer

rain moved sand and mud away from the rocks on the sloped surface.

Answer

rocks had not weathered into sand and mud on the level area.

Answer

sand and mud are generally found in low places on level areas.

Answer

rocks prevent soil from eroding from the slope.

Question 25

Which of these BEST describes how the surface of a beach is formed?

Accepted Answer

mechanical weathering

Answer

chemical weathering

Answer

mass movement

Answer

volcanic eruption

Question 26

Which of these is the BEST example of physical weathering?

Accepted Answer

ice fracturing a stone

Answer

insects eating a dead tree

Answer

a bulldozer pushing soil

Answer

acid rain dissolving limestone

Question 27

Which is more likey to prevent mass-movement events?

Accepted Answer

contour plowing of crop areas

Answer

constructing buildings in stream drainage paths

Answer

clear-cutting trees from the side of a mountain

Answer

paving roads next to sloping hills

Question 28

How does the replacement of large land areas with concrete and asphalt affect the land?

Accepted Answer

It increases erosion of sediments by increasing runoff.

Answer

It changes the bedrock of underlying layers of soil.

Answer

It prevents the dynamics of the rock cycle.

Answer

It increases the amount of groundwater in porous rock.

Question 29

Which one of these is farming methods that does NOT conserve soil?

Accepted Answer

Clear Cutting Forest

Answer

Terracing

Answer

Better Grazing practices

Answer

Crop Rotation

Question 30

Which of the following does NOT trigger mass movement?

Accepted Answer

Growth of native vegetation on slopes

Answer

Formation of overly steep slopes

Answer

Saturation of surface materials with water

Answer

Vibration of the ground during an earthquake

Question 31

Which one of these is the slowest type of mass movement?

Accepted Answer

Creep

Answer

Rock Slide

Answer

Slump

Answer

Mudflow

Question 32

Which one of these is the most common type of Mechanical Weathering?

Accepted Answer

Abrasion

Answer

Oxidation

Answer

Hydrolysis

Answer

Carbonation

Question 33

Glaciers are best defined as...

Accepted Answer

A giant slow-moving river of ice

Answer

A very hard white rock

Answer

A giant ice cube

Answer

A small continent

Question 34

In which mass movement process do rock fragments fall freely through the air?

Accepted Answer

Rock Fall

Answer

Creep

Answer

Slump

Answer

Mudflow

Question 35

Which is a type of Chemical Weathering?

Accepted Answer

Oxidation

Answer

Ice-Wedging

Answer

Abrasion

Answer

Plant root growth

Question 36

The weathering of landforms depends on various factors. Which area would most likely have the fastest rate of chemical weathering?

Accepted Answer

Warm and moist regions

Answer

Freezing and dry regions

Answer

Cool and dry regions

Answer

Hot and dry regions

Question 37

Formation of soil is primarily a result of

Accepted Answer

Weathering and biological activity

Answer

Stream erosion and mass movement

Answer

Stream deposition and run-off

Answer

Precipitation and wind erosion

Question 38

What is the soil type that is primarily found on the east coast of the United States?

Accepted Answer

Pedalfur

Answer

Pedocal

Answer

Laterite

Answer

Pedelmere

Rocks, Weathering, Erosion and Soil

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