River flooding quiz

A flood plain is...

• the flat land alongside a river which sometimes floods

• flat land surrounding a river which never floods

• the source of water for a river

• the boundary between two drainage basins

Infiltration is...

• water flowing down a road

• water flowing onto a flood plain

• water sinking into the soil

• where a river meets the sea

A cause of flooding is when more rain falls than the river channel can hold and water flows over the banks onto the flood plain.

• true

• false

Rocks and soil that do not allow water to soak into them are called...

• permeable

• impermeable

Steep slopes cause rain to quickly run down to the river reducing the chance of it infiltrating and causing...

• more flooding

• less flooding

Very wet soil means rain...

• is unable to soak into the ground causing more flooding

• will sink into the ground quickly causing less flooding

Which one of these will reduce the risk of flooding?

• cutting down trees

• building more roads

• planting trees

• building more houses

Trees and plants acting as an umbrella to stop rain hitting the ground is called...

• infiltration

• interception

• runoff

• impermeable

Permeable rocks and soils...

• do not allow water to pass through them

• allow water to pass through them

A "human" cause of flooding is...

• impermeable rocks

• building roads, houses and factories

• heavy rain

• steep valley sides