Changes to the Earth's Surface

1. Which of the following events changes the land quickly?

• floods

• mountains forming

• decomposition

2. Which is an example of weathering?

• soil being carried downstream by fast-moving water

• volcanoes erupting

• rocks being broken apart by freezing water

3. Which of the following can be caused by weathering?

• cracks forming in a boulder

• glaciers forming on a mountainside

• pebbles combining to form a large rok

4. A teacher placed a rock in a metal can. She shook the can for 15 seconds. When she removed the lid, the students noticed that rocky soil had started to form. What process created this soil?

• melting

• evaporation

• heating

• weathering

5. What would a geotechnical engineer think about for her/his job?

• why a car engine isn't working

• if earthquakes will damage a building

• how to get electricity into a new building

• how to make car engines that use less gas

6. What is the main ingredient in soil?

• water

• worms

• rocks

• pill bugs

7. What is made from weathered rock and the decomposition of plant and animal remains?

• a mineral

• a fossil

• soil

• saltwater

8. A student placed dead leaves, cut grass, and bits of twigs in a container with a lid. After a month, she opened the container and noticed soil had started to form. What process created this?

• condensation

• decomposition

• precipitation

• evaporation

9. Why do scientists study changes to the Earth caused by earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes?

• to learn how the solar system works

• to construct more buildings in unsafe places

• to understand evaporation

• to predict future earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes to save lives.

10. Landslides make changes to the Earth's surface by...

• creating tornadoes

• erosion of the Earth' surface

• no change is made