River Test

Match the following terms with their definitions.

• The line or zone of higher ground between two adjacent streams or drainage basins

• divide

• The slope of a stream

• discharge

• The volume of water flowing through a stream or river per unit of time

• gradient

How does the channel width change between headwaters and mouth?

• narrows
• widens
• no change

The volume of water moving past a certain point in a river is called (a)  

• discharge
• erosion
• divide

An overflow of water beyond a river's banks

• gradient
• delta
• flood

Where does most of the evaporation on Earth occur?

• over land
• over the ocean

Most water on Earth is

• fresh water
• salt water

Most freshwater on Earth is

• available in the ground and in lakes
• frozen in the ice caps and glaciers

Match the following formulas with their correct expressions.

• Work done equals =

• time/distance

• Speed equals =

• distance x time

• Velocity equals =

• distance/time

If a river flows 40 km and it takes 20 minutes for a stick released in the water to travel that distance, what is the river's velocity?

• 20 km/min
• 2 km/min
• 0.5 km/min

Match the following streams with their average gradients.

• A stream begins at an elevation of 800 meters and flows a distance of 400 kilometers before it empties into the ocean.

• 2 m/km

• A stream flows at a speed of 0.5 miles per hour.

• 0.5 m/km

• A stream begins at an elevation of 200 meters and flows a distance of 400 kilometers before it empties into the ocean.

• 0.5 mi/hr