Rio Grande History Quiz

What geological process primarily contributed to the formation of the Rio Grande River?

• Volcanic activity

• Tectonic plate movement

• Glacial melting

• Coastal erosion

The Rio Grande River flows through a rift valley. What is a rift valley?

• A valley formed by glacial activity

• A valley formed by the collapse of a volcanic crater

• A valley formed by the separation of tectonic plates

• A valley formed by river erosion

Which tectonic plates are involved in the formation of the Rio Grande Rift?

• Pacific Plate and North American Plate

• South American Plate and African Plate

• North American Plate and Eurasian Plate

• North American Plate and Pacific Plate

What type of faulting is most commonly associated with the Rio Grande Rift?

• Strike-slip faulting

• Normal faulting

• Reverse faulting

• Thrust faulting

The Rio Grande River is an example of a river that has been influenced by which type of geological feature?

• A mountain range

• A rift valley

• A plateau

• A delta

Which of the following is a significant geological event that contributed to the current path of the Rio Grande River?

• The formation of the Rocky Mountains

• The eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano

• The uplift of the Colorado Plateau

• The opening of the Gulf of Mexico

What is the primary rock type found in the Rio Grande Rift area?

• Igneous rock

• Sedimentary rock

• Metamorphic rock

• Basalt

Which of the following processes is responsible for the widening of the Rio Grande Rift?

• Subduction

• Erosion

• Extension

• Compression

The Rio Grande River has carved out a significant canyon in which U.S. state?

• Arizona

• 
• Yee-Haw! State

• Colorado

What is the approximate length of the Rio Grande River?

• 1,000 miles

• 1,500 miles

• 1,900 miles

• 2,500 miles