(R) 3.7B/5.7B Science STAAR (Rapid/Slow Changes--Landforms)

Glaciers are masses of ice that move slowly on land. Which of these features was most likely formed by a glacier? (5.7B)

• A wide valley

• A deep ocean

• A lava flow

• A mountain range

The Rio Grande Valley is located at the southern tip of Texas at the end of a long river known as the Rio Grande. How did the delta at the end of the Rio Grande form? (5.7B)

• Sand and mud from the Gulf of Mexico were washed ashore by tsunamis.

• The river cut through the solid bedrock of the valley.

• The river deposited large amounts of sediment from land erosion.

• Hurricanes pushed soil and debris from the Gulf of Mexico onto the land.

A student hiking in a rocky area on a mountain notices that wide, deep cracks have formed in some of the large rocks. Some of the cracks are so large that the rocks have broken apart. Which process most likely caused these rocks to crack and break? (5.7B)

• Erosion by wind

• Water freezing and thawing

• Erosion by fast-moving water

• Sediments being deposited

The photograph shows a canyon in northern Arizona. Which of these describes how this canyon was most likely formed? (5.7B)

• Floods eroded the sandstone away from the canyon walls.

• Glaciers eroded the canyon rock as they melted and moved.

• Ice wedged into cracks in the rock and weathered the canyon walls.

• Wind blew large rocks that smashed against the canyon walls.

A wide U-shaped valley is shown in the photograph. This valley was most likely formed by-- (5.7B)

• flash flooding

• a glacier

• a hurricane

• melting snow

Students constructed this model of a hill covering sugar cubes with clay. The students placed the model in a large pan and poured hot water over it every day for a week. What does this model best represent? (5.7B)

• A method for removing fossil fuels from hills

• The formation caves in hills

• The formation of plains

• A method for separating minerals

Monahans Sandhills State Park in Texas has almost 4,000 acres of sand dunes. Some of the dunes are as tall as a six-story building. The dune in the park are formed by-- (5.7B)

• rainstorms

• tornadoes

• earthquakes

• strong winds

The size and shape of a delta can change over time. The size and shape of this delta over time are NOT likely to be changed by----- (5.7B)

• the number and height of tides along the shore

• the amount and size of sediments carried by the river and streams

• the amount of hunting and fishing in the delta

• the number and size of waves from the ocean that reach the shore

Students on a field trip observed a valley and wondered how it was formed. The three major characteristics of the valley were recorded. This valley was most likely formed by---(5.7B)

• a rapid series of earthquakes

• volcanic activity

• a flood with rapidly moving water

• the movement of a glacier

The Grand Canyon is more than 400 km long and in some places almost 2 km deep. Which model best represents the main process that formed the Grand Canyon? (5.7B)

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