Physical geography

Which of the following is a result of glacial erosion?

• Delta

• U-shaped valley

• Oxbow lake

• V-shaped valley

Answer explanation

At divergent boundaries, tectonic plates move apart. This allows magma to rise from the mantle, creating new crust and often leading to volcanic activity, such as along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Convergent boundaries can also have volcanoes, but divergent ones are directly linked to volcanic ridge

Which process contributes to the breakdown of rock through chemical alteration?

• Frost wedging

• Hydrolysis

• Abrasion

• Mass wasting

Answer explanation

Hydrolysis is a chemical weathering process where minerals in rocks (especially silicates) react with water, forming new minerals (like clay) and leading to rock decay. It's most common in warm, wet climates. This is different from mechanical weathering like frost wedging or abrasion.

Which plate boundary is most associated with volcanic activity?

• Continental drift
  

• Tectonic rebound
  
  

• Lithospheric shift

• adjustment

Answer explanation

At divergent boundaries, tectonic plates move apart. This allows magma to rise from the mantle, creating new crust and often leading to volcanic activity, such as along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Convergent boundaries can also have volcanoes, but divergent ones are directly linked to volcanic ridges.

What is the term for the uplift of Earth's crust after glacial melting?

• Lithospheric shift

• Isostatic adjustment

• Continental drift

• Tectonic rebound
  

Answer explanation

After a glacier melts, the weight pressing down on the Earth's crust is removed. The land slowly rebounds or rises, a process known as isostatic adjustment (or isostatic rebound). It’s a key concept in post-glacial geomorphology.

Which landform is typically formed by wind deposition?

• Moraine

• Loess plateau

• Alluvial fan
  

• Cirque

Answer explanation

Loess is fine, silt-sized sediment deposited by wind, especially in dry or glacial outwash areas. Over time, it can accumulate into loess plateaus, like those found in northern China or parts of the U.S. Midwest. This contrasts with fluvial (river) or glacial depositional features.

Which atmospheric layer contains most of Earth’s weather systems?

• Mesosphere
  

• Troposphere

• Thermosphere

• Stratosphere
  

What causes the deflection of winds on Earth?

• Gravity
  

• Magnetic field
  

• Coriolis effect

• Ocean currents

Which climate phenomenon involves the warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean?

• La Niña
  

• El Niño

• Monsoon
  

• Cyclone

High-pressure systems are usually associated with:

• Rising air

• Dry, clear weather

• Cold fronts
  

• Storms and rainfall

Which of the following contributes to the Urban Heat Island effect?

• Ocean proximity

• Evapotranspiration
  

• High vegetation cover
  

• Concrete and asphalt surfaces