wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Erosion and Deposition

Total questions: 38

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
How do construction and farming affect the land?
a)
Improve the soil
b)
Cause flooding
c)
Make the land more stable
d)
Increase erosion
2.
Which of the following statements about wetlands is true?
a)
rich in nutrients
b)
composed of rocky soil
c)
easy to build on
d)
a poor environment for plants and wildlife
3.
Which is the best definition of weathering?
a)
settling of earth materials when water slows down
b)
swelling of earth materials as they soak up water
c)
cracking of rocks from wind, water, plants, or animals
d)
transport of earth materials by wind, water or ice
4.
Where would you expect to find the most fertile soil?
a)
on top of a mountain
b)
at the mouth of a river
c)
on a sand dune
d)
on the side of a canyon
5.
Which of the following earth processes typically follows erosion?
a)
Precipitation
b)
Concentration
c)
Deposition
d)
Evolution
6.
In which of the following climates would chemical weathering most readily occur?
a)
wet and warm
b)
dry and warm
c)
wet and cool
d)
dry and cool
7.
In which of the following areas is wind a major erosion agent?
a)
grasslands
b)
temperate forests
c)
deserts
d)
tropical rain forest
8.
How does erosion move sediments and weathered rock?
a)
A. with running water and wind
b)
B. with glaciers and ocean currents
c)
both a and b
d)
none of the above
9.
How do plants prevent erosion?
a)
their leaves protect against rain
b)
their roots hold soil together
c)
their trunks protect against wind
d)
none of the above
10.
Which of these landforms/features is caused by deposition? 
a)
river delta
b)
mountains
c)
valleys
d)
cliffs
11.
What is weathering?
a)
a process that breaks down rocks into smaller pieces
b)
a shift in weather patterns
c)
the process by which mountains are formed 
d)
none of the above
12.
Which of the following is used to describe the process whereby a river cuts away at the land?
a)
erosion
b)
formation
c)
deposition
d)
sublimation
13.
Which sequence of processes occurs in the correct order?
a)
weathering, erosion, deposition
b)
erosion, weathering, deposition
c)
erosion, deposition, weathering
d)
All of these processes occur at the same time
14.
Weathering involves the...
a)
picking up of rock fragments
b)
movement of rock fragments
c)
mechanical and/or chemical breakdown of rocks
d)
formation of rocks by the action of weathering
15.
The process by which small pieces of rocks and soil are carried away to new locations is called..
a)
weathering 
b)
erosion
c)
faults
d)
deposition
16.

The diagram shows a process that changes a rock. Which process is MOST LIKELY shown in the diagram?

a)

Physical weathering by water

b)

Physical weathering by ice wedging

c)

Erosion by acid rain followed by erosion by water

d)

Erosion by acid rain followed by erosion by ice wedging

17.

A student writes these steps to describe the changes to rocks in a riverbed.

Step 1: The rocks break into small pieces because the flowing river water causes them to smash against one another.

Step 2: The river water carries away the small pieces of rock to another location.

Which statement is correct?

a)

Step 1 represents erosion, and Step 2 represents weathering.

b)

Step 1 represents weathering, and Step 2 represents erosion.

c)

Step 1 represents chemical weathering, and Step 2 represents physical weathering.

d)

Step 1 represents physical weathering, and Step 2 represents chemical weathering.

18.

The Appalachian Mountains were once higher than they are now. Which of these explains why the Appalachians have become shorter over the years?

a)

plate movements

b)

volcanic eruptions

c)

deposition of sediments

d)

erosion by water and wind

19.

A scientist observed that weathering of rocks occurs at different speeds in different situations. He plans to investigate factors that affect the speed of weathering, including the type of weathering applied, how often the weathering is applied, and the type of material that is being eroded. He will observe the amounts of sand and water in different conditions to compare the rates of weathering.

Under which conditions would weathering most likely occur fastest?

a)

Large amounts of water flow irregularly in different seasons over a ten-meter cliff made from hard, solid rock.

b)

Large amounts of sand blow regularly throughout the year against a ten-meter cliff made from hard, solid rock.

c)

Large amounts of water flow regularly throughout the year over a ten-meter cliff made from alternating layers of soft rock and hard rock.

d)

Large amounts of sand blow irregularly in different seasons against a ten-meter cliff made from alternating layers of soft rock and hard rock.

20.

Three students were examining a large rock on a hillside that had split into two halves.

Student 1 suggested that a root from a nearby tree may have entered a crack in the rock and kept growing until it split the rock into two pieces.

Student 2 said maybe water got trapped in a crack in the rock and then froze and expanded many different times until the rock broke apart.

Student 3 wondered whether the rock had been split by running water wearing away at a crack.

Which student or students were most likely correct?

a)

Student 1 only

b)

Students 1 and 2

c)

Student 2 only

d)

Students 2 and 3

21.

Which sequence of processes occurs in the correct order?

a)

weathering, erosion, deposition

b)

erosion, weathering, deposition

c)

erosion, deposition, weathering

d)

All of these processes occur at the same time.

22.

During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, crops in the Great Plains died during a long drought. The soil became bare and dry. The wind blew the soil into the air, creating large dust storms. Which statement BEST explains why trees were planted throughout the Great Plains as a response to the dust storms?

a)

Trees collect dust.

b)

Trees form new soil.

c)

Trees hold soil in place.

d)

Trees give crops shade.

23.

A copper mine was built near a small river. Students performed an investigation to determine the effects of the mine on the river. The students discovered that there was an increase in the amount of sediment in the river after the mine was opened.

Which of these is the MOST LIKELY reason for the increase in the river sediment?

a)

increased erosion from the mine

b)

decreased rainfall around the mine

c)

increased air pollution from the mine

d)

decreased animal activity around the mine

24.

A tree’s roots caused a small crack in a section of a sidewalk. Which of these caused the sidewalk to crack?

a)

Erosion

b)

Deposition

c)

Physical weathering

d)

Chemical weathering

25.

A scientist is investigating the effects of deposition and erosion on a river channel. The scientist made this diagram to represent three stages of the river channel observed over a period of time. Which statement is correct?

a)

Erosion occurred at Location A because fast-moving water is more likely to erode material.

b)

Erosion occurred at Location B because slow-moving water is more likely to erode material.

c)

Deposition occurred at Location A because slow-moving water is more likely to deposit material.

d)

Deposition occurred at Location B because fast-moving water is more likely to deposit material.

26.

The force that tends to pull all materials downhill is .

a)

Slope

b)

Wind

c)

Gravity

d)

Friction

27.

A landowner decides to allow a lumber company to harvest the trees from a section of her land. Which of these would BEST help conserve the soil on the land where the lumber company harvests the trees?

a)

place insects in the soil

b)

plant new trees to replace the harvested trees

c)

remove all remaining plant material from the soil

d)

use large machines to carry away the harvested trees

28.

The movement of weathered materials from one location to another is called .

a)

chemical weathering

b)

erosion

c)

exfoliation

d)

physical weathering

29.

The diagram shows a house. It is near a forested hill, a grassy lawn, and a section of dirt. What would MOST LIKELY happen if the trees were removed from the hill next to the house?

a)

Area X would erode less.

b)

Area Y would erode more.

c)

Area W would erode more.

d)

All areas would erode less.

30.

A student performed an experiment in class to study soil erosion. She made four small mounds using the same quantity of rocks and potting soil. She later added different amounts of grass, sticks, and leaves to each mound as shown. She sprinkled an equal amount of water on each mound. Which statement best explains the results?

a)

Mound A had the least erosion because the soil formed a barrier to the water.

b)

Mound A had the most erosion because the soil absorbed and held the water.

c)

Mound D had the least erosion because the leaves and sticks reduced the impact of falling water.

d)

Mound D had the most erosion because the leaves and sticks on the surface held the soil together.

31.

Two students find a rock with a large crack in it. One student suggests that the crack was caused by ice wedging.

Which of these is another possible force that caused the crack?

a)

erosion by wind

b)

erosion by water

c)

weathering by acid rain

d)

weathering by root growth

32.

A student is studying the amount of soil erosion due to heavy rainfall in an area with many hills and valleys. In which of these locations in the area will the student MOST LIKELY find the GREATEST amount of soil erosion?

a)

the hillsides

b)

flowing water

c)

a densely populated city in a valley, because removal of grass and trees to build structures leaves soil exposed to flowing water

d)

a hillside where the trees have been cut down for lumber, because there are fewer plants to slow the flow of water down the hillsides

33.

A new amusement park is being constructed at a location. Many trees at the location have been removed during the construction. What is MOST LIKELY to happen at the location?

a)

The amount of oxygen in the air will increase.

b)

Wind and heavy rains will wash away more soil.

c)

Digging will loosen the soil and make it more fertile.

d)

The number of plant-eating animals in the area will increase.

34.

For an experiment on soil erosion, a student pours water slowly over three different trays containing a mound of soil.

In Tray 1 the mound of soil has been shaped into a series of steps, and plant seedlings are growing on the steps.In Tray 2 the mound's shape has not been changed, and plant seedlings are growing on the mound.In Tray 3 the mound's shape has not been changed, and there are no plant seedlings, just the soil.

Which of these lists the amount of erosion the trays will experience, from LEAST to MOST?

a)

Tray 1, Tray 2, and Tray 3

b)

Tray 1, Tray 3, and Tray 2

c)

Tray 3, Tray 1, and Tray 2

d)

Tray 3, Tray 2, and Tray 1

35.

A student studied the Hawaiian Islands and learned that the older islands were once as high and as wide as the younger islands. Today the tops of the older islands are located below sea level. Which statement BEST explains the changes in the islands over time?

a)

Rain and waves have eroded the older islands.

b)

Earthquakes have submerged the older islands.

c)

Volcanic eruptions have broken apart the older islands.

d)

Hot spots under the tectonic plate have melted the older islands.

36.

Weathering involves the

a)

Picking up of rock fragments.

b)

Movement of rock fragments.

c)

Mechanical and/or chemical breakdown of rocks.

d)

Formation of rocks by the action of weather.

37.

A student writes these steps to describe the changes to rocks in a riverbed.

Step 1: The rocks break into small pieces because the flowing river water causes them to smash against one another.

Step 2: The river water carries away the small pieces of rock to another location.

Which statement is correct?

a)

Step 1 represents erosion, and Step 2 represents weathering.

b)

Step 1 represents weathering, and Step 2 represents erosion.

c)

Step 1 represents chemical weathering, and Step 2 represents physical weathering.

d)

Step 1 represents physical weathering, and Step 2 represents chemical weathering

38.

When a river enters a large body of water, the water generally and large amounts of sediments.

a)

slows down; deposits

b)

slows down; carries

c)

speeds up; deposits

d)

speeds up; carries