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Weathering and Erosion

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

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)

The process by which the seasons change

2.

How might a weathered mountain appear different from an unweathered mountain?

a)

The weathered mountain would be taller

b)

The weathered mountain would appear rounder in shape

c)

The weathered mountain would appear more jagged

d)

The weathered mountain would contain fewer trees

3.

What can you infer about ice from the information presented in the movie?

a)

It usually causes chemical weathering

b)

It expands as it freezes

c)

It barely causes weathering at all

d)

It does not exert pressure on rocks

4.

How is mechanical weathering different from chemical weathering?

a)

Chemical weathering happens over a much shorter time frame than mechanical weathering

b)

Chemical weathering occurs in the tropics; mechanical weathering occurs in temperate climates

c)

Chemical weathering occurs in mountains; mechanical weathering occurs on flat surfaces

d)

Chemical weathering changes the chemical composition of materials; mechanical weathering does not

5.

What might cause mechanical weathering?

a)

Acid rain

b)

Violent earthquakes

c)

Growing plants and expanding ice

d)

Volcanic eruptions

6.

What impact does weathering have on soil formation?

a)

Chemical weathering adds helpful chemicals to the soil

b)

Rocks are broken down into smaller pieces, and finally into sediment

c)

Mechanical weathering adds ice to the soil, which turns into water

d)

Volcanic eruptions contribute metamorphic rocks to the soil

7.

What types of rocks are formed by weathering?

a)

Metamorphic rocks

b)

Igneous rocks

c)

Sedimentary rocks

d)

Volcanic rocks

8.

How long does the weathering process take?

a)

A few days

b)

No more than a month

c)

Exactly one year

d)

Years and years

9.

Carbonic acid is a mixture of:

a)

Water and carbon dioxide

b)

Calcite and quartz

c)

Oxygen and hydrogen

d)

Water and limestone

10.

What process hollows out limestone caves?

a)

Mechanical weathering

b)

Chemical weathering

c)

Spatial weathering

d)

Cave weathering

11.

What type of changes does erosion cause?

a)

Physical changes

b)

Chemical changes

c)

Electrical changes

d)

Magnetic changes

12.

Erosion occurs when natural forces alter the landscape. What does it mean to alter a landscape?

a)

To blow dust around

b)

To change what land looks like

c)

To deposit silt at the mouth of a river

d)

To create a floodplain

13.

Which term BEST describes the rate at which glacial erosion takes place?

a)

Quick

b)

Short

c)

Slow

d)

Sudden

14.

How do sandy beaches form?

a)

Waves pounding pebbles int smaller and smaller pieces

b)

Wind eroding pebbles into smaller pieces

c)

Water freezing and thawing the cracks of pebbles

d)

Rain wearing away rocks into smaller and smaller pieces

15.

Which of the following features would be most affected by weathering?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

16.

How would a sandblasted rock differ from a rock that hasn't been sandblasted?

a)

A sandblasted rock would be bigger

b)

A sandblasted rock would be smoother in shape and less jagged

c)

A sandblasted rock would be composed of volcanic material

d)

A sandblasted rock would be covered by water

17.

Why is it hard to see glacial erosion in action?

a)

Because glaciers are so big

b)

Because light from glaciers refracts too much

c)

Because glaciers move very, very slowly

d)

Because glacial erosion is usually very subtle

18.

What do floodplains, sandbars, and river deltas have in common?

a)

They've all been formed by water erosion

b)

They've all been formed by glacial erosion

c)

They've all been formed by wind erosion

d)

They've all been formed by sandblasting

19.

What would be a simple way to prevent erosion?

a)

Blocking the wind

b)

Planting trees

c)

Preventing rainfall

d)

Preventing the flow of rivers

20.

What can you infer about the type of erosion that formed the Grand Canyon?

a)

Wind erosion

b)

Water erosion

c)

Sandblasting

d)

Glacial erosion