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Unit 4-Weathering and Erosion Study Guide

Total questions: 48

Worksheet time: 33mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Review the image of the stump below. The action of a tree stump splitting bedrock depicts what type of process?

a)

chemical weathering

b)

physical weathering

c)

deposition

d)

erosion

2.

During a field trip to a Kansas state park, Meg observes a rock in the shape of a mushroom, as shown. What is the most likely reason for the shape of the rock?

a)

animals eroding the rock

b)

wind weathering the rock

c)

acid rain dissolving the hard parts of the rock

d)

growth of small plants in the cracks of the rock

3.

The picture shows rocks that fell from the Palisades near New York City on May 12, 2012. The picture is most likely an example of erosion by

a)

ice

b)

wind

c)

animals

d)

gravity

4.

Janice and James are studying a rock formation near their school. They are specifically looking for the processes of physical weathering. When examining the rock and the environment for physical weathering, what types of things should they look for?

a)

the formation of clay minerals, leaching, and animal activity in the area

b)

the presence of lichens, various types of crystals, and fossils

c)

the formation of salt crystals, fractures in the rock, and seasonal temperature fluctuations

d)

the presence of different minerals on the surface, various colors, and plant roots

5.

Look at the image below. Which of the following has most likely happened?

a)

The plant has dissolved the rock.

b)

The plant has eroded the rock.

c)

The plant has eaten away the rock.

d)

The plant has weathered the rock.

6.

Ryder has been visiting his favorite park for ten years. Recently, he noticed that the large boulder in the center of the park has gotten smaller and smoother in some places. Why has the boulder changed?

a)

The heat of the Sun evaporated out the water, causing the boulder to shrink.

b)

Wind and water have weathered the boulder, wearing away at its surface.

c)

The weight of the boulder has caused its rock particles to compress.

d)

The rock particles in the boulder have cemented into thinner layers.

7.

The picture shows a crack through a mountain where many small pieces have fallen into the hole. What most likely caused this to happen?

a)

sandstorms hitting the side of the mountain

b)

mountain goats walking on the side of the mountain

c)

rainwater running down the side of the mountain

d)

lava flowing down the side of the mountain

8.

Which of the following conditions can slow the rate of chemical weathering?

a)

heavy pollution

b)

high rainfall

c)

thick soils

d)

cold temperature

9.

Laura wants to develop a model that shows how natural processes can suddenly change the Earth's surface. Which of the following could she show in her model?

a)

erosion of a sandy beach by storms

b)

formation of a canyon by a river

c)

carving of a valley by a glacier

d)

weathering of rocks by wind

10.

A student wants to create pictures that show what could happen when ice forms inside a small crack in a rock. Which three things should the student show happening to the rock in his pictures?

a)

Broken pieces of rock moving by erosion.

b)

The ice hardening in the crack, making new rock.

c)

Ice making the crack smaller.

d)

The rock breaking apart along the crack.

e)

The crack continuing to widen.

11.

Laurel creates the model shown of a stream bed. She wants to demonstrate how natural processes can change the surface of Earth through deposition and erosion. She pours water on her model and makes observations. In which situation will more deposition than erosion occur in Laura's stream bed model?

a)

More deposition will occur if the slope of the stream increases.

b)

More deposition will occur if sediment in the stream decreases.

c)

More deposition will occur if the amount of stream water increases.

d)

More deposition will occur if the speed of the stream water decreases.

12.

Water fills a crack in a rock. The temperature drops below freezing. What is likely to happen?

a)

The water in the crack will evaporate.

b)

The water will freeze and the crack in the rock will expand.

c)

The water will freeze and the crack will stay the same.

d)

The water in the crack will protect the rock from further cracks.

13.

New crust is formed through what process?

a)

plate tectonics

b)

chemical weathering

c)

mechanical weathering

d)

erosion

14.

The picture shows a cliff face being hit by waves. Which of the following pictures shows how the cliff will look after being hit by waves for many years?

a)

Option A

b)

Option B

c)

Option C

d)

Option D

15.

Which of the following is true about the development of soils in extremely dry climates?

a)

They develop without chemical weathering, unlike humid areas.

b)

They develop without mechanical weathering, unlike humid areas.

c)

They develop more rapidly than soils in humid areas.

d)

They develop more slowly than soils in humid areas.

16.

The state of Georgia has many different types of ecosystems. What is most likely true about the amount of soil in these ecosystems?

a)

The Georgia pine forest has more soil because there are more trees and plants to weather the rocks.

b)

The Georgia pine forest has less soil because there are less trees and plants to weather the rocks.

c)

The Georgia mountains have more soil because there are less trees and plants to weather the rocks.

d)

The Georgia mountains have less soil because there are more trees and plants to weather the rocks.

17.

Which of the following is organic material that results from the decay of plant and animal remains?

a)

humus

b)

gravel

c)

horizon

d)

clay

18.

Mary is studying swampy marshlands near her school. She notices there are many thriving plants in the wet soil. What type of soil is she likely to see?

a)

soil mostly of broken rocks

b)

soil mostly of sand grains

c)

soil with many minerals

d)

soil with decaying organic material

19.

Under which conditions is the thickest soil most likely to form?

a)

in a warm, wet climate

b)

in a warm, dry climate

c)

in a cold, wet climate

d)

in a cold, dry climate

20.

The pictures show two types of soil. Which soil has the most matter from living organisms?

a)

X because it has less texture

b)

Y because it has more rocks

c)

X because it has a darker color

d)

Y because it has smaller particles

21.

Which of the following is the largest mineral particle found in soil?

a)

peat

b)

dirt

c)

sand

d)

silt

22.

Soil is made of many things, including tiny particles of rock. Which is one way rocks are broken down into rock particles?

a)

Molecules of water that are superheated inside of rocks can build up pressure that breaks rocks into rock particles.

b)

Radiation from sunlight creates tons of tiny cracks in the rock, which expand until they break.

c)

Molecules of water that freeze inside rocks can expand and break rocks into rock particles.

d)

Oxygen from the atmosphere gets absorbed by the rock, which expands until it breaks.

23.

Devin is planting carrots in his school garden. He notices that the soil in the garden is darker and has a finer texture than the soil in the soccer field. The soil in the garden is most likely different because it has more

a)

sand than the soil in the soccer field.

b)

clay than the soil in the soccer field.

c)

large weathered rocks than the soil in the soccer field.

d)

decomposed organic matter than the soil in the soccer field.

24.

Anna took a large, jagged rock down to the river near her home and placed it in the water where the water was moving very fast. She went back to check the rock several months later. What changes will Anna observe in her rock?

a)

The rock will be smaller and smooth, as jagged edges were worn by the water.

b)

The rock will be larger and smooth, as small pieces were added by the water.

c)

The rock will be larger and rough, as other minerals were added by the water.

d)

The rock will smaller and rough, as pieces were ripped off by the water.

25.

Tamika noticed after a heavy rainstorm that the loose dirt in her backyard had been moved around, creating channels and mounds. Which TWO processes took place in Tamika's backyard?

a)

compaction

b)

deposition

c)

sedimentation

d)

cementation

e)

erosion

26.

The picture shows a winding stream. Points W, X, Y, and Z represent locations along the stream. Which statement about point Y is most likely true?

a)

Y is a shallow part of the stream because of erosion.

b)

Y is a shallow part of the stream because of deposition.

c)

Y is a deep part of the stream because of erosion.

d)

Y is a deep part of the stream because of deposition.

27.

Which layer most likely contains the most rocks and the least amount of organic matter?

a)

W

b)

X

c)

Y

d)

Z

28.

Select three human activities that increase soil erosion.

a)

clearing land for crops

b)

terracing the land on hillsides

c)

building fences around land

d)

overgrazing by farm animals

e)

building roads through fields

29.
When sand settles on the beach after waves dropped it there. This is an example of:
a)
Weathering 
b)
Erosion
c)
Deposition
d)
Dragging
30.
Which of these is the most powerful force of weathering and erosion?
a)
wind
b)
ice
c)
gravity
d)
moving water
31.
The process by which small pieces of rocks and soil are moved by natural forces is called...
a)
deposition
b)
erosion
c)
weathering
d)
faults
32.
The process of breaking up rocks on Earth's surface is called...
a)
sediment
b)
erosion
c)
weathering
d)
deposition 
33.
Acid rain causes the following type of weathering:
a)
physical
b)
mechanical
c)
chemical
d)
human
34.

WHAT LAYER OF SOIL IS ON TOP OF TOPSOIL?

a)

HUMUS

b)

TOPSOIL

c)

SUBSOIL

d)

BEDROCK

35.

WHAT LAYER OF "SOIL" IS HARD SOLID ROCK

a)

TOPSOIL

b)

SUBSOIL

c)

BEDROCK

d)

PARENT MATERIAL

36.

THIS LAYER IS  MADE UP OF MINERALS AND DECOMPOSED ORGANIC MATTER

(a)  

37.

THIS LAYER IS THE LAYER UNDER SUBSOIL

(a)  

38.

What does the size of the soil particles determine?

a)

pH

b)

mineral composition

c)

texture

d)

horizon posiition

39.

What are loam, clay loam, silt loam, and clay?

a)

Soil particle sizes

b)

Soil Textures

c)

Soil pH

d)

Soil composition

40.
SOIL LAYERS ARE CALLED.......
a)
MATERIALS
b)
ORGANIC
c)
HUMUS
d)
HORIZONS
41.

Which of the following causes of the Dust Bowl were due to HUMAN IMPACT?

  1. 1.Over-tilling the land

  2. 2. Severe heat and drought for almost a decade

  3. 3. Overgrazing of farm animals

  4. 4. High winds in the area

a)

All answer options

b)

1 and 3

c)

1, 2, and 3

d)

1 and 2

42.

Which soil conservation practice aims to keep nutrients in the soil?

a)

no-tilling farming

b)

crop rotation

c)

contour plowing on hillsides

d)

terracing hillside farms

43.

Which geologic processes have changed the landscape of Georgia the most during the last 10,000 years?

a)

continental drift and plate movement

b)

glacial erosion and deposition

c)

water erosion and deposition

d)

volcanoes and faulting

44.
Canyons are created by what process?
a)
weathering
b)
erosion
c)
deposition
d)
cementation
45.
What process creates flood plains?
a)
erosion and deposition
b)
weathering and erosion
c)
weathering and deposition
46.
What process creates deltas?
a)
Deposition by water
b)
Deposition by ice (glaciers)
c)
Deposition by wind
47.
What is the landform made when rivers deposit sediment where they meet the ocean?
a)
delta
b)
terminal moraine
c)
sediment load
d)
flood plain
48.

What best describes a meander?

a)

a place where a body of water and land meet

b)

a crescent shaped lake

c)

a curve and bend in a waterway that forms a twisting and looping pattern

d)

an area of shoreline that is made up of material deposited by waves and currents