WorksheetsFeatures of the Upper Course
Total questions: 27
Worksheet time: 16mins
The upper course of the river occurs near the:
meander
oxbow lake
source
mouth
All of the following are features of the upper course except:
rapids
plunge pools
meanders
interlocking spurs
Another name for the upper course is the (a) stage
The image shown here is a _-____________ and is formed by _______________
(a)
What are interlocking spurs?
Hills formed by volcanic activity
Alternate projections of land that extend into a river valley
Large rocks deposited by glaciers
Sections of a river where waterfalls occur
The image here shows which feature?
(a)
How do interlocking spurs form?
A river deposits sediment as it slows down
A river erodes softer rock and flows around harder rock, creating a winding path
Wind erosion creates alternating ridges in a valley
Earthquakes shift land, forming a zigzag pattern
Which of the following best explains why interlocking spurs are NOT found in the lower course of a river?
The river is too slow to erode the landscape
The valley is wider, and the river meanders instead of cutting through spurs
The lower course has steep gradients that prevent spur formation
The river deposits too much sediment to allow erosion
If a river with interlocking spurs becomes more powerful due to increased rainfall, what might happen over time?
The interlocking spurs will become steeper and taller
The river will start cutting through the spurs, creating a gorge
The river will dry up and leave the spurs intact
The spurs will widen and form oxbow lakes
A new highway is being built through a mountainous region with interlocking spurs. What would engineers most likely do to accommodate the landform?
Build the highway in a straight line, cutting through the spurs
Follow the winding path of the valley to avoid excessive excavation
Fill in the valley with concrete to create a flat road
Divert the river to another location to remove the spurs
What are potholes in river systems?
Holes in roads caused by weathering
Circular depressions in a riverbed formed by erosion
Underground caves created by acidic water
Deep valleys carved by glacial movement
Which material plays a key role in the formation of potholes?
Large boulders that slow river flow
Sand and pebbles swirling in eddies
Plant roots breaking through rock
Saltwater dissolving limestone
Which of the following types of erosion is NOT directly involved in pothole formation?
Abrasion
Hydraulic action
Attrition
Solution
A team of geologists finds multiple potholes in a riverbed that is now dry. What can they infer about the river in the past?
The river always had a slow-moving current
The potholes were formed by glacial ice, not river erosion
The river once had a high-energy flow that carried sediment
The area was once covered by a deep ocean
The feature in the image shows
potholes
rapids
waterfall
plunge pool
What causes the formation of rapids?
A sudden increase in river width
Alternating layers of hard and soft rock in the riverbed
A rise in sea level affecting the river’s flow
Large deposits of sediment slowing the current
What is the name of the feature in the image?
(a)
What is a waterfall?
A section of a river where the water moves very slowly
A steep drop in a river’s course where water falls vertically
A meander in the lower course of a river
A section of a river where deposition is dominant
Which of the following is a key factor in the formation of waterfalls?
A river flowing over a uniform rock type
A river flowing over alternating layers of hard and soft rock
The widening of a river channel due to deposition
The presence of a large floodplain
What is the name of the feature shown here?
(a)
What feature is often formed at the base of a waterfall due to erosion?
An oxbow lake
A levee
A delta
A plunge pool
If a waterfall’s water flow is drastically reduced, what is the most likely cause?
The waterfall has become steeper over time
The waterfall has reached its base level
The river has changed its course or been diverted
The hard rock at the top has become softer
This image shows
a meander
a gorge
rapids
waterfall
What is a gorge?
A U-shaped valley formed by glacial erosion
A narrow, steep-sided valley formed by river erosion
A wide, flat valley created by deposition
A meander that has been cut off from a river
How is a gorge most commonly formed?
Through deposition of sediments by a river
Through wind erosion shaping soft rock
Through human activities such as mining
Through continuous vertical erosion by a river
If a river stops eroding vertically, what will happen to the gorge over time?
The gorge will deepen as new waterfalls form
The gorge will widen as lateral erosion increases
The gorge will fill with sediment and disappear
The gorge will turn into a meandering river
Which of the following is an example of a famous gorge?
Amazon Basin, Brazil
Sahara Desert, Africa
Grand Canyon, USA
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
