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Review of Earth Processes Benchmark

Total questions: 27

Worksheet time: 35mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which event is an example of chemical weathering?

a)

rocks falling off the face of a steep cliff

b)

feldspar in granite being crushed into clay-sized particles

c)

water freezing in cracks in a roadside outcrop

d)

acid rain reacting with limestone bedrock

2.

The amount of chemical weathering will increase if

a)

air temperature decreases and precipitation decreases

b)

air temperature increases and precipitation decreases

c)

air temperature decreases and precipitation increases

d)

air temperature increases and precipitation increases

3.

The cross section below shows sedimentary bedrock layers A, B, C, and D exposed at Earth’s surface. Which layer appears to be the least resistant to weathering?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

4.

The accompanying diagram shows granite bedrock with cracks. Water has seeped into the cracks and frozen. The arrows represent the directions in which the cracks have widened due to weathering. Which statement best describes the physical weathering shown by the diagram?

a)

Enlargement of the cracks occurs because water expands when it freezes.

b)

This type of weathering occurs only in bedrock composed of granite.

c)

The cracks become wider because of chemical reactions between water and the rock.

d)

This type of weathering is common in regions of primarily warm and humid climates.

5.

Humus, which is formed by the decay of plant and animal matter, is important for the formation of most

a)

soils

b)

minerals

c)

delicious dip for pita chips

d)

surface bedrock

6.

Which factor has the most influence on the development of soil?

a)

climate

b)

longitude

c)

amount of eroded sediment

d)

slope of the landscape

7.

A landscape region that has broad, U-shaped valleys with polished and grooved bedrock was most likely formed by

a)

running water

b)

glaciers

c)

wind

d)

wave action

8.

Which climactic conditions normally produce the greatest chemical weathering?

a)

cool and dry

b)

cool and wet

c)

warm and dry

d)

warm and wet

9.

Which agent of erosion is most likely responsible for the deposition of sandbars along ocean shorelines?

a)

glaciers

b)

mass movement

c)

wave action

d)

wind action

10.

The largest sediment particles that can be transported by a stream traveling at a velocity of 200 centimeters per second are

a)

silt

b)

cobbles

c)

pebbles

d)

sand

11.

The diagram below shows a section of a meander in a stream. The arrows show the direction of stream flow. The streambank on the outside of this meander is steeper than the streambank on the inside of this meander because the water on the outside of this meander is moving

a)

slower, causing deposition

b)

slower, causing erosion

c)

faster, causing depostion

d)

faster, causing erosion

12.

The cross section above shows the rock structure of a deeply eroded, domed mountain region. Which map shows the stream drainage pattern that will most likely develop as the bedrock is weathered and eroded from this igneous dome?

a)
b)
c)
d)
13.

The accompanying cross section illustrates the general sorting of sediment by a river as it flows from a mountain to a plain. Which factor most likely caused the sediment to be sorted in the pattern shown?

a)

velocity of the river water

b)

hardness of surface bedrock

c)

mineral composition of the sediment

d)

temperature of the water

14.

Unsorted piles of angular sediments were most likely transported and deposited by

a)

wind

b)

glaciers

c)

running water

d)

wave action

15.

A sedimentary particle is dropped into a cylinder of water. The particle will take the longest time to settle if the particle has

a)

low density, small size, and spherical shape

b)

low density, small size, and flattened shape

c)

high density, large size, and spherical shape

d)

high density, large size, and flattened shape

16.

A sediment particle transported by a stream over a long period of time will most likely show

a)

a decrease in mass and number of angular edges

b)

a decrease in density and size

c)

an increase in weight and hardness

d)

an increase in volume and number of cleavage planes

17.

Which diagram represents a side view of a sand dune most commonly formed because of the prevailing wind direction shown?

a)
b)
c)
d)
18.

Which cross section best represents the valley shape where a rapidly flowing stream is cutting into the bedrock in a mountainous area?

a)
b)
c)
d)
19.

The block diagram above represents a rapid downslope flow of saturated soil and rock layers. What are two likely causes of this rapid downslope flow?

a)

groundwater and abrasion

b)

groundwater and gravity

c)

prevailing wind and gravity

d)

prevailing wind and abrasion

20.

The landscape feature labeled X is best described as

a)

a flood plain

b)

a sand bar

c)

a delta

d)

an escarpment

21.

When two meanders meet, and the river is redirected, the resulting formation is called

a)

an oxbow lake

b)

a drumlin

c)

a delta

d)

an outwash plain

22.

What is the minimum water velocity necessary to maintain movement of 0.1-centimeter-diameter particles in a stream?

a)

0.02 cm/s

b)

5.0 cm/s

c)

0.5 cm/s

d)

20.0 cm/s

23.

Which type of climate has the greatest amount of rock weathering caused by frost action?

a)

a dry climate in which temperatures remain below freezing

b)

a dry climate in which temperatures alternate from below freezing to above freezing

c)

a wet climate in which temperatures remain below freezing

d)

a wet climate in which temperatures alternate from below freezing to above freezing

24.

A stream flowing at a velocity of 75 centimeters per second can transport

a)

clay, only

b)

pebbles, only

c)

pebbles, sand, silt, and clay, only

d)

boulders, cobbles, pebbles, sand, silt, and clay

25.

A decrease in a river’s velocity will most likely result in more

a)

erosion by the river

b)

deposition by the river

c)

large particles being carried by the river

d)

dissolved material being picked up by the river

26.

After a heavy rainstorm, vegetation on a hillslope was completely removed. How will this removal of vegetation affect the relative amounts of infiltration and runoff that occur during the next heavy rainstorm?

a)

Infiltration and runoff will both be less.

b)

Infiltration and runoff will both be greater.

c)

Infiltration will be less and runoff will be greater.

d)

Infiltration will be greater and runoff will be less.

27.

The block diagram represents a landscape where caverns and sinkholes have gradually developed over a long period of time. Which type of weathering was primarily responsible for the development of these caves?

a)

physical weathering of sandstone

b)

physical weathering of limestone

c)

chemical weathering of standstone

d)

chemical weathering of limestone