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Updated 2025: Weathering/Erosion

Total questions: 137

Worksheet time: 2hrs 56mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

This kind of weathering causes the mineral composition of rocks to change

a)

mechanical

b)

chemical

c)

permeable

d)

general

2.

Frost wedging causes mechanical weathering of rock by means of...

a)

heating and cooling

b)

plant growth

c)

animal actions

d)

freezing and thawing

3.

The movement of rock particles by ice, wind, water, or gravity is called

a)

erosion

b)

mechanical weathering

c)

chemical weathering

d)

abrasion

4.

Rapid chemical weathering can be caused by _____________, when rain mixes with air pollution.

a)

carbon rain

b)

acid rain

c)

topsoil

d)

subsoil

5.

Glaciers move because of ______________.

a)

ice

b)

pressure

c)

sliding

d)

compression

6.

Glaciers move because of ______________.

a)

ice

b)

pressure

c)

sliding

d)

compression

7.

Where do continental glaciers still exist today?

a)

Greenland and Antarctica

b)

The Arctic Circle and Antarctica

c)

Antarctica and Canada

d)

Canada and The Arctic Circle

8.

What type of soil is decayed matter that comes from dead plants and animals

a)

humus

b)

sand

c)

clay

d)

silt

9.

Which of the following is NOT a classification of texture?

a)

Sand

b)

Silt

c)

Clay

d)

Rock

10.

How is soil formed?

a)

Rock erodes into tiny pieces and mixes with organic matter

b)

Rocks break apart all on their own

c)

Sunlight breaks the rocks apart

d)

Organisms break down bedrock by consuming it

11.

What are the two ultimate sources of energy that drive the erosion of Earth's surface?

a)

tides and wind

b)

the sun and gravity

c)

fission and radiation

d)

the Earth's mantle and core

12.

Which of these is when carbonic acid breaks down minerals in rock?

a)

sorting

b)

saturation

c)

capillary action

d)

chemical weathering

13.

Which of these statements holds true for the coarseness of sediment?

a)

The depositional environment changes

b)

The farther sediments travel from its source, the coarser the grains become.

c)

The farther sediments travel from its source, the smoother the grains become.

d)

The number of sedimentary rock features increases as the sediment is carried farther from its source

14.
What process created this cool rock?
a)
A volcanic eruption
b)
A flood
c)
Wind
d)
Water
15.
What is the major force of erosion along the coast?
a)
Sand
b)
Earthquakes
c)
Waves
d)
Rain
16.
The process of breaking up rocks on Earth's surface is called...
a)
sediment
b)
erosion
c)
weathering
d)
deposition 
17.
Which of the following is NOT a slow change to Earth's surface?
a)
weathering
b)
erosion
c)
deposition
d)
a landslide
18.
What is sediment?
a)
the process of rocks being broken down and carried away
b)
bits of rock, sand, and silt caused by the weathering of rocks
c)
the top layer of the soil
d)
decaying plant or animal material 
19.
Which of these is an example of erosion
a)
Light Shinning onto a mountain
b)
Rain breaking down rock 
c)
Wind blowing away sediment
d)
All of the above
20.
What is mechanical weathering?
a)
Process through which rocks are physically broken into smaller pieces.
b)
Rocks are broken down through chemical changes.
c)
Rocks are worn away from acid in plant roots.
d)
Rocks broken down by machinery.
21.
Which of the following is NOT one of the three layers of soil?
a)
topsoil
b)
undersoil
c)
subsoil
d)
bedrock
22.
When there are not enough plants to hold topsoil in place, water and  _______ carry the topsoil away, leaving the subsoil exposed
a)
sunlight
b)
birds
c)
magnetic fields
d)
wind
23.
Which of the following is the largest particle in soil?
a)
sand
b)
silt
c)
humus
d)
clay
24.
Many plants cannot grow in sandy soil. Why is this true?
a)
Sandy soil does not hold enough water.
b)
Oxygen cannot pass through sandy soil.
c)
Roots cannot easily push through clay soil.
d)
Sandy soil has too many nutrients.
25.
Which layer of soil are these roots growing in?
a)
subsoil
b)
topsoil
26.
Wind blowing dirt and sand through the air is an example of...
a)
weathering 
b)
erosion
27.
Soil is made of
a)
weathered rocks and minerals
b)
dead plants and animals
c)
air and water
d)
all of the above
28.

What is infiltration?

a)

The process by which water sinks into the ground

b)

The zone where there are still air spaces left between the particles.

c)

The process by which water vapor turns into liquid water and forms fog or clouds.

d)

The process by which water does not sink into the ground, but rather travels along the surface.

29.
Soil is made of
a)
weathered rocks and minerals
b)
dead plants and animals
c)
air and water
d)
all of the above
30.

When a glacier moves, it picks up and carries the rocks with it. These rocks are weathered by:

a)

abrasion

b)

exfoliation

c)

thermal expansion

d)

hydrolysis

31.
Scratches and grooves in rocks from glacial movements are known as ____. 
a)
Alpine Glaciers
b)
Ice Sheets
c)
Striations 
d)
Talus 
32.

The elongated hills labeled R are most useful in determining the

a)

age of the glacier

b)

direction of movement of the glacier

c)

size of the glacier

d)

velocity of the glacier

33.

A U-shaped Valley is formed by a-

a)

River

b)

Wind

c)

Glacier

d)

Rainfall

34.

U shaped valleys are created by

a)

glaciers

b)

gravity

c)

wind

d)

water

35.

Scratches in bedrock are found in areas where ______ have moved over the surface.

a)

glaciers

b)

rivers

c)

wind

d)

sand dunes

36.

A glacier melts depositing piles of unsorted sediment called

a)

glacial till

b)

drumlin

c)

kettle lake

d)

outwash plain

37.

What will be the most probable arrangement of rock particles deposited directly by a glacier?

a)

sorted and layered

b)

sorted and not layered

c)

unsorted and layered

d)

unsorted and not layered

38.

The farthest point that a glacier traveled before it receded or melted away.

a)

terminal moraine

b)

outwash plain

c)

drumlin

d)

kettle lake

39.

Large boulders that are deposited by melting glaciers

a)

glacial erratics

b)

drumlins

c)

moraines

d)

glacial till

40.

An elongated hill of glacial sediment

a)

drumlin

b)

moraine

c)

outwash plain

41.

Drumlins are useful in determining

a)

direction the glacier moved

b)

how thick the glacier was

c)

how fast the glacier moved

d)

the age of the glacier

42.

The photograph shows scratched and grooved

bedrock with boulders on its surface. The scratches and grooves were most likely created when

a)

alternating thawing and freezing of water cracked the bedrock

b)

flooding from a nearby lake covered the bedrock

c)

a glacier dragged rocks over the bedrock

d)

rocks from a landslide slid along the bedrock

43.

The cross sections show a three-stage sequence in the development of a glacial feature. Which glacial feature has formed by the end of stage 3?

a)

kettle lake

b)

finger lake

c)

drumlin

d)

parallel scratches

44.

The diagram represents a stream valley. Which diagram below best shows how this valley might be modified after a glacier has moved through it?

a)
b)
c)
d)
45.

Which type of mass movement is caused by the freeze-thaw cycle of water?

a)

frost wedging

b)

mudflow

c)

creep

d)

earthflow

46.

the downslope movement of loose sediments and rock that has been weathered

a)

weathering

b)

mass wasting

c)

earthquake

d)

deposition

47.

Which of the following forces has the biggest impact on mass wasting?

a)

momentum

b)

sliding friction

c)

rolling friction

d)

gravity

48.

When a block of material moves across a flat, inclined surface _____ has occurred.

a)

a rock fall

b)

mudflow

c)

slide

d)

chemical weathering

49.

the downward movement of a block of material on a curved surface is called ____

a)

slide

b)

slump

c)

mudflow

d)

creep

50.

Mass wasting can be triggered by all of the following except which one?

a)

water

b)

removal of plants

c)

sun

d)

earthquakes

51.

Rockfalls and rock slides are most likely caused by ____

a)

carbonation

b)

frost wedging

c)

oxidation

d)

acid precipitation

52.

In which area are slumps most likely to occur?

a)

muddy hillsides

b)

high mountains with loose soil

c)

curved surfaces with clay soil

d)

the base of a cliff where ocean waves crash

53.

The process responsible for moving material downslope under the influence of gravity is called ___.

a)

erosion

b)

weathering

c)

mass movement

d)

soil formation

54.

What is the force behind mass movements?

a)

the sun's energy

b)

flowing water

c)

gravity

d)

moving ice

55.

Which of the following is NOT true about mass movement?

a)

Some mass movement is too slow to be seen.

b)

Mass movement always leads to landslides.

c)

Gravity is the driving force behind all mass movements.

d)

Mass movement is always downslope.

56.

What factor commonly triggers mass movements?

a)

saturation of surface materials with water

b)

earthquakes

c)

removal of vegetation

57.

Why can the removal of vegetation trigger mass movements?

a)

The soil loses nutrients and begins to crumble.

b)

The plant roots bind the soil and regolith together.

c)

The shaking triggers mass movements.

d)

The plant roots lubricate the loose sediment.

58.

Oversteepened slopes often lead to mass movements because...

a)

...the angle of their slope is between 50 and 60 degrees.

b)

...plants cannot grow on them.

c)

...the angle of their slope is less than 50 degrees.

d)

...the angle of their slope is greater than 40 degrees.

59.

During what season would you expect mass movements to be a greater threat?

a)

a dry summer

b)

a wet spring before vegetation is growing

c)

a wet spring with lots of growing vegetation

d)

a dry autumn after the leaves have turned

60.

A mass movement that involves the sudden movement of a block of material is called a ___.

a)

rockfall

b)

slide

c)

slump

d)

flow

61.

When a block of material moves downslope along a curved surface, the type of mass movement is called ___.

a)

a rockfall

b)

a rockslide

c)

a slump

d)

creep

62.

What is the slowest type of mass movement?

a)

a slump

b)

a rockfall

c)

an earthflow

d)

creep

63.

A relatively rapid form of mass movement that is most common in dry mountainous regions is ___.

a)

creep

b)

a mudflow

c)

a slump

d)

an earthflow

64.

Which of the following statements best describes a slump?

a)

slippage of a block of material moving along a curved surface

b)

blocks of rock sliding down a slope

c)

rapid flow of water-saturated debris, most common in mountainous areas

d)

slow downhill movement of soil and regolith

65.

Alternate freezing and thawing often leads to ___.

a)

creep

b)

slumps

c)

mudflows

d)

earthflows

66.

The downslope movement of rock, regolith, and soil under the direct influence of gravity is called a(n) ___ ___.

(a)  

67.

The force that drives mass movements is (a)   .

68.

A landform called a stream valley is the most common result of ___ ___.

(a)  

69.

One trigger of mass movements is the pores in sediments filling with (a)   .

70.

One of the most dramatic triggers of sudden mass movements is a(n) (a)   .

71.

(a)   , the slowest type of mass movement, involves the lifting and contracting of soil particles over time.

72.

The downward movement of a block of material along a curved surface is called a(n) (a)   .

73.

Which of the following factors are important in triggering mass movements?

a)

earthquakes

b)

oversteepening of slopes

c)

the removal of vegetation

d)

the saturation of the soil with water

e)

gravity

74.

Waves ERODE the land by

a)

picking up sediment like sand and gravel

b)

abrasion

c)

impact

d)

all of the above

75.

Waves shape the coast through erosion by breaking down rocks and ________ sand and sediment

a)

moving

b)

flying

c)

dropping

76.

When waves hit rocks with huge force, it causes rocks to

a)

not change

b)

break apart

c)

get larger

77.

Where rock is softer, waves erode it faster

a)

True

b)

Flase

78.

Over time the waves may erode a small hollow area in a part of a rock called a

a)

sea cave

b)

sea arch

c)

beach

d)

non of the above

79.

When waves erode softer a layer of softer rock and becomes completely hollowed through

a)

sea cave

b)

sea arch

c)

beach

d)

none of the above

80.

Where wave-washed sediment along a coast drops

a)

sea arch

b)

sea cave

c)

beach

d)

None of the above

81.

A wave DEPOSITION includes which feature?

a)

sea arch

b)

sea cave

c)

beach

d)

None of the above

82.

Which of the following is considered a wave EROSION feature

a)

beach

b)

kettle

c)

oxbow lake

d)

sea cave

83.

Which of the following is considered a wave EROSION feature

a)

alluvial fan

b)

beach

c)

sea arch

d)

plucking

84.

Which image shows a sea cave?

a)
b)
c)
d)

None of the above

85.

Which image shows a sea arch?

a)
b)
c)
d)

None of the above

86.

Which image shows a beach?

a)
b)
c)
d)

None of the above

87.

Which of these shows wave deposition?

a)
b)
c)
88.

Which of these shows wave erosion

a)
b)
c)
89.

The process that changes solid rock into sediments.

a)

Fracture

b)

Dissolution

c)

Weathering

d)

Erosion

90.

The process that moves sediments

a)

Erosion

b)

Weathering

c)

Dissolution

d)

Fracture

91.

The final result of oxidation is -

a)

rust

b)

frost

92.

Weathering can change roads, sidewalks, buildings and sculptures over time.

a)

True

b)

False

93.

Which is an example of chemical weathering?

a)

A rock breaking into fragments.

b)

Sediment being moved down a hillside.

c)

A rock being scratched by rocks embedded in the bottom of a

glacier.

d)

A rock dissolving in water.

94.

If a flood picks up a house and moves it downstream, this is -

a)

Chemical weathering

b)

Physical weathering

c)

Erosion

d)

All of the above

95.

Erosion is always followed by-

a)

deposition

b)

weathering

c)

suspension

d)

saltation

96.

Factors that determine how much erosion runoff can cause include -

a)

whether the land is bare or covered with plants.

b)

how fast the water is moving.

c)

how much water is flowing.

d)

all of the above

97.

Natural processes changing ecoregions include-

a)

Weathering

b)

Erosion

c)

Deposition

d)

All of the above

98.

All are examples of the presence of humans changing ecoregions except

a)

Construction of buildings

b)

Building of a seawall to protect from storm surge

c)

Ships moving in and out of ports

d)

Hurricanes changing shorelines

99.

We belong to which of the following Ecoregions?

a)

The Plains Ecoregion

b)

The Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Ecoregion

c)

The Woodland Ecoregion

d)

The Prairie Ecoregion

100.

The repeated growth and melting of ice in pore space or fractures.

a)

Physical Weathering

b)

Chemical weathering

c)

Frost wedging

101.

Chemical weathering where iron reacts with oxygen

a)

Oxidation

b)

Sediment

c)

Abrasion

102.

Any of the various weatheringprocesses that cause physical disintegration of exposed rock without any change in the chemical composition.

a)

Physical Weathering

b)

Chemical weathering

c)

Oxidation

103.

The transport of sediments to a new location.

a)

Erosion

b)

Physical Weathering

c)

Deposition

d)

Chemical Weathering

104.

Scraping of a rock surface by friction between rocks and moving particles during their transport by wind, glacier, waves, gravity, running water

a)

Sediment

b)

Frost wedging

c)

Erosion

d)

Abrasion

105.

The process in which sediment is laid down.

a)

Physical Weathering

b)

Frost wedging

c)

Erosion

d)

deposition

106.

Fine or small rock particles.

a)

Sediment

b)

Abrasion

c)

Weathering

d)

Oxidation

107.

Weathering that alters the mineral composition, or chemical makeup, of rocks.

a)

Physical Weathering

b)

Chemical weathering

c)

Frost wedging

d)

Erosion

108.
The process by which natural forces move weathered rock and soil from one place to another.
a)
uniformitarianism
b)
erosion
c)
deposition
d)
sediment
109.
The material moved by erosion.
a)
sediment
b)
landslide
c)
delta
d)
material
110.
Occurs where the agents of erosion deposit, or lay down, sediment.
a)
weathering
b)
deposition
c)
deflation
d)
erosion
111.
Any one of several processes that move sediment downhill.
a)
erosion
b)
abrasion
c)
plucking
d)
mass movement
112.
Rock and soil slide quickly down a steep slope: the most destructive kind of mass movement
a)
landslide
b)
mudflow
c)
slump
d)
creep
113.
The rapid downhill movement of a mixture of water, rock, and soil.
a)
landslide
b)
mudflow
c)
slump
d)
creep
114.
A mass of rock and soil that has suddenly slipped down a slope.
a)
landslide
b)
mudflow
c)
slump
d)
creep
115.
The very slow downhill movement of rock and soil.
a)
landslide
b)
mudflow
c)
slump
d)
creep
116.
Water that moves over Earth's surface.
a)
runoff
b)
delta
c)
meander
d)
river
117.
An area of wave-washed sediment along a coast.
a)
delta
b)
beach
c)
barrier beach
d)
meander
118.
A loop-like bend in the course of a river.
a)
meander
b)
delta
c)
river
d)
stream
119.
Sediment deposited where a river flows into an ocean or lake and builds up a landform.
a)
barrier beach
b)
beach
c)
meander
d)
delta
120.
Similar to a sand bar, storms deposit large piles of sediment, building it up above sea level and forming a long narrow island parallel to the shore.
a)
stream
b)
river
c)
beach
d)
 barrier beach
121.
Any large mass of ice that moves slowly over land.
a)
erosion
b)
wind
c)
glacier
d)
water
122.
A continually flowing body of water formed as streams join together.
a)
river
b)
stream
c)
delta
d)
meander
123.
Sediment carried by wind that polishes rock when it hits it. 
a)
loess
b)
deflation
c)
abrasion
d)
deposition
124.
A deposit of wind-blown sand.
a)
loess
b)
sand dune
c)
deflation
d)
abrasion 
125.
Fine, wind-deposited sediment.
a)
loess
b)
sand dune
c)
deflation
d)
abrasion 
126.
The process by which wind removes surface materials.
a)
deposition
b)
erosion
c)
weathering
d)
deflation
127.
The process on Earth that breaks down rock.
a)
erosion
b)
deposition
c)
weathering 
d)
deflation
128.

30% Sand, 30% Clay, 40% Silt

a)

Loam

b)

Silt Loam

c)

Clay Loam

d)

Silty Clay Loam

129.

75% sand, 10% silt, 15% clay

a)

Sandy Loam

b)

Loamy Sand

c)

Sand

d)

Sandy Clay Loam

130.

42% sand, 21% silt, 37% clay

a)

Silty Clay Loam

b)

Sandy Clay Loam

c)

Loam

d)

Clay Loam

131.

27% sand, 52% silt, 21% clay

a)

Silt

b)

Silt Loam

c)

Loam

d)

Silty Clay Loam

132.

15% sand, 35% silt, 50% clay

a)

Clay

b)

Silty Clay

c)

Sandy Clay

d)

Clay Loam

133.

64% sand, 30% silt, 6% clay

a)

Sandy Clay Loam

b)

Loamy Sand

c)

Sandy Loam

d)

Loam

134.

50% sand, 10% silt, 40% clay

a)

Sandy Clay

b)

Sandy Clay Loam

c)

Clay Loam

d)

Sand

135.

10% sand, 30% silt, 60% clay

a)

sandy clay

b)

Clay Loam

c)

Silty Clay

d)

Clay

136.

10% sand, 50% silt, 40% clay

a)

Silty clay

b)

Silty clay loam

c)

Clay

d)

Clay loam

137.

40% sand, 50% silt, 10% clay

a)

Loam

b)

Silt loam

c)

Sandy loam

d)

Clay loam

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