Question 1

What kind of weathering involves only a reduction in the sizes of bedrock, regolith, and mineral particles?

Accepted Answer

A)  chemical 
B)  biochemical 
C)  mechanical 
D)  developmental 
A)  chemical 
B)  biochemical 
C)  mechanical 
D)  developmental

Question 2

Sheeting is mainly a process of______ weathering.

Accepted Answer

A)  stream 
B)  mechanical 
C)  industrial 
D)  chemical 
A)  stream 
B)  mechanical 
C)  industrial 
D)  chemical

Question 3

Which of the following is not a significant factor triggering mass wasting events?

Accepted Answer

A)  mine tailings filling a valley 
B)  forest fire 
C)  heavy rainfall 
D)  earthquake 
A)  mine tailings filling a valley 
B)  forest fire 
C)  heavy rainfall 
D)  earthquake

Question 4

In deserts of southwestern North America developers often build houses in dry stream beds and build only minimal subsurface drainage systems to handle a flow of water comparable to the size of the dry stream channel. Is this a reasonable development model in the interest of public safety?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes, although flash floods can occur, using the channel size is a reasonable estimate of the maximum flood size. 
B)  Yes, any potential flooding catastrophe would be a 100 year flood event and would have adequate warning to evacuate people for safety, so the drainage system is adequate. 
C)  No, flash floods can produce high viscosity mudflows that would not be captured by the drainage system and could flow out over the valley, destroying everything in its path. 
D)  No, giant rock avalanches could come down the valley covering houses. 
A)  Yes, although flash floods can occur, using the channel size is a reasonable estimate of the maximum flood size. 
B)  Yes, any potential flooding catastrophe would be a 100 year flood event and would have adequate warning to evacuate people for safety, so the drainage system is adequate. 
C)  No, flash floods can produce high viscosity mudflows that would not be captured by the drainage system and could flow out over the valley, destroying everything in its path. 
D)  No, giant rock avalanches could come down the valley covering houses.

Question 5

In which area would weathering by frost wedging probably be most effective?

Accepted Answer

A)  in cool high desert areas 
B)  where the subsoil is permanently frozen 
C)  in moist, temperate climates 
D)  in a moist, tropical forest 
A)  in cool high desert areas 
B)  where the subsoil is permanently frozen 
C)  in moist, temperate climates 
D)  in a moist, tropical forest

Question 6

Which type of soil would typically be the richest soil?

Accepted Answer

A)  upland slope 
B)  residual 
C)  transported 
D)  desert 
A)  upland slope 
B)  residual 
C)  transported 
D)  desert

Question 7

Engineers refer to any loose material on the surface of the Earth as soil. How does this differ from the definition Earth scientists prefer?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth scientists only use the word soil to refer to the inorganic part of weathered, surface materials. 
B)  There is no difference, the definition is the same. 
C)  Earth scientists use the term soil only for the organic part of the surface materials. 
D)  An engineer's "soil" is equivalent to what Earth scientists call regolith; but for Earth scientists soil has a more specific meaning. 
A)  Earth scientists only use the word soil to refer to the inorganic part of weathered, surface materials. 
B)  There is no difference, the definition is the same. 
C)  Earth scientists use the term soil only for the organic part of the surface materials. 
D)  An engineer's "soil" is equivalent to what Earth scientists call regolith; but for Earth scientists soil has a more specific meaning.

Question 8

What is the most abundant, naturally produced, weak acid involved in chemical weathering and soil formation?

Accepted Answer

A)  hydraulic 
B)  hydrogen chloride 
C)  carbonic 
D)  sulfuric 
A)  hydraulic 
B)  hydrogen chloride 
C)  carbonic 
D)  sulfuric

Question 9

Assume that water filling a crack in a rock undergoes cycles of freezing and melting. Which of the following statement is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Water shrinks as it freezes, causing the crack walls to be drawn closer together. 
B)  Water expands as it melts, causing the crack walls to be pushed apart. 
C)  Water expands as it freezes, causing the crack walls to be pushed apart. 
D)  Water shrinks as it melts, causing the crack walls to be pulled closer together. 
A)  Water shrinks as it freezes, causing the crack walls to be drawn closer together. 
B)  Water expands as it melts, causing the crack walls to be pushed apart. 
C)  Water expands as it freezes, causing the crack walls to be pushed apart. 
D)  Water shrinks as it melts, causing the crack walls to be pulled closer together.

Question 10

The most rapid type of mass movement is a ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  slump 
B)  rock avalanche 
C)  debris flow 
D)  lahar 
A)  slump 
B)  rock avalanche 
C)  debris flow 
D)  lahar

Question 11

______denotes the exposed, crescent- shaped rupture surface at the head of a slump.

Accepted Answer

A)  Scarp 
B)  Sole 
C)  Scoop 
D)  Toe 
A)  Scarp 
B)  Sole 
C)  Scoop 
D)  Toe

Question 12

The solum or true soil includes all horizons above the______ horizon.

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  O 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  O

Question 13

The word topsoil is commonly used, but not always correctly. The proper definition of topsoil is ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  the entire soil down to the base of the C horizon 
B)  the dark, organic rich layers of O and A 
C)  the A, E and B horizons 
D)  only the O horizon 
A)  the entire soil down to the base of the C horizon 
B)  the dark, organic rich layers of O and A 
C)  the A, E and B horizons 
D)  only the O horizon

Question 14

Solifluction occurs during the ______months.

Accepted Answer

A)  winter 
B)  spring 
C)  fall 
D)  summer 
A)  winter 
B)  spring 
C)  fall 
D)  summer

Question 15

From the land surface downward to the unweathered bedrock, which of the following is the correct order of the different soil horizons?

Accepted Answer

A)  D, E, C, B, A, bedrock 
B)  A, B, C, D, E, bedrock 
C)  E, A, B, C, O, bedrock 
D)  O, A, E, B, C, bedrock 
A)  D, E, C, B, A, bedrock 
B)  A, B, C, D, E, bedrock 
C)  E, A, B, C, O, bedrock 
D)  O, A, E, B, C, bedrock

Question 16

Which of the following is not a physical weathering process?

Accepted Answer

A)  tree root growth 
B)  frost wedging 
C)  salt crystallization 
D)  rocks reacting with organic acids from plants 
A)  tree root growth 
B)  frost wedging 
C)  salt crystallization 
D)  rocks reacting with organic acids from plants

Question 17

All of the following are possible indicators that creep is occurring except for______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  an extremely thick soil profile 
B)  curved tree trunks 
C)  cracks in roads or sidewalks 
D)  tilted fences or power line poles 
A)  an extremely thick soil profile 
B)  curved tree trunks 
C)  cracks in roads or sidewalks 
D)  tilted fences or power line poles

Question 18

Abundant______ and______ temperatures result in high rates of chemical weathering.

Accepted Answer

A)  dryness; low 
B)  moisture; high 
C)  dryness; high 
D)  moisture; low 
A)  dryness; low 
B)  moisture; high 
C)  dryness; high 
D)  moisture; low

Question 19

A ______is the exposed portion of the rupture surface beneath a slump block.

Accepted Answer

A)  fracture zone 
B)  creep 
C)  solifluction 
D)  scarp 
A)  fracture zone 
B)  creep 
C)  solifluction 
D)  scarp

Question 20

Which one of the following is an important, mechanical weathering process for enlarging fractures and extending them deeper into large boulders and bedrock?

Accepted Answer

A)  eluviation 
B)  oxidation 
C)  frost wedging 
D)  hydrologic cycling 
A)  eluviation 
B)  oxidation 
C)  frost wedging 
D)  hydrologic cycling

Exam 8: Weathering, Soil, and Mass Movement

What kind of weathering involves only a reduction in the sizes of bedrock, regolith, and mineral particles?

Sheeting is mainly a process of______ weathering.

Which of the following is not a significant factor triggering mass wasting events?

In deserts of southwestern North America developers often build houses in dry stream beds and build only minimal subsurface drainage systems to handle a flow of water comparable to the size of the dry stream channel. Is this a reasonable development model in the interest of public safety?

In which area would weathering by frost wedging probably be most effective?

Which type of soil would typically be the richest soil?

Engineers refer to any loose material on the surface of the Earth as soil. How does this differ from the definition Earth scientists prefer?

What is the most abundant, naturally produced, weak acid involved in chemical weathering and soil formation?

Assume that water filling a crack in a rock undergoes cycles of freezing and melting. Which of the following statement is true?

The most rapid type of mass movement is a ______.

______denotes the exposed, crescent- shaped rupture surface at the head of a slump.

The solum or true soil includes all horizons above the______ horizon.

The word topsoil is commonly used, but not always correctly. The proper definition of topsoil is ______.

Solifluction occurs during the ______months.

From the land surface downward to the unweathered bedrock, which of the following is the correct order of the different soil horizons?

Which of the following is not a physical weathering process?

All of the following are possible indicators that creep is occurring except for______ .

Abundant______ and______ temperatures result in high rates of chemical weathering.

A ______is the exposed portion of the rupture surface beneath a slump block.

Which one of the following is an important, mechanical weathering process for enlarging fractures and extending them deeper into large boulders and bedrock?

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Light, Telescopes, and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters

Abundant and temperatures result in high rates of chemical weathering.