Question 1

What are some of the ways that urbanization can change how stream discharge responds to rainfall and runoff and affect flooding?

Accepted Answer

Student answers should resemble the following: Before an area experiences urbanization,much of the rainfall and runoff either soaks into the ground or gets taken up by vegetation.As a result,the amount of water that enters streams is less than what fell as rainfall,and there is a significant time delay between the rainfall and any increase in stream discharge.Urbanization is when natural surfaces are covered by impermeable materials such as roads,buildings,parking lots,and sidewalks.Rainfall and runoff are forced to go into storm drains and culverts,and do not have the chance to enter the ground or be taken up by plants.More of the total rainfall thus enters the stream (making a flood more likely for a given amount of rain),and there is less time lag between the rainfall and the increase in discharge (giving people less notice to prepare for a flood).

Question 2

The largest drainage basin in the United States drains into the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Pacific Ocean 
B)  Arctic Ocean 
C)  Gulf of Mexico 
D)  Atlantic Ocean 
A)  Pacific Ocean 
B)  Arctic Ocean 
C)  Gulf of Mexico 
D)  Atlantic Ocean C

Question 3

What kind of drainage network is likely to form in a landscape where the bedrock is broken by a regularly-spaced grid of joints and fractures?

Accepted Answer

A)  dendritic 
B)  radial 
C)  rectangular 
D)  trellis 
A)  dendritic 
B)  radial 
C)  rectangular 
D)  trellis C

Question 4

If over time a stream experiences a decrease in its base level or increase in discharge,a(n)________ is likely to form.

Accepted Answer

A)  alluvial terrace 
B)  slot canyon 
C)  meander 
D)  waterfall 
A)  alluvial terrace 
B)  slot canyon 
C)  meander 
D)  waterfall

Question 5

What kind of drainage network is likely to form in a landscape characterized by a uniform and steep slope and a relatively weak substrate?

Accepted Answer

A)  dendritic 
B)  parallel 
C)  rectangular 
D)  trellis 
A)  dendritic 
B)  parallel 
C)  rectangular 
D)  trellis

Question 6

A stream carrying sediment flows over the solid rock of its channel,polishing the rock and wearing it away.This is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  scouring 
B)  abrasion 
C)  dissolution 
D)  saltation 
A)  scouring 
B)  abrasion 
C)  dissolution 
D)  saltation

Question 7

A geologist finds an old report on stream discharge and reads a value of "20",but the rest of the page is cut off.Which of the following could be the appropriate value and units for the discharge of a stream?

Accepted Answer

A)  20 meters per second 
B)  20 cubic meters per second 
C)  20 square meters per second 
D)  20 seconds per cubic meter 
A)  20 meters per second 
B)  20 cubic meters per second 
C)  20 square meters per second 
D)  20 seconds per cubic meter

Question 8

A stream is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  flowing water confined to a channel 
B)  a small river found near its headwaters 
C)  a small river near the mouth 
D)  a large river near its source 
A)  flowing water confined to a channel 
B)  a small river found near its headwaters 
C)  a small river near the mouth 
D)  a large river near its source

Question 9

Which of the following conditions would cause the largest stream capacity?

Accepted Answer

A)  high velocity and high discharge (i.e.,a large,fast-moving river) 
B)  high velocity and low discharge (i.e.,a small,fast-moving mountain creek) 
C)  low velocity and high discharge (i.e.,a large but slow-moving river) 
D)  low velocity and low discharge (i.e.,a small and sluggish lowland creek) 
A)  high velocity and high discharge (i.e.,a large,fast-moving river) 
B)  high velocity and low discharge (i.e.,a small,fast-moving mountain creek) 
C)  low velocity and high discharge (i.e.,a large but slow-moving river) 
D)  low velocity and low discharge (i.e.,a small and sluggish lowland creek)

Question 10

A meander that is cut off to become completely isolated from the main channel but which retains water is called a(n)________.

Accepted Answer

A)  meander neck 
B)  cut bank 
C)  oxbow lake 
D)  thalweg 
A)  meander neck 
B)  cut bank 
C)  oxbow lake 
D)  thalweg

Question 11

Two 100-year floods can occur in two consecutive years.Use the concept of recurrence interval to explain how this is possible.

Accepted Answer

The recurrence interval of a flood of a

Question 12

Differentiate between dissolved load,suspended load,and bed load.

Accepted Answer

Dissolved load consists of the ions of m

Question 13

Meandering streams ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  consist of a series of intertwined channels that are overloaded with sediment 
B)  have flowing water either episodically or during only a portion of the year 
C)  have a channel that is highly sinuous (curvy) 
D)  are those that divert flow from streams they have intersected through stream erosion 
A)  consist of a series of intertwined channels that are overloaded with sediment 
B)  have flowing water either episodically or during only a portion of the year 
C)  have a channel that is highly sinuous (curvy) 
D)  are those that divert flow from streams they have intersected through stream erosion

Question 14

Water in a stream flows from its _________ to its __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  mouth,headwaters 
B)  mouth,source 
C)  source,headwaters 
D)  headwaters,mouth 
A)  mouth,headwaters 
B)  mouth,source 
C)  source,headwaters 
D)  headwaters,mouth

Question 15

Which of the following is most likely to make up the suspended load of a stream?

Accepted Answer

A)  ions that formed when minerals dissolved in groundwater 
B)  large boulders that fell into the stream during a landslide 
C)  gravel that washed into the stream during a flood 
D)  small grains of clay and silt 
A)  ions that formed when minerals dissolved in groundwater 
B)  large boulders that fell into the stream during a landslide 
C)  gravel that washed into the stream during a flood 
D)  small grains of clay and silt

Question 16

The distinction between a valley and a canyon is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  nonexistent; the two terms are synonymous 
B)  that the sides of a canyon are more steep than those of a valley 
C)  that the sides of a valley are more steep than those of a canyon 
D)  that valleys are often cut by streams,whereas canyons are eroded by the wind 
A)  nonexistent; the two terms are synonymous 
B)  that the sides of a canyon are more steep than those of a valley 
C)  that the sides of a valley are more steep than those of a canyon 
D)  that valleys are often cut by streams,whereas canyons are eroded by the wind

Question 17

Which of the following best describes a "100-year flood"?

Accepted Answer

A)  has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year 
B)  occurs once every 100 years 
C)  lasts for 100 years 
D)  is twice as deep as a 50-year flood 
A)  has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year 
B)  occurs once every 100 years 
C)  lasts for 100 years 
D)  is twice as deep as a 50-year flood

Question 18

The discharge of a river traveling through a temperate region will typically ________ downstream; the discharge of a river traveling through an arid region will typically ________ downstream.

Accepted Answer

A)  increase; increase 
B)  decrease; decrease 
C)  increase; decrease 
D)  decrease; increase 
A)  increase; increase 
B)  decrease; decrease 
C)  increase; decrease 
D)  decrease; increase

Question 19

Runoff from farm fields entering a stream system is likely to be __________ than that from naturally vegetated fields.

Accepted Answer

A)  greater and more sediment-laden 
B)  smaller but more sediment-laden 
C)  greater but less sediment-laden 
D)  smaller and less sediment-laden 
A)  greater and more sediment-laden 
B)  smaller but more sediment-laden 
C)  greater but less sediment-laden 
D)  smaller and less sediment-laden

Question 20

In some cases,the push of flowing water cause large particles to bounce or roll along a streambed.These pieces are then carried along the bottom of the stream as _________.

Accepted Answer

A)  suspended load 
B)  dissolved load 
C)  bed load 
D)  discharge 
A)  suspended load 
B)  dissolved load 
C)  bed load 
D)  discharge

Exam 14: Streams and Floods: the Geology of Running Water

What are some of the ways that urbanization can change how stream discharge responds to rainfall and runoff and affect flooding?

The largest drainage basin in the United States drains into the:

What kind of drainage network is likely to form in a landscape where the bedrock is broken by a regularly-spaced grid of joints and fractures?

If over time a stream experiences a decrease in its base level or increase in discharge,a(n)________ is likely to form.

What kind of drainage network is likely to form in a landscape characterized by a uniform and steep slope and a relatively weak substrate?

A stream carrying sediment flows over the solid rock of its channel,polishing the rock and wearing it away.This is an example of __________.

A geologist finds an old report on stream discharge and reads a value of "20",but the rest of the page is cut off.Which of the following could be the appropriate value and units for the discharge of a stream?

A stream is ________.

Which of the following conditions would cause the largest stream capacity?

A meander that is cut off to become completely isolated from the main channel but which retains water is called a(n)________.

Two 100-year floods can occur in two consecutive years.Use the concept of recurrence interval to explain how this is possible.

Differentiate between dissolved load,suspended load,and bed load.

Meandering streams ________.

Water in a stream flows from its _________ to its __________.

Which of the following is most likely to make up the suspended load of a stream?

The distinction between a valley and a canyon is ________.

Which of the following best describes a "100-year flood"?

The discharge of a river traveling through a temperate region will typically ________ downstream; the discharge of a river traveling through an arid region will typically ________ downstream.

Runoff from farm fields entering a stream system is likely to be __________ than that from naturally vegetated fields.

In some cases,the push of flowing water cause large particles to bounce or roll along a streambed.These pieces are then carried along the bottom of the stream as _________.

The Earth in Context

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions

Pages of the Earths Past: Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism: a Process of Change

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Crags,cracks,and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

A Biography of the Earth

Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements

Restless Realm: Oceans and Coasts

A Hidden Reserve: Groundwater

Dry Regions: the Geology of Deserts

Amazing Ice: Glaciers and Ice Ages

Global Change in the Earth System

Introducing Rocks

A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Soils

The Rock Cycle

The Earth’s Interior Revisited: Insights from Geophysics

Memories of Past Life: Fossils and Evolution

Ever-Changing Landscapes and the Hydrologic Cycle

Prelude: And Just What is Geology?

Filters

What kind of drainage network is likely to form in a landscape where the bedrock is broken by a regularly-spaced grid of joints and fractures? $What kind of drainage network is likely to form in a landscape where the bedrock is broken by a regularly-spaced grid of joints and fractures?$

Water in a stream flows from its _ to its __.

The discharge of a river traveling through a temperate region will typically downstream; the discharge of a river traveling through an arid region will typically downstream.