Question 1

Which term best describes an accumulation of angular rock fragments at the base of a steep, bedrock slope or cliff?

Accepted Answer

A)  trellis slope 
B)  taliche slope 
C)  tellus slope 
D)  talus slope 
A)  trellis slope 
B)  taliche slope 
C)  tellus slope 
D)  talus slope D

Question 2

Solifluction is an important mass wasting process in areas of permafrost.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

Of the following, which one would most likely be triggered by an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

A)  solifluction 
B)  soil creep 
C)  slump 
D)  rock avalanche 
A)  solifluction 
B)  soil creep 
C)  slump 
D)  rock avalanche D

Question 4

The solum or true soil includes all horizons above the C-horizon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

All of the following are factors affecting mass wasting except for ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  gravity 
B)  water 
C)  slope angle 
D)  geologic age 
A)  gravity 
B)  water 
C)  slope angle 
D)  geologic age

Question 6

Under similar warm, moist climatic conditions, why would basalt and gabbro generally have higher chemical weathering rates than rhyolite and granite?

Accepted Answer

A)  The quartz in the gabbro and basalt decomposes very quickly. 
B)  The ferromagnesian minerals in the gabbro and basalt are subject to oxidation and chemical breakdown. 
C)  The plagioclase feldspars in the granite and rhyolite decompose readily to clay minerals and iron oxides. 
D)  The potassium feldspars and quartz in the rhyolite and granite are more susceptible to cracking by frost wedging. 
A)  The quartz in the gabbro and basalt decomposes very quickly. 
B)  The ferromagnesian minerals in the gabbro and basalt are subject to oxidation and chemical breakdown. 
C)  The plagioclase feldspars in the granite and rhyolite decompose readily to clay minerals and iron oxides. 
D)  The potassium feldspars and quartz in the rhyolite and granite are more susceptible to cracking by frost wedging.

Question 7

Earthflows and slumps generally involve movement of unconsolidated or weakly consolidated soil and regolith.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

Accepted Answer

A)  slope angle 
B)  water 
C)  vegetation 
D)  earthquake 
A)  slope angle 
B)  water 
C)  vegetation 
D)  earthquake

Question 9

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

Question 10

Which one of the following statements concerning mechanical weathering is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  reduces grain sizes of rock particles 
B)  allows for faster rates of chemical weathering 
C)  is important in the formation of talus slopes 
D)  involves a major change in the mineral composition of the weathered material 
A)  reduces grain sizes of rock particles 
B)  allows for faster rates of chemical weathering 
C)  is important in the formation of talus slopes 
D)  involves a major change in the mineral composition of the weathered material

Question 11

Which term denotes the true soil above the zone of partly weathered bedrock?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term denotes the true soil above...

Question 12

Based on the examples and discussion in Chapter 4, what is the relationship of climate to weathering, both chemical and mechanical? Also, are certain climates more susceptible to certain types of weathering? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on the examples and discussion in...

Question 13

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

Accepted Answer

A)  wind 
B)  water 
C)  mass wasting 
D)  ice 
A)  wind 
B)  water 
C)  mass wasting 
D)  ice

Question 14

Unconsolidated, granular materials such as gravel and sand will support maximum slope angles of about 33 to 35 degrees. What is the name for this maximum slope angle?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Unconsolidated, granular materials such as gravel and...

Question 15

________ denotes the downslope movement of soils and regolith.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ denotes the downslope movement of soils...

Question 16

The finely divided, red, brown, and yellow soil-coloring minerals originate by what process?

Accepted Answer

A)  mechanical weathering of very fine-grained, blue-gray clays 
B)  chemical weathering of quartz and feldspars 
C)  precipitation of iron oxides during the chemical weathering process 
D)  mechanical weathering of the feldspars and micas in granite and rhyolite 
A)  mechanical weathering of very fine-grained, blue-gray clays 
B)  chemical weathering of quartz and feldspars 
C)  precipitation of iron oxides during the chemical weathering process 
D)  mechanical weathering of the feldspars and micas in granite and rhyolite

Question 17

Which of the following statements concerning mudflows is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mudflows may be caused by heavy rains or melting snow. 
B)  In hilly areas, mudflows move down the canyons and stream valleys. 
C)  Mudflows deposit talus slopes. 
D)  Mudflows can move and carry very large boulders and other coarse debris. 
A)  Mudflows may be caused by heavy rains or melting snow. 
B)  In hilly areas, mudflows move down the canyons and stream valleys. 
C)  Mudflows deposit talus slopes. 
D)  Mudflows can move and carry very large boulders and other coarse debris.

Question 18

Which one of the following operates primarily in areas of permafrost?

Accepted Answer

A)  rock avalanche 
B)  solifluction 
C)  soil creep 
D)  mudflow 
A)  rock avalanche 
B)  solifluction 
C)  soil creep 
D)  mudflow

Question 19

Which one of the following statements best describes erosion?

Accepted Answer

A)  disintegration and decomposition of rocks and minerals at the surface 
B)  movement of weathered rock and regolith toward the base of a slope 
C)  the process by which weathered rock and mineral particles are removed from one area and transported elsewhere 
D)  the combined processes of leaching, eluviation, and mass wasting 
A)  disintegration and decomposition of rocks and minerals at the surface 
B)  movement of weathered rock and regolith toward the base of a slope 
C)  the process by which weathered rock and mineral particles are removed from one area and transported elsewhere 
D)  the combined processes of leaching, eluviation, and mass wasting

Question 20

Repeated freezing and thawing can be important in soil creep movements.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 4: Weathering, Soil, and Mass Wasting

Which term best describes an accumulation of angular rock fragments at the base of a steep, bedrock slope or cliff?

Solifluction is an important mass wasting process in areas of permafrost.

Of the following, which one would most likely be triggered by an earthquake?

The solum or true soil includes all horizons above the C-horizon.

All of the following are factors affecting mass wasting except for ________.

Under similar warm, moist climatic conditions, why would basalt and gabbro generally have higher chemical weathering rates than rhyolite and granite?

Earthflows and slumps generally involve movement of unconsolidated or weakly consolidated soil and regolith.

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

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

Which one of the following statements concerning mechanical weathering is NOT true?

Which term denotes the true soil above the zone of partly weathered bedrock?

Based on the examples and discussion in Chapter 4, what is the relationship of climate to weathering, both chemical and mechanical? Also, are certain climates more susceptible to certain types of weathering? Why or why not?

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

Unconsolidated, granular materials such as gravel and sand will support maximum slope angles of about 33 to 35 degrees. What is the name for this maximum slope angle?

________ denotes the downslope movement of soils and regolith.

The finely divided, red, brown, and yellow soil-coloring minerals originate by what process?

Which of the following statements concerning mudflows is NOT true?

Which one of the following operates primarily in areas of permafrost?

Which one of the following statements best describes erosion?

Repeated freezing and thawing can be important in soil creep movements.

Introduction to Earth Science

Minerals: Building Blocks of Rocks

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Winds

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Theory Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

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 Weather

Climate

Origin of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Light, Astronomical Observations, and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

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