Question 1

What type of slope failure has occurred in the Slumgullion area of Colorado?

Accepted Answer

A)  a huge rock fall that formed Colorado's second largest lake 
B)  a debris flow that came down Big Thompson Canyon 
C)  a debris avalanche that raced downhill at breathtaking speeds 
D)  a slow-moving earth flow 
A)  a huge rock fall that formed Colorado's second largest lake 
B)  a debris flow that came down Big Thompson Canyon 
C)  a debris avalanche that raced downhill at breathtaking speeds 
D)  a slow-moving earth flow

Question 2

The layer of quartzite in this photograph would mostly weather by:

Accepted Answer

A)  dissolution 
B)  hydrolysis 
C)  physical weathering 
D)  spontaneous combustion 
A)  dissolution 
B)  hydrolysis 
C)  physical weathering 
D)  spontaneous combustion

Question 3

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave can be formed by the dissolution or collapse of limestone?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 and 2 
B)  2 and 3 
C)  3 and 4 
D)  1 and 3 
E)  1 and 4 
A)  1 and 2 
B)  2 and 3 
C)  3 and 4 
D)  1 and 3 
E)  1 and 4

Question 4

Which area would most likely cause the least problems with keeping roads in good shape?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bent Fence Hills 
B)  Wild Ride Valley 
C)  the flat area above the river terraces 
D)  a road built directly below the cliffs of Flattop Mountain 
A)  Bent Fence Hills 
B)  Wild Ride Valley 
C)  the flat area above the river terraces 
D)  a road built directly below the cliffs of Flattop Mountain

Question 5

Why does weathering of granite bedrock produce rounded shapes?

Accepted Answer

A)  the rounded shapes are pillows formed at depth in the granitic magma 
B)  weathering removes corners and edges, as in spheroidal weathering 
C)  burrowing animals eat away parts of the granite 
D)  roots rub against the edges of the granite 
A)  the rounded shapes are pillows formed at depth in the granitic magma 
B)  weathering removes corners and edges, as in spheroidal weathering 
C)  burrowing animals eat away parts of the granite 
D)  roots rub against the edges of the granite

Question 6

Which of the following features is NOT formed by precipitation of calcite from water?

Accepted Answer

A)  travertine 
B)  stalagmite 
C)  stalactite 
D)  sinkhole 
E)  flowstone 
A)  travertine 
B)  stalagmite 
C)  stalactite 
D)  sinkhole 
E)  flowstone

Question 7

Which of the following is true about how weathering affects fractured rocks?

Accepted Answer

A)  weathering affects rocks from the outside in, forming an outer weathered zone or rind 
B)  weathering attacks corners from three sides and so these are preferentially removed 
C)  preferential weathering along fractures can cause blocks to become rounded 
D)  all of these 
A)  weathering affects rocks from the outside in, forming an outer weathered zone or rind 
B)  weathering attacks corners from three sides and so these are preferentially removed 
C)  preferential weathering along fractures can cause blocks to become rounded 
D)  all of these

Question 8

Which of the numbered soil horizons are most likely to represent an accumulation of organic debris?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 and 2 
B)  2 and 3 
C)  3 and 4 
D)  4 and 5 
E)  all of these 
A)  1 and 2 
B)  2 and 3 
C)  3 and 4 
D)  4 and 5 
E)  all of these

Question 9

The USGS evaluated the age of different parts of the Slumgullion feature by:

Accepted Answer

A)  measuring the size of trees incorporated into the material 
B)  measuring the temperature of rocks soon after the feature had moved 
C)  examining the development of soil 
D)  measuring the content of moisture during different seasons 
E)  none of these 
A)  measuring the size of trees incorporated into the material 
B)  measuring the temperature of rocks soon after the feature had moved 
C)  examining the development of soil 
D)  measuring the content of moisture during different seasons 
E)  none of these

Question 10

For La Conchita, California, what type of slope failure occurred?

Accepted Answer

A)  rock avalanche 
B)  debris flow 
C)  creep 
D)  rock fall 
E)  earth flow 
A)  rock avalanche 
B)  debris flow 
C)  creep 
D)  rock fall 
E)  earth flow

Question 11

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave are formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate, due to the evaporation of water?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 and 2 
B)  2 and 3 
C)  3 and 4 
D)  1 and 3 
E)  1 and 4 
A)  1 and 2 
B)  2 and 3 
C)  3 and 4 
D)  1 and 3 
E)  1 and 4

Question 12

The landslide that destroyed La Conchita, as shown in this photograph, is probably:

Accepted Answer

A)  an example of creep 
B)  an earth flow 
C)  a rock fall 
D)  a rock avalanche 
A)  an example of creep 
B)  an earth flow 
C)  a rock fall 
D)  a rock avalanche

Question 13

Some rocks and minerals are not stable at the surface because they:

Accepted Answer

A)  are exposed to water 
B)  formed in high-temperature environments 
C)  formed in high-pressure environments 
D)  are exposed to oxygen 
E)  all of these 
A)  are exposed to water 
B)  formed in high-temperature environments 
C)  formed in high-pressure environments 
D)  are exposed to oxygen 
E)  all of these

Question 14

Soil that is reddish, intensely leached, and rich in iron and aluminum minerals most likely forms in:

Accepted Answer

A)  tropical climate 
B)  temperate climate 
C)  arid climate 
D)  an area with only minor soil development 
E)  a short amount of time 
A)  tropical climate 
B)  temperate climate 
C)  arid climate 
D)  an area with only minor soil development 
E)  a short amount of time

Question 15

Which of the following is probably NOT important in assessing an area's potential for slope failure?

Accepted Answer

A)  comparing the geologic setting to adjacent areas that have or have not failed 
B)  whether the material is loose sediment or solid bedrock 
C)  recent changes in slope 
D)  the orientation of layering and fractures 
E)  all of these are important 
A)  comparing the geologic setting to adjacent areas that have or have not failed 
B)  whether the material is loose sediment or solid bedrock 
C)  recent changes in slope 
D)  the orientation of layering and fractures 
E)  all of these are important

Question 16

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave is a stalagmite?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  none of these 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  none of these

Question 17

Which of the following features is composed of calcium carbonate?

Accepted Answer

A)  limestone 
B)  travertine 
C)  cave formations like stalagmites 
D)  all of these 
A)  limestone 
B)  travertine 
C)  cave formations like stalagmites 
D)  all of these

Question 18

Which of the following slope failures is most likely to cause large numbers of casualties?

Accepted Answer

A)  creep 
B)  debris slide 
C)  earth flow 
D)  rotational slide 
E)  rock avalanche 
A)  creep 
B)  debris slide 
C)  earth flow 
D)  rotational slide 
E)  rock avalanche

Question 19

What type of slope failure is depicted in this photograph?

Accepted Answer

A)  creep 
B)  rock fall 
C)  debris avalanche 
D)  permafrost 
A)  creep 
B)  rock fall 
C)  debris avalanche 
D)  permafrost

Question 20

Compared to a gentle slope, a steep slope will have a

Accepted Answer

A)  faster rate of soil formation and less soil. 
B)  slower rate of soil formation and less soil. 
C)  faster rate of soil formation and more soil. 
D)  slower rate of soil formation and more soil. 
A)  faster rate of soil formation and less soil. 
B)  slower rate of soil formation and less soil. 
C)  faster rate of soil formation and more soil. 
D)  slower rate of soil formation and more soil.

What type of slope failure has occurred in the Slumgullion area of Colorado?

The layer of quartzite in this photograph would mostly weather by:

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave can be formed by the dissolution or collapse of limestone?

Which area would most likely cause the least problems with keeping roads in good shape?

Why does weathering of granite bedrock produce rounded shapes?

Which of the following features is NOT formed by precipitation of calcite from water?

Which of the following is true about how weathering affects fractured rocks?

Which of the numbered soil horizons are most likely to represent an accumulation of organic debris?

The USGS evaluated the age of different parts of the Slumgullion feature by:

For La Conchita, California, what type of slope failure occurred?

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave are formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate, due to the evaporation of water?

The landslide that destroyed La Conchita, as shown in this photograph, is probably:

Some rocks and minerals are not stable at the surface because they:

Soil that is reddish, intensely leached, and rich in iron and aluminum minerals most likely forms in:

Which of the following is probably NOT important in assessing an area's potential for slope failure?

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave is a stalagmite?

Which of the following features is composed of calcium carbonate?

Which of the following slope failures is most likely to cause large numbers of casualties?

What type of slope failure is depicted in this photograph?

Compared to a gentle slope, a steep slope will have a

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Exam 15: Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

What type of slope failure has occurred in the Slumgullion area of Colorado?

The layer of quartzite in this photograph would mostly weather by:

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave can be formed by the dissolution or collapse of limestone?

Which area would most likely cause the least problems with keeping roads in good shape?

Why does weathering of granite bedrock produce rounded shapes?

Which of the following features is NOT formed by precipitation of calcite from water?

Which of the following is true about how weathering affects fractured rocks?

Which of the numbered soil horizons are most likely to represent an accumulation of organic debris?

The USGS evaluated the age of different parts of the Slumgullion feature by:

For La Conchita, California, what type of slope failure occurred?

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave are formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate, due to the evaporation of water?

The landslide that destroyed La Conchita, as shown in this photograph, is probably:

Some rocks and minerals are not stable at the surface because they:

Soil that is reddish, intensely leached, and rich in iron and aluminum minerals most likely forms in:

Which of the following is probably NOT important in assessing an area's potential for slope failure?

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave is a stalagmite?

Which of the following features is composed of calcium carbonate?

Which of the following slope failures is most likely to cause large numbers of casualties?

What type of slope failure is depicted in this photograph?

Compared to a gentle slope, a steep slope will have a

The Nature of Geology

Investigating Geologic Questions

Plate Tectonics

Earth Materials

Igneous Environments

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Environments

Deformation and Metamorphism

Geologic Time

Seafloor and Continental Margins

Mountains, Basins, and Continents

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Climate and Weathering

Glaciers, Shorelines, and Changing Sea Levels

Streams and Flooding

Water Resources

Energy and Mineral Resources

Geology of the Solar System

Filters