Question 1

What are some effects of building a dam?

Accepted Answer

A)  a stream has more sediment below the dam and so can erode more efficiently 
B)  the reservoir lake) traps sediment that over time fills up part of the reservoir 
C)  a dam, whether constructed by nature or by humans, represents a permanent change in base level 
D)  the stream erodes into the land instead of depositing sediment, where it enters the reservoir 
A)  a stream has more sediment below the dam and so can erode more efficiently 
B)  the reservoir lake) traps sediment that over time fills up part of the reservoir 
C)  a dam, whether constructed by nature or by humans, represents a permanent change in base level 
D)  the stream erodes into the land instead of depositing sediment, where it enters the reservoir B

Question 2

If a stream-cut canyon is deep and narrow, which of the following is most likely to be true?

Accepted Answer

A)  rocks in the canyon walls are relatively hard and so easy to erode 
B)  the stream is probably close to its base level 
C)  downcutting is occurring faster than widening 
D)  the stream contains mostly small clasts, such as silt 
A)  rocks in the canyon walls are relatively hard and so easy to erode 
B)  the stream is probably close to its base level 
C)  downcutting is occurring faster than widening 
D)  the stream contains mostly small clasts, such as silt C

Question 3

Which of the following is the main reason that a delta forms when a stream flows into a lake or sea?

Accepted Answer

A)  the stream flows backward during high tide 
B)  ocean waves push the sediment up onto the beach 
C)  the velocity of the stream decreases 
D)  the stream began downcutting during the ice ages 
E)  none of these 
A)  the stream flows backward during high tide 
B)  ocean waves push the sediment up onto the beach 
C)  the velocity of the stream decreases 
D)  the stream began downcutting during the ice ages 
E)  none of these C

Question 4

Which of the features on this aerial photograph represents the former position of a meander?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  both C and D 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  both C and D

Question 5

Narrow canyons are formed when:

Accepted Answer

A)  downward incision is faster than widening of the canyon by erosion 
B)  downward incision is slower than widening of the canyon by erosion 
C)  erosion widens the canyon before the downward incision begins 
A)  downward incision is faster than widening of the canyon by erosion 
B)  downward incision is slower than widening of the canyon by erosion 
C)  erosion widens the canyon before the downward incision begins

Question 6

Which of the features on this aerial photograph is an oxbow lake?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

What happens to the erosive power of a stream as velocity increases?

Accepted Answer

A)  Erosion increases. 
B)  Erosion decreases 
C)  Erosion is not related to velocity. 
A)  Erosion increases. 
B)  Erosion decreases 
C)  Erosion is not related to velocity.

Question 8

The cross-sectional area of the channel of a stream or river is calculated by:

Accepted Answer

A)  multiplying the channel's width by its average depth 
B)  multiplying the channel's depth by its average length 
C)  dividing the channel's depth by its width 
D)  adding the channel's width and average length 
A)  multiplying the channel's width by its average depth 
B)  multiplying the channel's depth by its average length 
C)  dividing the channel's depth by its width 
D)  adding the channel's width and average length

Question 9

The accompanying figure shows a series of river terraces. Which of these terraces is the youngest?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

Stream terraces represent:

Accepted Answer

A)  older floodplains of a river that has incised downward 
B)  cutoff meanders of a meandering stream 
C)  areas where sea level has risen and waves beveled across the coast 
D)  none of these 
A)  older floodplains of a river that has incised downward 
B)  cutoff meanders of a meandering stream 
C)  areas where sea level has risen and waves beveled across the coast 
D)  none of these

Question 11

What type of feature is shown in this figure?

Accepted Answer

A)  a braided stream 
B)  river terraces 
C)  alluvial fans 
D)  entrenched meanders 
E)  none of these 
A)  a braided stream 
B)  river terraces 
C)  alluvial fans 
D)  entrenched meanders 
E)  none of these

Question 12

When conditions such as climate remain stable, a stream may approach a dynamic equilibrium state. The stream would then be considered:

Accepted Answer

A)  a graded stream 
B)  a progressive stream 
C)  a tributary 
A)  a graded stream 
B)  a progressive stream 
C)  a tributary

Question 13

When a river enters a lake or an ocean, it slows down, losing its capacity to carry sediments, forming:

Accepted Answer

A)  deltas 
B)  point bars 
C)  cutbanks 
D)  meanders 
E)  oxbow lakes 
A)  deltas 
B)  point bars 
C)  cutbanks 
D)  meanders 
E)  oxbow lakes

Question 14

What is a braided stream?

Accepted Answer

A)  A stream that flows in a network of many interconnected rivulets around numerous bars 
B)  A stream with pronounced sinuous curves 
C)  A stream that exhibits a delicate balance between its transporting capacity and the sediment load available to it 
A)  A stream that flows in a network of many interconnected rivulets around numerous bars 
B)  A stream with pronounced sinuous curves 
C)  A stream that exhibits a delicate balance between its transporting capacity and the sediment load available to it

Question 15

Which of the following features is most related to erosion along a low-gradient stream?

Accepted Answer

A)  point bar 
B)  floodplain 
C)  levee 
D)  none of these 
A)  point bar 
B)  floodplain 
C)  levee 
D)  none of these

Question 16

What does a profile of a river from its headwaters to its mouth typically show?

Accepted Answer

A)  an increase in gradient downstream 
B)  a straight-line profile reflecting a constant decrease in gradient 
C)  an abrupt increase followed by a gradual decrease 
D)  a curved shape that flattens out downstream 
E)  none of these 
A)  an increase in gradient downstream 
B)  a straight-line profile reflecting a constant decrease in gradient 
C)  an abrupt increase followed by a gradual decrease 
D)  a curved shape that flattens out downstream 
E)  none of these

Question 17

On this graph of discharge versus season for a river in the Rocky Mountains, why is the highest runoff likely to be in the spring?

Accepted Answer

A)  winter snow melts in the spring 
B)  the Rocky Mountains have many tornadoes during the spring 
C)  the Rocky Mountains experience hurricanes in the spring 
D)  all of these 
A)  winter snow melts in the spring 
B)  the Rocky Mountains have many tornadoes during the spring 
C)  the Rocky Mountains experience hurricanes in the spring 
D)  all of these

Question 18

A stream cannot erode below:

Accepted Answer

A)  sea level 
B)  its headwaters 
C)  its channel 
D)  its bedrock 
E)  its tributaries 
A)  sea level 
B)  its headwaters 
C)  its channel 
D)  its bedrock 
E)  its tributaries

Question 19

Which of the following can have a significant effect on a river?

Accepted Answer

A)  rises and drops in sea level 
B)  tectonics 
C)  types of bedrock in the river 
D)  changes in climate 
E)  all of these 
A)  rises and drops in sea level 
B)  tectonics 
C)  types of bedrock in the river 
D)  changes in climate 
E)  all of these

Question 20

Which of the following profiles does NOT match its position on the stream?

Accepted Answer

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

What are some effects of building a dam?

If a stream-cut canyon is deep and narrow, which of the following is most likely to be true?

Which of the following is the main reason that a delta forms when a stream flows into a lake or sea?

Which of the features on this aerial photograph represents the former position of a meander?

Narrow canyons are formed when:

Which of the features on this aerial photograph is an oxbow lake?

What happens to the erosive power of a stream as velocity increases?

The cross-sectional area of the channel of a stream or river is calculated by:

The accompanying figure shows a series of river terraces. Which of these terraces is the youngest?

Stream terraces represent:

What type of feature is shown in this figure?

When conditions such as climate remain stable, a stream may approach a dynamic equilibrium state. The stream would then be considered:

When a river enters a lake or an ocean, it slows down, losing its capacity to carry sediments, forming:

What is a braided stream?

Which of the following features is most related to erosion along a low-gradient stream?

What does a profile of a river from its headwaters to its mouth typically show?

On this graph of discharge versus season for a river in the Rocky Mountains, why is the highest runoff likely to be in the spring?

A stream cannot erode below:

Which of the following can have a significant effect on a river?

Which of the following profiles does NOT match its position on the stream?

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

Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

Water Resources

Energy and Mineral Resources

Geology of the Solar System

Filters

Exam 16: Streams and Flooding

What are some effects of building a dam?

If a stream-cut canyon is deep and narrow, which of the following is most likely to be true?

Which of the following is the main reason that a delta forms when a stream flows into a lake or sea?

Which of the features on this aerial photograph represents the former position of a meander?

Narrow canyons are formed when:

Which of the features on this aerial photograph is an oxbow lake?

What happens to the erosive power of a stream as velocity increases?

The cross-sectional area of the channel of a stream or river is calculated by:

The accompanying figure shows a series of river terraces. Which of these terraces is the youngest?

Stream terraces represent:

What type of feature is shown in this figure?

When conditions such as climate remain stable, a stream may approach a dynamic equilibrium state. The stream would then be considered:

When a river enters a lake or an ocean, it slows down, losing its capacity to carry sediments, forming:

What is a braided stream?

Which of the following features is most related to erosion along a low-gradient stream?

What does a profile of a river from its headwaters to its mouth typically show?

On this graph of discharge versus season for a river in the Rocky Mountains, why is the highest runoff likely to be in the spring?

A stream cannot erode below:

Which of the following can have a significant effect on a river?

Which of the following profiles does NOT match its position on the stream?

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

Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

Water Resources

Energy and Mineral Resources

Geology of the Solar System

Filters