Question 1

What is the mostly likely setting for this drainage pattern?

Accepted Answer

A)  the rocks have a relatively equal resistance to erosion 
B)  drainages have followed a series of fractures that branch off of one another 
C)  the area has folded or faulted rocks with different resistances to erosion 
D)  a volcano once existed here but has been partly eroded away 
A)  the rocks have a relatively equal resistance to erosion 
B)  drainages have followed a series of fractures that branch off of one another 
C)  the area has folded or faulted rocks with different resistances to erosion 
D)  a volcano once existed here but has been partly eroded away

Question 2

Which event is best represented by the hydrograph shown here?

Accepted Answer

A)  a summer thunderstorm 
B)  a very long period of steady light rain 
C)  a long drought with no rain for months 
D)  a winter snowstorm followed by very cold weather 
A)  a summer thunderstorm 
B)  a very long period of steady light rain 
C)  a long drought with no rain for months 
D)  a winter snowstorm followed by very cold weather

Question 3

Which of the following accompanies urbanization replacing farms and open areas with cities)?

Accepted Answer

A)  the discharge pattern of streams in the area does not change 
B)  runoff occurs more quickly and produces a higher peak flow 
C)  runoff becomes more spread out in time, increasing the amount of flooding 
D)  runoff becomes more spread out in time, reducing the amount of flooding 
E)  none of these 
A)  the discharge pattern of streams in the area does not change 
B)  runoff occurs more quickly and produces a higher peak flow 
C)  runoff becomes more spread out in time, increasing the amount of flooding 
D)  runoff becomes more spread out in time, reducing the amount of flooding 
E)  none of these

Question 4

Which of the following is true about how a stream erodes material?

Accepted Answer

A)  abrasion is concentrated on the upstream side of obstructions 
B)  turbulence of the water is less important than the temperature, which affects viscosity 
C)  erosion occurs equally on two sides of a bend 
D)  water cannot erode unless it is carrying sediment 
E)  all of these 
A)  abrasion is concentrated on the upstream side of obstructions 
B)  turbulence of the water is less important than the temperature, which affects viscosity 
C)  erosion occurs equally on two sides of a bend 
D)  water cannot erode unless it is carrying sediment 
E)  all of these

Question 5

What does the associated graph indicate about a stream?

Accepted Answer

A)  Silt and clay are carried in suspension under most stream velocities. 
B)  Sand and gravel are deposited at low velocities but transported at higher velocities. 
C)  Sand is carried in suspension only at high velocities. 
D)  As fast-moving water slows down, fine sand can switch from transport by suspension to the bed load. 
E)  All of these. 
A)  Silt and clay are carried in suspension under most stream velocities. 
B)  Sand and gravel are deposited at low velocities but transported at higher velocities. 
C)  Sand is carried in suspension only at high velocities. 
D)  As fast-moving water slows down, fine sand can switch from transport by suspension to the bed load. 
E)  All of these.

Question 6

If a stream drops 15 meters in 15 kilometers, what is its gradient?

Accepted Answer

A)  100% 
B)  1 meter per kilometer 
C)  15 meters per kilometer 
D)  15 kilometers per meter 
E)  none of these 
A)  100% 
B)  1 meter per kilometer 
C)  15 meters per kilometer 
D)  15 kilometers per meter 
E)  none of these

Question 7

Deposition in bedrock channels occurs along river banks and behind obstacles as:

Accepted Answer

A)  water velocity decreases 
B)  water velocity increases 
C)  the gradient increases 
A)  water velocity decreases 
B)  water velocity increases 
C)  the gradient increases

Question 8

What is a point bar?

Accepted Answer

A)  A sandbar deposited along the inside of stream meanders due to lower velocity 
B)  A new, shorter channel across the narrow neck of a meander 
C)  A crescent-shaped meander cutoff 
D)  A flowing network of interconnected rivulets around numerous bars 
A)  A sandbar deposited along the inside of stream meanders due to lower velocity 
B)  A new, shorter channel across the narrow neck of a meander 
C)  A crescent-shaped meander cutoff 
D)  A flowing network of interconnected rivulets around numerous bars

Question 9

When water in a stream or desert wash decreases in velocity, sediment that the stream carries can be deposited in:

Accepted Answer

A)  a delta 
B)  an alluvial fan 
C)  a floodplain 
D)  all of these 
A)  a delta 
B)  an alluvial fan 
C)  a floodplain 
D)  all of these

Question 10

Smaller subsidiary channels that feed main channels of rivers are called:

Accepted Answer

A)  tributaries 
B)  drainage systems 
C)  drainage patterns 
A)  tributaries 
B)  drainage systems 
C)  drainage patterns

Question 11

A hydrograph shows:

Accepted Answer

A)  the change in a river's discharge over time 
B)  the beginning and ending elevations of a river 
C)  the change in the sediment load of a river 
D)  the length and width of a river 
A)  the change in a river's discharge over time 
B)  the beginning and ending elevations of a river 
C)  the change in the sediment load of a river 
D)  the length and width of a river

Question 12

What would happen if the ice in this area melted away?

Accepted Answer

A)  the land near the ice would drop due to isostatic rebound 
B)  rivers could change direction and flow away from the area once covered by ice 
C)  the land subsides because the ice is removed 
D)  all of these 
A)  the land near the ice would drop due to isostatic rebound 
B)  rivers could change direction and flow away from the area once covered by ice 
C)  the land subsides because the ice is removed 
D)  all of these

Question 13

This figure shows four numbered river terraces, with 1 being the highest and 4 being the lowest. Which is the oldest terrace?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

Which of these hydrographs shows a flash flood?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

Where do mountain streams get most of their load of sediment?

Accepted Answer

A)  landslides, slope failures, and erosion of the mountain sides 
B)  downward incision into bedrock 
C)  abrasion of bedrock along the bottom of the channel 
D)  alluvial fans 
A)  landslides, slope failures, and erosion of the mountain sides 
B)  downward incision into bedrock 
C)  abrasion of bedrock along the bottom of the channel 
D)  alluvial fans

Question 16

Which of the following sites is most likely to be flooded if all other factors are held constant?

Accepted Answer

A)  a site that is higher but closer to the river than a site that is lower but farther from the river 
B)  a site next to the river where the main channel is wider and deeper than other segments of the river 
C)  a site on the floodplain instead of a site on an older terrace 
D)  all of these 
A)  a site that is higher but closer to the river than a site that is lower but farther from the river 
B)  a site next to the river where the main channel is wider and deeper than other segments of the river 
C)  a site on the floodplain instead of a site on an older terrace 
D)  all of these

Question 17

Soluble materials in flowing water can be removed and transported by a process called:

Accepted Answer

A)  dissolution 
B)  tumbling 
C)  saltation 
D)  gravity 
A)  dissolution 
B)  tumbling 
C)  saltation 
D)  gravity

Question 18

What happens to a river as it flows through a delta and encounters the sea?

Accepted Answer

A)  the discharge and water velocity increase 
B)  the maximum sediment grain size carried by the river increases 
C)  the total sediment load carried by the river decreases 
D)  all of these 
A)  the discharge and water velocity increase 
B)  the maximum sediment grain size carried by the river increases 
C)  the total sediment load carried by the river decreases 
D)  all of these

Question 19

What typically happens when tributaries join the main river?

Accepted Answer

A)  channel size increases 
B)  water velocity increases 
C)  the amount of discharge increases 
D)  total sediment load increases 
E)  all of these 
A)  channel size increases 
B)  water velocity increases 
C)  the amount of discharge increases 
D)  total sediment load increases 
E)  all of these

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

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

What is the mostly likely setting for this drainage pattern?

Which event is best represented by the hydrograph shown here?

Which of the following accompanies urbanization replacing farms and open areas with cities)?

Which of the following is true about how a stream erodes material?

What does the associated graph indicate about a stream?

If a stream drops 15 meters in 15 kilometers, what is its gradient?

Deposition in bedrock channels occurs along river banks and behind obstacles as:

What is a point bar?

When water in a stream or desert wash decreases in velocity, sediment that the stream carries can be deposited in:

Smaller subsidiary channels that feed main channels of rivers are called:

A hydrograph shows:

What would happen if the ice in this area melted away?

This figure shows four numbered river terraces, with 1 being the highest and 4 being the lowest. Which is the oldest terrace?

Which of these hydrographs shows a flash flood?

Where do mountain streams get most of their load of sediment?

Which of the following sites is most likely to be flooded if all other factors are held constant?

Soluble materials in flowing water can be removed and transported by a process called:

What happens to a river as it flows through a delta and encounters the sea?

What typically happens when tributaries join the main river?

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

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 is the mostly likely setting for this drainage pattern?

Which event is best represented by the hydrograph shown here?

Which of the following accompanies urbanization replacing farms and open areas with cities)?

Which of the following is true about how a stream erodes material?

What does the associated graph indicate about a stream?

If a stream drops 15 meters in 15 kilometers, what is its gradient?

Deposition in bedrock channels occurs along river banks and behind obstacles as:

What is a point bar?

When water in a stream or desert wash decreases in velocity, sediment that the stream carries can be deposited in:

Smaller subsidiary channels that feed main channels of rivers are called:

A hydrograph shows:

What would happen if the ice in this area melted away?

This figure shows four numbered river terraces, with 1 being the highest and 4 being the lowest. Which is the oldest terrace?

Which of these hydrographs shows a flash flood?

Where do mountain streams get most of their load of sediment?

Which of the following sites is most likely to be flooded if all other factors are held constant?

Soluble materials in flowing water can be removed and transported by a process called:

What happens to a river as it flows through a delta and encounters the sea?

What typically happens when tributaries join the main river?

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

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