Question 1

A mudflow is usually not dangerous to human life because it moves at speeds that are imperceptibly slow to the eye.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

Which of the following is the most rapid form of mass wasting?

Accepted Answer

A)  Rock fall 
B)  Rock slide 
C)  Creep 
D)  Earthflow 
E)  Slump 
A)  Rock fall 
B)  Rock slide 
C)  Creep 
D)  Earthflow 
E)  Slump A

Question 3

Landslides are a significant hazard on the California coastline and in the Rocky Mountain states.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

Which of the following environments is NOT susceptible to mass wasting?

Accepted Answer

A)  A steep and rocky slope 
B)  A moderate slope made of fill materials 
C)  A gentle slope with deep soils 
D)  A slope that has many buildings on it 
E)  Relatively flat-lying area 
A)  A steep and rocky slope 
B)  A moderate slope made of fill materials 
C)  A gentle slope with deep soils 
D)  A slope that has many buildings on it 
E)  Relatively flat-lying area

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a factor in how urbanization increases the incidence of landslides?

Accepted Answer

A)  Trees and grasses are removed, leaving the land susceptible to erosion. 
B)  Roads are constructed altering the permeability of the land. 
C)  Buildings are placed on slopes, increasing the weight on the slope. 
D)  Roads are cut at the base of slopes increasing instability. 
E)  Flood control measures prevent river flooding, which increases the incidence of landslides. 
A)  Trees and grasses are removed, leaving the land susceptible to erosion. 
B)  Roads are constructed altering the permeability of the land. 
C)  Buildings are placed on slopes, increasing the weight on the slope. 
D)  Roads are cut at the base of slopes increasing instability. 
E)  Flood control measures prevent river flooding, which increases the incidence of landslides.

Question 6

Which of the following describes a slump?

Accepted Answer

A)  Rocks break off of cliffs and fall to the base of a slope. 
B)  Rocks and soil move downslope very slowly. 
C)  Rapid downslope movement of snow and ice, sometimes with the addition of rock, soil, and vegetation 
D)  Blocks of rock break off and move together, sliding along a curved path. 
E)  Mud becomes saturated with water and flows quickly into a streambed. 
A)  Rocks break off of cliffs and fall to the base of a slope. 
B)  Rocks and soil move downslope very slowly. 
C)  Rapid downslope movement of snow and ice, sometimes with the addition of rock, soil, and vegetation 
D)  Blocks of rock break off and move together, sliding along a curved path. 
E)  Mud becomes saturated with water and flows quickly into a streambed.

Question 7

What is mass wasting?

Accepted Answer

A)  Recycling of ancient earth materials to make slopes for development 
B)  Loss of mass from a soil during chemical weathering 
C)  Downslope movement of rock, soil, and sediment 
D)  Land lost due to explosive volcanic eruptions 
E)  Movement of sediment along the coast due to offshore ocean currents 
A)  Recycling of ancient earth materials to make slopes for development 
B)  Loss of mass from a soil during chemical weathering 
C)  Downslope movement of rock, soil, and sediment 
D)  Land lost due to explosive volcanic eruptions 
E)  Movement of sediment along the coast due to offshore ocean currents

Question 8

The Portuguese Bend landslide in California involved an area with weak sedimentary rock that has bedding parallel to the slope and a cliff at the front edge where ocean waves eroded into the cliff.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Only one mass wasting type happens at a single time to an individual slope.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Most snow avalanches are triggered by the victims themselves or by someone in their company.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

La Conchita, CA was a site of two massive landslides within 10 years of each other. One theory for the landslide was that it was caused in part by an Avocado Farm at the top of the slope. Explain two different ways that the cultivation of avocadoes could contribute to the slides. Give 3 suggestions for what the avocado growers could do to reduce the occurrence of future slides in the area.

Accepted Answer

Cultivation of avocadoes could contribut

Question 12

Explain the difference between a loose snow and slab avalanche.

Accepted Answer

Loose-snow avalanches typically start at

Question 13

The Portuguese Bend landslide in California involved

Accepted Answer

A)  gradual, continuous, downslope movement over a 30 year time period that resulted in damage to many homes. 
B)  a volcanic mudflow that killed over 20,000 people despite prior warnings of an imminent landslide threat. 
C)  an enormous debris slide that created a giant wave which killed ~2,500 people in a matter of a few minutes. 
D)  heavy rains in an area of folded and fractured limestone bedrock with clay layers and underground caves. 
A)  gradual, continuous, downslope movement over a 30 year time period that resulted in damage to many homes. 
B)  a volcanic mudflow that killed over 20,000 people despite prior warnings of an imminent landslide threat. 
C)  an enormous debris slide that created a giant wave which killed ~2,500 people in a matter of a few minutes. 
D)  heavy rains in an area of folded and fractured limestone bedrock with clay layers and underground caves.

Question 14

Would adding mass to the top of a slope in the form of houses or buildings make the mass more or less likely to slide?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would make it less likely to slide because the houses would add pressure on the slope keeping it stable. 
B)  It would make it less likely to slide because the houses make the slope less steep. 
C)  It would make it more likely to slide because the houses add weight to the slope making it more unstable. 
D)  It would make it more likely to slide because the houses would make the slope more steep. 
E)  Adding mass to the top of a slope would not make a difference in the stability of the slope. 
A)  It would make it less likely to slide because the houses would add pressure on the slope keeping it stable. 
B)  It would make it less likely to slide because the houses make the slope less steep. 
C)  It would make it more likely to slide because the houses add weight to the slope making it more unstable. 
D)  It would make it more likely to slide because the houses would make the slope more steep. 
E)  Adding mass to the top of a slope would not make a difference in the stability of the slope.

Question 15

A slope with sedimentary layering parallel to the ground surface is more stable than a slope with sedimentary layering perpendicular to the ground surface.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Landslides can be a positive event for forests by creating new habitats for plants and animals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Adding earth material to the lower part of a slope which has the potential for a landslide would

Accepted Answer

A)  increase the resisting force. 
B)  decrease the resisting force. 
C)  increase the driving force. 
D)  decrease the driving force. 
A)  increase the resisting force. 
B)  decrease the resisting force. 
C)  increase the driving force. 
D)  decrease the driving force.

Question 18

Volcanic eruptions are the one example of a natural hazard that cannot produce landslides.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Slumps involve sliding of rock or soil along a curved surface.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Growing plants on a slope will always make it more stable because plant roots add strength and cohesion to the soil.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

A mudflow is usually not dangerous to human life because it moves at speeds that are imperceptibly slow to the eye.

Which of the following is the most rapid form of mass wasting?

Landslides are a significant hazard on the California coastline and in the Rocky Mountain states.

Which of the following environments is NOT susceptible to mass wasting?

Which of the following is NOT a factor in how urbanization increases the incidence of landslides?

Which of the following describes a slump?

What is mass wasting?

The Portuguese Bend landslide in California involved an area with weak sedimentary rock that has bedding parallel to the slope and a cliff at the front edge where ocean waves eroded into the cliff.

Only one mass wasting type happens at a single time to an individual slope.

Most snow avalanches are triggered by the victims themselves or by someone in their company.

Explain the difference between a loose snow and slab avalanche.

The Portuguese Bend landslide in California involved

Would adding mass to the top of a slope in the form of houses or buildings make the mass more or less likely to slide?

A slope with sedimentary layering parallel to the ground surface is more stable than a slope with sedimentary layering perpendicular to the ground surface.

Landslides can be a positive event for forests by creating new habitats for plants and animals.

Adding earth material to the lower part of a slope which has the potential for a landslide would

Volcanic eruptions are the one example of a natural hazard that cannot produce landslides.

Slumps involve sliding of rock or soil along a curved surface.

Growing plants on a slope will always make it more stable because plant roots add strength and cohesion to the soil.

Introduction to Natural Hazards

Internal Structure of the Earth and Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes

Tsunamis

Volcanoes

Flooding

Subsidence and Soils

Atmosphere and Severe Weather

Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones

Coastal Hazards

Climate and Climate Change

Wildfires

Impacts and Extinctions

Filters

Exam 7: Mass Wasting

A mudflow is usually not dangerous to human life because it moves at speeds that are imperceptibly slow to the eye.

Which of the following is the most rapid form of mass wasting?

Landslides are a significant hazard on the California coastline and in the Rocky Mountain states.

Which of the following environments is NOT susceptible to mass wasting?

Which of the following is NOT a factor in how urbanization increases the incidence of landslides?

Which of the following describes a slump?

What is mass wasting?

The Portuguese Bend landslide in California involved an area with weak sedimentary rock that has bedding parallel to the slope and a cliff at the front edge where ocean waves eroded into the cliff.

Only one mass wasting type happens at a single time to an individual slope.

Most snow avalanches are triggered by the victims themselves or by someone in their company.

Explain the difference between a loose snow and slab avalanche.

The Portuguese Bend landslide in California involved

Would adding mass to the top of a slope in the form of houses or buildings make the mass more or less likely to slide?

A slope with sedimentary layering parallel to the ground surface is more stable than a slope with sedimentary layering perpendicular to the ground surface.

Landslides can be a positive event for forests by creating new habitats for plants and animals.

Adding earth material to the lower part of a slope which has the potential for a landslide would

Volcanic eruptions are the one example of a natural hazard that cannot produce landslides.

Slumps involve sliding of rock or soil along a curved surface.

Growing plants on a slope will always make it more stable because plant roots add strength and cohesion to the soil.

Introduction to Natural Hazards

Internal Structure of the Earth and Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes

Tsunamis

Volcanoes

Flooding

Subsidence and Soils

Atmosphere and Severe Weather

Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones

Coastal Hazards

Climate and Climate Change

Wildfires

Impacts and Extinctions

Filters