Question 1

Which of the following does NOT physically loosen rocks on the surface?

Accepted Answer

A) water contracting as it freezes 
B) crystals of salt and other minerals that exert an outward force on fractures 
C) roots that pry apart fractures as the root grows in size 
D) joints that form when rock pressures are released 
E) rodents and other burrowing organisms 
A) water contracting as it freezes 
B) crystals of salt and other minerals that exert an outward force on fractures 
C) roots that pry apart fractures as the root grows in size 
D) joints that form when rock pressures are released 
E) rodents and other burrowing organisms A

Question 2

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 D

Question 3

In which setting is karst topography most likely to feature steep pillars, knobs, and oddly shaped rocks?

Accepted Answer

A) tropical 
B) arid 
C) mid-latitude 
D) polar 
A) tropical 
B) arid 
C) mid-latitude 
D) polar A

Question 4

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

Which of the following can we use to recognize prehistoric slope failures?

Accepted Answer

A) sedimentary deposits 
B) orientation of beds and other geologic structures 
C) masses of rock fragments that are unusual for an area 
D) hummocky topography 
E) All of these. 
A) sedimentary deposits 
B) orientation of beds and other geologic structures 
C) masses of rock fragments that are unusual for an area 
D) hummocky topography 
E) All of these.

Question 6

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

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 8

The largest area of karst in the United States is included in

Accepted Answer

A) Florida. 
B) Mississippi. 
C) Minnesota. 
D) Texas. 
A) Florida. 
B) Mississippi. 
C) Minnesota. 
D) Texas.

Question 9

Joints in the landscape

Accepted Answer

A) mostly form at depth and are uplifted to the surface. 
B) can detach thin slices of rock parallel to the land surface. 
C) cause areas to be less resistant to weathering than those without joints. 
D) All of these. 
A) mostly form at depth and are uplifted to the surface. 
B) can detach thin slices of rock parallel to the land surface. 
C) cause areas to be less resistant to weathering than those without joints. 
D) All of these.

Question 10

Lichens play a special role in chemical weathering by

Accepted Answer

A) weakening the hydrogen bond in water, making it more effective at dissolving rocks with high quartz concentrations. 
B) slowing the rate of jointing in rocks. 
C) acting as a catalyst for dissolution of minerals that crystallize at the highest temperatures. 
D) secreting oxalic acid, which dissolves carbonates particularly well. 
A) weakening the hydrogen bond in water, making it more effective at dissolving rocks with high quartz concentrations. 
B) slowing the rate of jointing in rocks. 
C) acting as a catalyst for dissolution of minerals that crystallize at the highest temperatures. 
D) secreting oxalic acid, which dissolves carbonates particularly well.

Question 11

The type of slope failure shown in this photograph is

Accepted Answer

A) creep. 
B) a rock slide. 
C) a debris avalanche. 
D) a debris flow. 
E) All of these. 
A) creep. 
B) a rock slide. 
C) a debris avalanche. 
D) a debris flow. 
E) All of these.

Question 12

Where does the quartz in granite typically end up?

Accepted Answer

A) as small clay minerals that are deposited in lakes and the sea 
B) quartz does not weather and so it keeps the granite from weathering 
C) as sand in rivers, dunes, and beaches 
D) it is converted into feldspar and weathers into clays 
A) as small clay minerals that are deposited in lakes and the sea 
B) quartz does not weather and so it keeps the granite from weathering 
C) as sand in rivers, dunes, and beaches 
D) it is converted into feldspar and weathers into clays

Question 13

Aside from limestone, which other kinds of environments produce karst terrain?

Accepted Answer

A) evaporite rocks such as gypsum 
B) areas underlain by salt 
C) sandstone 
D) evaporite rocks and areas underlain by salt, but not sandstone 
A) evaporite rocks such as gypsum 
B) areas underlain by salt 
C) sandstone 
D) evaporite rocks and areas underlain by salt, but not sandstone

Question 14

Which of the following does NOT commonly occur when dark-colored mafic rocks weather?

Accepted Answer

A) Mafic minerals weather to clay minerals by hydrolysis. 
B) Iron-bearing minerals can oxidize to form the iron oxide mineral hematite. 
C) The abundant quartz in the rocks dissolves and forms silica-rich spring deposits. 
D) Some minerals weather at different rate than other minerals. 
A) Mafic minerals weather to clay minerals by hydrolysis. 
B) Iron-bearing minerals can oxidize to form the iron oxide mineral hematite. 
C) The abundant quartz in the rocks dissolves and forms silica-rich spring deposits. 
D) Some minerals weather at different rate than other minerals.

Question 15

Which numbered feature on this figure is a scarp?

Accepted Answer

A) 1, a linear or curved scar marking where the slide pulled away from the hill 
B) 2, small fractures within the sliding block 
C) 3, the intact layers below the rock slide 
D) 4, the front of the slide, where it overruns the land surface 
E) 5, a valley or other open space in front of the slide 
A) 1, a linear or curved scar marking where the slide pulled away from the hill 
B) 2, small fractures within the sliding block 
C) 3, the intact layers below the rock slide 
D) 4, the front of the slide, where it overruns the land surface 
E) 5, a valley or other open space in front of the slide

Question 16

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 17

Which of the following is valid for how rocks weather?

Accepted Answer

A) Quartz is very soluble during weathering at low temperatures. 
B) Limestone weathers rapidly in wet climates but can form cliffs in dry ones. 
C) As a granite weathers, quartz rapidly decomposes into clay minerals. 
D) Most minerals in granite weather at nearly the same rate and so granite has smooth surfaces. 
A) Quartz is very soluble during weathering at low temperatures. 
B) Limestone weathers rapidly in wet climates but can form cliffs in dry ones. 
C) As a granite weathers, quartz rapidly decomposes into clay minerals. 
D) Most minerals in granite weather at nearly the same rate and so granite has smooth surfaces.

Question 18

What events caused so much damage along the north coast of Venezuela in 1999?

Accepted Answer

A) A landslide shook loose a large piece of the mountains that caused the water in the reservoir to flood local towns. 
B) Torrential rains caused debris flows and flash floods that raced through cities. 
C) The slow movement of slopes downhill broke apart houses but did not kill any people. 
D) Overgrazing caused a loss of grass cover and resulted in severe soil erosion. 
A) A landslide shook loose a large piece of the mountains that caused the water in the reservoir to flood local towns. 
B) Torrential rains caused debris flows and flash floods that raced through cities. 
C) The slow movement of slopes downhill broke apart houses but did not kill any people. 
D) Overgrazing caused a loss of grass cover and resulted in severe soil erosion.

Question 19

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

Which of the following slope failures moves at the slowest rate?

Accepted Answer

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

Which of the following does NOT physically loosen rocks on the surface?

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

In which setting is karst topography most likely to feature steep pillars, knobs, and oddly shaped rocks?

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Which of the following can we use to recognize prehistoric slope failures?

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

The layer of quartzite in this photograph would mostly weather by

The largest area of karst in the United States is included in

Joints in the landscape

Lichens play a special role in chemical weathering by

The type of slope failure shown in this photograph is

Where does the quartz in granite typically end up?

Aside from limestone, which other kinds of environments produce karst terrain?

Which of the following does NOT commonly occur when dark-colored mafic rocks weather?

Which numbered feature on this figure is a scarp?

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

Which of the following is valid for how rocks weather?

What events caused so much damage along the north coast of Venezuela in 1999?

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Which of the following slope failures moves at the slowest rate?

The Nature of Physical Geography

Energy and Matter in the Atmosphere

Atmospheric Motion

Atmospheric Moisture

Weather Systems and Severe Weather

Atmosphere - Ocean - Crysophere Interactions

Climates Around the World

Water Resources

Understanding Landscapes

Plate Tectonics and Regional Features

Volcanoes, Deformation, and Earthquakes

Streams and Flooding

Glaciers and Glacial Landforms

Coasts and Changing Sea Levels

Soils

Ecosystems and Biogeochemical Cycles

Biomes

Filters

Exam 12: Weathering and Mass Wasting

Which of the following does NOT physically loosen rocks on the surface?

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

In which setting is karst topography most likely to feature steep pillars, knobs, and oddly shaped rocks?

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Which of the following can we use to recognize prehistoric slope failures?

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

The layer of quartzite in this photograph would mostly weather by

The largest area of karst in the United States is included in

Joints in the landscape

Lichens play a special role in chemical weathering by

The type of slope failure shown in this photograph is

Where does the quartz in granite typically end up?

Aside from limestone, which other kinds of environments produce karst terrain?

Which of the following does NOT commonly occur when dark-colored mafic rocks weather?

Which numbered feature on this figure is a scarp?

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

Which of the following is valid for how rocks weather?

What events caused so much damage along the north coast of Venezuela in 1999?

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Which of the following slope failures moves at the slowest rate?

The Nature of Physical Geography

Energy and Matter in the Atmosphere

Atmospheric Motion

Atmospheric Moisture

Weather Systems and Severe Weather

Atmosphere - Ocean - Crysophere Interactions

Climates Around the World

Water Resources

Understanding Landscapes

Plate Tectonics and Regional Features

Volcanoes, Deformation, and Earthquakes

Streams and Flooding

Glaciers and Glacial Landforms

Coasts and Changing Sea Levels

Soils

Ecosystems and Biogeochemical Cycles

Biomes

Filters