Chapter 6 Quiz

The Water Cycle is the _________________.

• distribution of drinking water on Earth

• unending circulation of Earth's water supply

• the recycling of water after industrial use

• the evaporation of water from Earth's surface

Balance in the water cycle means that _________________.

• the average annual precipitation over Earth equals the amount of water that evaporates.

• water that falls to Earth only enters oceans

• the amount of water that falls to Earth weighs the same as the amount that condenses in clouds

• water that evaporates from Earth's surface remains forever in the atmosphere

The ability of a stream to erode and transport material depends largely on its ____________________.

• width

• density

• velocity

• length

A stream's discharge

• decreases between its source and mouth

• remains the same throughout its course

• is greatest during times of drought

• increases between its source and mouth

Base level is

• the lowest point to which a stream can erode its channel

• any part of the stream that is below sea level

• the source from which the stream flows

• the elevation of a stream's largest tributary

Most streams carry the largest part of their load

• as dissolved material

• on their surface

• as bed load

• in suspension

A depositional feature that forms where a stream enters a lake or an ocean is a

• natural levee

• meander

• delta

• distributary

The most prominent features of a narrow V-shaped valley where the stream profile drops quickly are

• meanders and floodplains

• rapids and waterfalls

• lakes and ponds

• deltas and natural levees

A floodplain forms where a stream

• cuts downward rapidly

• is far above its base level

• cuts mainly side to side

• carries no bed load

One major cause of floods is

• rapid spring snowmelt

• a decrease in stream discharge

• light rain over a large area

• increased capacity of stream channels