Topic 9 Test: Earth's Surface Systems

According to the book, which two things effect the rate of weathering?

• type of rock
• climate
• sunlight
• plants
• minerals

People travel from all over the world to see more than 30 glaciers at Glacier National Park in Alaska. Evidence of glacial action can be observed all over the park. Which of these are ways that glaciers can change Earth’s surface? Choose the three that apply.

• abrasion

• chemical weathering

• deposition

• plucking

• longshore drift

If you were looking to build a house, which would be the best piece of land to build on?

• Very steep slope made of solid rock with a lot of plant life.
• Gradual slope with very little rocks and plant life made of sandy soil.
• Gradual slope made up of rock and a lot of plant life.
• Rock planes that are perpendicular to the hillside with a lot of plant life.

What does not trigger mass movement

• added weight like a house

• heavy rains

• the amount of wind

• removal of vegetation

• earthquake

Which type of mass movement is the fastest?

• rock avalanche
• creep
• flow
• rock fall
• slump

A stalactite

• builds up from the floor of a cave.
• builds up from the side of the cave.
• hangs like an icicle from the roof of a cave.
• is a really cool thing, but this is definitely not the most correct answer.

During the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, there were huge dust storms caused by drought and wind. Farm areas all across the Midwest were affected by erosion. Many farmers lost the crops on which they depended to make a living and support their families. How can farmers prevent soil erosion on their farms? Choose the two that apply.

• Leave roots in soil after harvesting.
• Plant trees around the fields to block wind.
• Harvest all the crops on the farm at once.
• Pull up the entire plant when they harvest crops.

Earthworms mix different layers of soil together by carrying humus from the surface down into the subsoil. Humus is a dark-colored substance that is made up of a variety of materials. Which two of the following are found in humus?

• dead leaves
• living plants
• limestone rock
• decaying organisms

Which erodes faster? Soft rock or hard rock?

• Soft rock
• Hard Rock
• Both erode at the same speed

Mechanical weathering breaks some limestone into pieces. What effect would this have on chemical weathering of the limestone? Think increased surface area.

• Chemical weathering would stop occurring.
• Chemical weathering would remain the same.
• Chemical weathering would occur at a slower rate.
• Chemical weathering would occur at a faster rate.