Cave Creation: Underground Cave Systems

Which of the following BEST describes how caves are initially formed?

• Sudden volcanic eruptions

• Gradual geological processes involving water and rock dissolution

• Earthquake movements

• Rapid surface erosion

When water interacts with underground rock formations, the process most likely involves:

• A) Chemical weathering

• B) Mechanical compression

• C) Thermal expansion

• D) Wind erosion

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

The term "underground cavity" suggests caves are primarily characterized by:

• A) Complete darkness

• B) Hollow spaces within rock formations

• C) Constant temperature

• D) Absence of living organisms

Which geological factor is MOST critical in cave formation?

• A) Wind patterns

• B) Surface temperature

• C) Rock composition and water interaction

• D) Soil type

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

An underground passage differs from a simple cavity by:

• Having a clear entrance and exit

• Containing more complex structural connections

• Being larger in overall size

• Having more geological significance

The phrase "range in size" implies cave formations:

• A) Are always uniform

• B) Can vary dramatically in dimensions

• C) Are fixed in measurement

• D) Only occur in specific geological zones

What scientific skill would be MOST useful in studying cave formations?

• A) Astronomy

• B) Geological observation and analysis

• C) Meteorology

• D) Botany

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Underground cavities are typically created through:

• Rapid geological events

• Slow, persistent environmental processes

• Human excavation

• Biological interactions

The complexity of cave systems suggests:

• They are simple geological features

• They represent intricate natural engineering

• They are randomly formed

• They lack scientific importance

Water’s role in cave formation primarily involves:

• Mechanical erosion

• Chemical dissolution of rock

• Temperature regulation

• Sediment transportation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4