Question 1

Ultimately geysers erupt because of the

Accepted Answer

A) periodic opening and closing of a fracture. 
B) mixing of hot and cold water to form steam. 
C) decrease in pressure as water rises. 
D) increase in pressure from the hot water. 
A) periodic opening and closing of a fracture. 
B) mixing of hot and cold water to form steam. 
C) decrease in pressure as water rises. 
D) increase in pressure from the hot water.

Question 2

Rates of groundwater flow are ___________ than stream flow because the water __________

Accepted Answer

A) higher; can flow through large caverns 
B) higher; does not have any obstacles to overcome 
C) lower; contains dissolved ions that slow it down 
D) lower; must make its way through tiny pore spaces 
A) higher; can flow through large caverns 
B) higher; does not have any obstacles to overcome 
C) lower; contains dissolved ions that slow it down 
D) lower; must make its way through tiny pore spaces

Question 3

Why do meandering rivers meander (move) across their floodplain?

Accepted Answer

A) The large amounts of sediments that choke the rivers create point bars that are easily eroded away by additional flow of the rivers. 
B) They carry very small amounts of sediment and thus are not slowed down as a result of friction between the sediment and the river bottom. 
C) They are curved, which causes erosion on one side of the curve and deposition on the other side of the curve, thus moving the river in the direction of erosion. 
D) Sediment is constantly being deposited on the river bottom, which causes the river to overflow its banks and create a new channel. 
A) The large amounts of sediments that choke the rivers create point bars that are easily eroded away by additional flow of the rivers. 
B) They carry very small amounts of sediment and thus are not slowed down as a result of friction between the sediment and the river bottom. 
C) They are curved, which causes erosion on one side of the curve and deposition on the other side of the curve, thus moving the river in the direction of erosion. 
D) Sediment is constantly being deposited on the river bottom, which causes the river to overflow its banks and create a new channel.

Question 4

Braided streams

Accepted Answer

A) consist of a series of intertwined channels that are overloaded with sediment. 
B) have flowing water either episodically or during only a portion of the year. 
C) have a channel that is highly sinuous (curvy). 
D) are those that divert flow from streams they have intersected through stream erosion. 
A) consist of a series of intertwined channels that are overloaded with sediment. 
B) have flowing water either episodically or during only a portion of the year. 
C) have a channel that is highly sinuous (curvy). 
D) are those that divert flow from streams they have intersected through stream erosion.

Question 5

Consider a water well that can be drilled in either a shallow, unconfined aquifer or a deep, confined aquifer. Drilling deeper will cost more money; however, the choice is made to drill into the confined aquifer. This is because the confined aquifer will

Accepted Answer

A) most likely have a higher water quality. 
B) most likely have a higher permeability. 
C) not be subject to overpumping. 
D) contain more water. 
A) most likely have a higher water quality. 
B) most likely have a higher permeability. 
C) not be subject to overpumping. 
D) contain more water.

Question 6

Explain how caves are formed, making sure to include the name of the acid involved and how it forms.

Accepted Answer

Caves are formed when carbonic acid diss

Question 7

Why are artificial levees only useful for some flooding events?

Accepted Answer

A) Levees cannot be built larger than the surrounding floodplain. 
B)  Flash floods occur too quickly for officials to close the levees. 
C)  Levees are built in rural areas and will not help for flooding in the city. 
D) Large floods can create high pressures and undermine the levee. 
A) Levees cannot be built larger than the surrounding floodplain. 
B)  Flash floods occur too quickly for officials to close the levees. 
C)  Levees are built in rural areas and will not help for flooding in the city. 
D) Large floods can create high pressures and undermine the levee.

Question 8

The competence of a mountain river is ___________ than that of a river on a floodplain because ___________ .

Accepted Answer

A) lower; the gradient is greater 
B) higher; the gradient is greater 
C) lower; there are more boulders 
D) higher; there is more water 
A) lower; the gradient is greater 
B) higher; the gradient is greater 
C) lower; there are more boulders 
D) higher; there is more water

Question 9

What will happen to a stream if the local base level is increased, for example, by adding a dam to the river?

Accepted Answer

Creating a local stream level

Question 10

A person is digging a hole, when the hole suddenly starts to fill with water. What have they found?

Accepted Answer

A) the capillary zone 
B) the vadose zone 
C) the water table 
D) an aquitard 
A) the capillary zone 
B) the vadose zone 
C) the water table 
D) an aquitard

Question 11

A person is drilling and finds water. They would know they have found a perched aquifer if the water

Accepted Answer

A) table is too high. 
B) table is too low. 
C) is saltier. 
D) is contaminated 
A) table is too high. 
B) table is too low. 
C) is saltier. 
D) is contaminated

Question 12

Ultimately, the base level of a stream valley can be no lower than the

Accepted Answer

A) average elevation of the continent on which it is found. 
B) average elevation of the sea. 
C) average elevation of the local catchment. 
D) maximum elevation of the local catchment. 
A) average elevation of the continent on which it is found. 
B) average elevation of the sea. 
C) average elevation of the local catchment. 
D) maximum elevation of the local catchment.

Question 13

A geologist is trying to determine the discharge of a river. The stream is semicircular in shape with a width of 10 m. They measure the velocity of the river to be 0.2 m/s. What is the discharge of the river? Show your work.

Accepted Answer

D = Ac x vₐ
Area of a circle =

Question 14

Permeable rock or sediment between the water table and the land surface represents a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  aquitard. 
B)  confined aquifer. 
C) unconfined aquifer. 
D) unsaturated zone. 
A)  aquitard. 
B)  confined aquifer. 
C) unconfined aquifer. 
D) unsaturated zone.

Question 15

The elevation of the water table

Accepted Answer

A) is a constant for a given area so long as the topography remains the same. 
B) may rise during times of drought and sink during rainy periods. 
C) may rise during rainy periods and sink during droughts. 
D) is completely unpredictable. 
A) is a constant for a given area so long as the topography remains the same. 
B) may rise during times of drought and sink during rainy periods. 
C) may rise during rainy periods and sink during droughts. 
D) is completely unpredictable.

Question 16

The distinction between a valley and a canyon is

Accepted Answer

A) nonexistent; the two terms are synonymous. 
B) that the sides of a canyon are more steep than those of a valley. 
C) that the sides of a valley are more steep than those of a canyon. 
D) that valleys are often cut by streams, whereas canyons are eroded by the wind. 
A) nonexistent; the two terms are synonymous. 
B) that the sides of a canyon are more steep than those of a valley. 
C) that the sides of a valley are more steep than those of a canyon. 
D) that valleys are often cut by streams, whereas canyons are eroded by the wind.

Question 17

Label the three zones that water moves through as it percolates into Earth on the image below. Also indicate the location of the water table.

Accepted Answer

Students should label the unsa

Question 18

Pumping vast quantities of water locally

Accepted Answer

A) raises the local water table. 
B) lowers the local water table, forming a cone-shaped depression. 
C) lowers the local water table, forming a cylindrical depression. 
D) does not affect the water table. 
A) raises the local water table. 
B) lowers the local water table, forming a cone-shaped depression. 
C) lowers the local water table, forming a cylindrical depression. 
D) does not affect the water table.

Question 19

The groundwater quality of an aquifer is tested and found to have high amounts of arsenic. It is likely that the arsenic

Accepted Answer

A) comes from the dissolved minerals in the aquifer rock. 
B) comes from the reaction of the water with the testing supplies. 
C) is being poured into the groundwater to poison the town. 
D) is not actually there; it does not show up in groundwater. 
A) comes from the dissolved minerals in the aquifer rock. 
B) comes from the reaction of the water with the testing supplies. 
C) is being poured into the groundwater to poison the town. 
D) is not actually there; it does not show up in groundwater.

Question 20

If someone were to dump chemicals into a dry river, such as the one shown below, those chemicals would

Accepted Answer

A) evaporate into the atmosphere and no longer be a danger. 
B) remain in the soil but would not make it into the groundwater. 
C) seep into the groundwater but flow away from the city's wells. 
D) end up flowing with the groundwater toward the city's wells. 
A) evaporate into the atmosphere and no longer be a danger. 
B) remain in the soil but would not make it into the groundwater. 
C) seep into the groundwater but flow away from the city's wells. 
D) end up flowing with the groundwater toward the city's wells.

Exam 13: Freshwater: Streams, Lakes, and Groundwater

Ultimately geysers erupt because of the

Rates of groundwater flow are ___________ than stream flow because the water __________

Why do meandering rivers meander (move) across their floodplain?

Braided streams

Consider a water well that can be drilled in either a shallow, unconfined aquifer or a deep, confined aquifer. Drilling deeper will cost more money; however, the choice is made to drill into the confined aquifer. This is because the confined aquifer will

Explain how caves are formed, making sure to include the name of the acid involved and how it forms.

Why are artificial levees only useful for some flooding events?

The competence of a mountain river is ___________ than that of a river on a floodplain because ___________ .

What will happen to a stream if the local base level is increased, for example, by adding a dam to the river?

A person is digging a hole, when the hole suddenly starts to fill with water. What have they found?

A person is drilling and finds water. They would know they have found a perched aquifer if the water

Ultimately, the base level of a stream valley can be no lower than the

A geologist is trying to determine the discharge of a river. The stream is semicircular in shape with a width of 10 m. They measure the velocity of the river to be 0.2 m/s. What is the discharge of the river? Show your work.

Permeable rock or sediment between the water table and the land surface represents a(n)

The elevation of the water table

The distinction between a valley and a canyon is

Label the three zones that water moves through as it percolates into Earth on the image below. Also indicate the location of the water table.

Pumping vast quantities of water locally

The groundwater quality of an aquifer is tested and found to have high amounts of arsenic. It is likely that the arsenic

If someone were to dump chemicals into a dry river, such as the one shown below, those chemicals would

The Earth in Context

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

A Process of Change: Metamorphism and the Rock Cycle

Crags, Cracks, and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

A Biography of Earth

Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

Shaping the Earths Surface: Landscapes, the Hydrologic Cycle, and Mass Wasting

Extreme Realms: Desert and Glacial Landscapes

Ocean Waters: the Blue of the Blue Marble

Marine Geology: the Study of Ocean Basins and Coasts

The Air We Breathe: Introducing Earths Atmosphere

Winds of the World: the Earths Major Weather Systems

Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and Local Weather Systems

Climate and Climate Change

Our Solar System and Beyond

Our Neighborhood in Space

The Sun, Stars, and Deep Space

Prelude: Welcome to Earth Science

Filters

Rates of groundwater flow are _ than stream flow because the water

The competence of a mountain river is _ than that of a river on a floodplain because _ .