Question 1

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 the 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 the dissolution of minerals that crystallize at the highest temperatures. 
D) secreting oxalic acid,which dissolves carbonates particularly well.

Question 2

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 3

What is the main reason why the oceans are salty?

Accepted Answer

A) The early oceans were salty because comets are dirty snowballs. 
B) Salt deposits that formed early in Earth's history become dissolved by modern oceans. 
C) Weathering of rocks releases chemical elements that make the oceans salty. 
D) Blowing salt crystals become incorporated into clouds and falls with the rainfall. 
A) The early oceans were salty because comets are dirty snowballs. 
B) Salt deposits that formed early in Earth's history become dissolved by modern oceans. 
C) Weathering of rocks releases chemical elements that make the oceans salty. 
D) Blowing salt crystals become incorporated into clouds and falls with the rainfall.

Question 4

Compared to a gentle slope,a steep slope will have a

Accepted Answer

A) faster rate of soil formation and less soil. 
B) slower rate of soil formation and less soil. 
C) faster rate of soil formation and more soil. 
D) slower rate of soil formation and more soil. 
A) faster rate of soil formation and less soil. 
B) slower rate of soil formation and less soil. 
C) faster rate of soil formation and more soil. 
D) slower rate of soil formation and more soil.

Question 5

Which of the following factors favors movement of a rock slide?

Accepted Answer

A) Layers that are inclined opposite to the slope of the hill 
B) Solid rock with few preexisting joints or faults 
C) A massive rock with no bedding or other through-going discontinuities 
D) A valley or other open space downslope from the rock slide 
A) Layers that are inclined opposite to the slope of the hill 
B) Solid rock with few preexisting joints or faults 
C) A massive rock with no bedding or other through-going discontinuities 
D) A valley or other open space downslope from the rock slide

Question 6

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 7

The rock type that is the most common setting for caves formed by dissolution of a rock is

Accepted Answer

A) well-sorted sandstone. 
B) gray limestone. 
C) dark porous lava flows. 
D) gray granite. 
E) slate. 
A) well-sorted sandstone. 
B) gray limestone. 
C) dark porous lava flows. 
D) gray granite. 
E) slate.

Question 8

What factors lead to the Vaiont landslide disaster?

Accepted Answer

A) A volcanic eruption shook the ground 
B) A major earthquake shook the ground 
C) The sedimentary layers dipped downslope toward the reservoir 
D) All of these are correct. 
A) A volcanic eruption shook the ground 
B) A major earthquake shook the ground 
C) The sedimentary layers dipped downslope toward the reservoir 
D) All of these are correct.

Question 9

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 10

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 11

Which of the following factors is typically not used to classify slope failures?

Accepted Answer

A) Whether the material involved is rock or is unconsolidated 
B) The rate of movement 
C) The climate in which the failure occurs 
D) The mechanism by which material moves 
A) Whether the material involved is rock or is unconsolidated 
B) The rate of movement 
C) The climate in which the failure occurs 
D) The mechanism by which material moves

Question 12

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave are formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate,due to the evaporation of water?

Accepted Answer

A) 1 and 2 
B) 2 and 3 
C) 3 and 4 
D) 1 and 3 
E) 1 and 4 
A) 1 and 2 
B) 2 and 3 
C) 3 and 4 
D) 1 and 3 
E) 1 and 4

Question 13

Which of the following areas in the investigation terrain is least likely to cause casualties in the event of a slope failure?

Accepted Answer

A) Bent Fence Hills with the leaning trees 
B) Flanks of Flattop Hill 
C) Rock Valley 
D) The area below Tilted Mountain 
A) Bent Fence Hills with the leaning trees 
B) Flanks of Flattop Hill 
C) Rock Valley 
D) The area below Tilted Mountain

Question 14

The landslide that destroyed La Conchita,as shown in this photograph,is probably

Accepted Answer

A) an example of creep. 
B) an earth flow. 
C) a rock fall. 
D) a rock avalanche. 
A) an example of creep. 
B) an earth flow. 
C) a rock fall. 
D) a rock avalanche.

Question 15

Which of the following factors does not control the stability of a slope?

Accepted Answer

A) The angle of repose for intact bedrock 
B) Whether the slope is rock or soil 
C) The amount of water in the soil 
D) The orientation of fractures,cleavage,and bedding 
A) The angle of repose for intact bedrock 
B) Whether the slope is rock or soil 
C) The amount of water in the soil 
D) The orientation of fractures,cleavage,and bedding

Question 16

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 are correct. 
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 are correct.

Question 17

What happens to the surface area of exposed rock if a rock is fractured?

Accepted Answer

A) There are more pieces,but the surface area does not change. 
B) The surface area does not change because the volume does not change. 
C) The surface area increases as the rock is fractured. 
D) The surface area decreases as the rock is fractured. 
A) There are more pieces,but the surface area does not change. 
B) The surface area does not change because the volume does not change. 
C) The surface area increases as the rock is fractured. 
D) The surface area decreases as the rock is fractured.

Question 18

Some rocks and minerals are not stable at the surface because they

Accepted Answer

A) are exposed to water. 
B) formed in high-temperature environments. 
C) formed in high-pressure environments. 
D) are exposed to oxygen. 
E) All of these are correct. 
A) are exposed to water. 
B) formed in high-temperature environments. 
C) formed in high-pressure environments. 
D) are exposed to oxygen. 
E) All of these are correct.

Question 19

Which sequence of events is required to form a limestone cave where you can walk around and observe cave formations,such as stalactites?

Accepted Answer

A) Limestone found below the water table,then lowering of the water table,then water dripping from the ceiling 
B) Lowering of the water table,then water dripping from the ceiling,then limestone found below the water table 
C) Water dripping from the ceiling,then lowering of the water table,then limestone found below the water table 
D) None of these are correct. 
A) Limestone found below the water table,then lowering of the water table,then water dripping from the ceiling 
B) Lowering of the water table,then water dripping from the ceiling,then limestone found below the water table 
C) Water dripping from the ceiling,then lowering of the water table,then limestone found below the water table 
D) None of these are correct.

Question 20

How does the character of a rock influence weathering?

Accepted Answer

A) Fractures and other discontinuities block the entry of water into a rock and so make the rock more resistant to weathering. 
B) Minerals that are soluble can be dissolved and reprecipitated and so are resistant to weathering. 
C) Rocks that are broken have more surface area and so weather faster. 
D) Rocks that are easily weathered and eroded generally form steep cliffs. 
E) None of these are correct. 
A) Fractures and other discontinuities block the entry of water into a rock and so make the rock more resistant to weathering. 
B) Minerals that are soluble can be dissolved and reprecipitated and so are resistant to weathering. 
C) Rocks that are broken have more surface area and so weather faster. 
D) Rocks that are easily weathered and eroded generally form steep cliffs. 
E) None of these are correct.

Lichens play a special role in chemical weathering by

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

What is the main reason why the oceans are salty?

Compared to a gentle slope,a steep slope will have a

Which of the following factors favors movement of a rock slide?

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

The rock type that is the most common setting for caves formed by dissolution of a rock is

What factors lead to the Vaiont landslide disaster?

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 of the following factors is typically not used to classify slope failures?

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave are formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate,due to the evaporation of water?

Which of the following areas in the investigation terrain is least likely to cause casualties in the event of a slope failure?

The landslide that destroyed La Conchita,as shown in this photograph,is probably

Which of the following factors does not control the stability of a slope?

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

What happens to the surface area of exposed rock if a rock is fractured?

Some rocks and minerals are not stable at the surface because they

Which sequence of events is required to form a limestone cave where you can walk around and observe cave formations,such as stalactites?

How does the character of a rock influence weathering?

The Nature of Physical Geography

Energy and Matter in the Atmosphere

Atmospheric Motion

Atmospheric Moisture

Weather Systems and Severe Weather

Atmosphere-Ocean-Cryosphere 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

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Exam 12: Weathering and Mass Wasting

Lichens play a special role in chemical weathering by

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

What is the main reason why the oceans are salty?

Compared to a gentle slope,a steep slope will have a

Which of the following factors favors movement of a rock slide?

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

The rock type that is the most common setting for caves formed by dissolution of a rock is

What factors lead to the Vaiont landslide disaster?

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 of the following factors is typically not used to classify slope failures?

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave are formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate,due to the evaporation of water?

Which of the following areas in the investigation terrain is least likely to cause casualties in the event of a slope failure?

The landslide that destroyed La Conchita,as shown in this photograph,is probably

Which of the following factors does not control the stability of a slope?

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

What happens to the surface area of exposed rock if a rock is fractured?

Some rocks and minerals are not stable at the surface because they

Which sequence of events is required to form a limestone cave where you can walk around and observe cave formations,such as stalactites?

How does the character of a rock influence weathering?

The Nature of Physical Geography

Energy and Matter in the Atmosphere

Atmospheric Motion

Atmospheric Moisture

Weather Systems and Severe Weather

Atmosphere-Ocean-Cryosphere 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