Chapter 6 Running Water and Groundwater

Question 1

The water cycle is the

Answer 1

unending circulation of Earth’s water supply.

Question 2

Balance in the water cycle means that

Answer 2

the average annual precipitation over Earth equals the

amount of water that evaporates.

Question 3

The ability of a stream to erode and transport material

depends largely on its

Answer 3

velocity.

Question 4

A stream’s discharge

Answer 4

increases between its source and mouth.

Question 5

Base level is

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Most streams carry the largest part of their load

Answer 6

in suspension.

Question 7

A depositional feature that forms where a stream enters a

lake or an ocean is a

Answer 7

delta.

Question 8

The most prominent features of a narrow V-shaped valley

where the stream profile drops quickly are

Answer 8

rapids and waterfalls.

Question 9

A floodplain forms where a stream

Answer 9

cuts mainly side to side.

Question 10

One major cause of floods is

Answer 10

rapid spring snowmelt.

Question 11

Limiting development on floodplains is effective because it

Answer 11

allows floodplains to absorb floodwaters with little harm

to structures.

Question 12

A drainage basin is

Answer 12

the land that contributes water to a stream.

Question 13

Groundwater is found underground in the zone of

Answer 13

saturation.

Question 14

Springs form where

Answer 14

the water table intersects the ground surface.

Question 15

Permeable rock layers or sediments that freely transmit

groundwater are

Answer 15

aquifers.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a major source of
groundwater pollution?
a.	sewage
b.	compost
c.	pesticides
d.	industrial chemicals

Answer 16

b. compost

Question 17

A cavern is an underground chamber formed by

Answer 17

erosion.

Question 18

Which of these landforms is NOT common in an area of
karst topography?
a.	sinkhole
b.	stalagmite
c.	cavern
d.	canyon

Answer 18

d. canyon

Question 19

Which type of rock usually underlies a karst landscape?

Answer 19

limestone

Question 20

Sinkholes can form when

Answer 20

rainwater containing carbon dioxide dissolves

underground rock.

Question 21

The water cycle gets its energy from the

Answer 21

Sun

Question 22

Most of Earth’s water is contained in its

Answer 22

oceans

Question 23

Most freshwater on Earth is in

Answer 23

glaciers.

Question 24

Groundwater makes up __________ percent of Earth’s

water.

Answer 24

0.62

Question 25

In order to maintain Earth’s water balance, evaporation exceeds
precipitation over __________, but precipitation exceeds
evaporation over __________.

Answer 25

oceans

land or continents

Question 26

The factors that determine the velocity of a stream are its
__________, __________, and the shape, size,
and roughness of its channel.

Answer 26

gradient

discharge

Question 27

The stream __________ is the course the water in the

stream follows.

Answer 27

channel

Question 28

The volume of water flowing past a certain point in a given unit
of time is the stream’s __________.

Answer 28

discharge

Question 29

Streams erode their channels by abrasion, __________,

and by dissolving soluble material.

Answer 29

grinding

Question 30

A stream’s __________ load is the part of its load that

it carries in solution.

Answer 30

dissolved

Question 31

Streams that flow over floodplains often move in wide curves

called __________.

Answer 31

meanders

Question 32

The ability of a stream to carry a load is determined by its

__________.

Answer 32

capacity

Question 33

Artificial levees and dams are structures used to control

__________.

Answer 33

flooding

Question 34

An imaginary line called a(n) __________separates the

drainage basin of one stream from another.

Answer 34

divide

Question 35

An intermittent hot spring in which a column of water shoots up
with great force at various intervals is a(n) __________.

Answer 35

geyser

Question 36

A(n) __________ well is one in which groundwater rises

on its own under pressure.

Answer 36

artesian

Question 37

Ions of calcium and iron that move from adjacent rock into
groundwater can make the water __________ and
unable to form soapsuds.

Answer 37

hard

Question 38

Caverns form at or below the water table in the zone of saturation,
but dripstone features in caverns form above the water table in the
zone of __________.

Answer 38

aeration