topics 4.1-4.3 & 4.6 Flashcards
Reasons that human populations historically have settled in floodplains include which of the following?
I. The soil in floodplains is usually fertile.
II. The terrain in floodplains tend to be flat.
III. Floodplains are close to rivers for transportation.
a. I only
b. II only
c. I and II only
d. II and III only
e. I, II, and III
e. I, II, and III
At which of the following sites does seafloor spreading result in rifts and possible volcanoes?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
a. A
At which of the following sites is an earthquake most likely to occur as two plates slide sideways past each other?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
c. C
At which of the following sites would activity result in volcanoes, island arcs, and mountains?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
b. B
Of the following, which has the greatest permeability?
a. clay
b. loam
c. sand
d. silt
e. humus
c. sand
Which of the lettered choices in the soil profile above represents the region with the greatest concentration of organic material?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
a. A
A student group is involved in a restoration study of a nearby disturbed area. They decide to collect six soil samples and analyze them for carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Two of the samples are found to be very high in C and N, but the other four samples are low in both. The students also notice that the color of the two soil samples that are high in C and N is very dark. Which of the following is the most likely explanation of the data?
a. Two of the samples were collected from an A horizon, and the others were collected from a B horizon.
b. Two of the samples had more sand and gravel than the other four.
c. Four of the samples were collected from an area that had been restored previously and now has thick vegetation.
d. Four of the samples were collected from an area that had been mulched.
e. Four of the sample sites had been treated recently with a chemical fertilizer.
a. Two of the samples were collected from an A horizon, and the others were collected from a B horizon.
Which of the following is the correct order of soil particles in order of increasing size?
a. Clay—sand—silt
b. Clay—silt—sand
c. Sand—clay—silt
d. Sand—silt—clay
e. Silt—clay—sand
b. Clay—silt—sand
Which of the following properties of the soil sample most influences the flow of water through the sample?
a. color
b. fertility
c. permeability
d. pH
e. salinity
c. permeability
Of the following, which is the most likely composition of the soil sample?
a. clay - 80%
silt - 10%
sand 10%
b. clay - 50%
silt - 40%
sand - 10%
c. clay - 40%
silt - 50%
sand 10%
d. clay - 30%
silt - 40%
sand - 30%
e. clay - 10%
silt - 10%
sand - 80%
e. clay - 10%
silt - 10%
sand - 80%
country A - 0 volcanoes, 0 earthquakes
country B - 4 volcanoes, 0 earthquakes
country C - 0 volcanoes, 18 earthquakes
country D - 16 volcanoes, 41 earthquakes
Based on the data in the table, which of the countries is most likely located at a subduction zone between an oceanic tectonic plate and a continental tectonic plate?
a. country A
b. country B
c. country C
d. country D
d. country D
Which of the following best describes why understanding a watershed and its boundaries is important in designing housing developments along a river?
a. The water contained in a watershed is more likely to become polluted if the soil has high permeability, so it is important to locate all point sources to reduce contamination.
b. Watersheds provide habitats for hundreds of marine species, so it is important to protect their feeding and nesting sites when designing housing for humans.
c. Watersheds provide space for cultivating land to produce food and other products, so it is important to avoid locating a housing development on the most fertile land.
d. Surface water and stormwater runoff will drain downstream within the watershed boundaries, so it is important to understand the flow of water through the watershed.
d. Surface water and stormwater runoff will drain downstream within the watershed boundaries, so it is important to understand the flow of water through the watershed.
Which of the following should be included in a watershed map to best determine the non–point source of a pollutant, such as fertilizer, found in a river?
a. The total volume of groundwater in the aquifer
b. The total area and the average yearly precipitation of the watershed
c. The land use upstream of the river and water quality indicators in streams that run downstream into the river
d. The total volume of surface water of the river and the land use downstream of the river
c. The land use upstream of the river and water quality indicators in streams that run downstream into the river
Most volcanism in the world is associated with
a. plate boundaries
b. mid continental hot spots
c. faulting
d. aquifer depletion
e. desertification
a. plate boundaries
Hoover Dam is the largest dam in the United States, built on the Colorado River to supply hydroelectric power and flood control. Which of the following best describes a downstream environmental effect of Hoover Dam on the Colorado River watershed?
a. The supply of inexpensive electricity led to population growth and industrial development in cities such as Phoenix and Los Angeles.
b. The Lake Mead Recreation Area, formed by the reservoir behind Hoover Dam, is a popular tourist attraction for fishing, swimming, and boating.
c. The drainage basin of the Colorado River includes 246,000 square miles and serves as a source of drinking water for over 40 million people.
d. The damming of the Colorado River led to a change in stream flow, preventing river water and sediments from reaching the delta area.
d. The damming of the Colorado River led to a change in stream flow, preventing river water and sediments from reaching the delta area.
