Quiz 10 - The River and the Sea

1. Rivers east of the continental divide in the Rockies drain into the __________.

(a) Pacific drainage

(b) Hudson Bay/Arctic drainage

(c) Gulf/Atlantic drainage

(d) interior West drainage

  2. Rectangular drainage patterns form as a result of ___________.

(a) differential resistance to erosion.

(b) domal uplift.

(c) flow through anticlinal and synclinal topography.

(d) flow through a faulted landscape.

  3. As the discharge of a stream increases, which of the following also happens?

(a) Stream channels narrow, become shallower, and lose velocity.

(b) The rate of flow decreases.

(c) Channel width increases but channel depth decreases.

(d) Width, depth, and velocity all increase.

  4. In order to control flooding, levees are frequently constructed along the banks of rivers to confine flow to the channel. Given this, what happens to the flow velocity and erosive power of the stream during a flood, before the water overflows the levee? (Consider the equation Q=wdv when answering this question.)

(a) Velocity increases because the width does not increase, and the erosive power increases.

(b) Velocity increases because depth does not increase, and the erosive power increases.

(c) Velocity decreases because the depth of the channel is significantly greater, and the erosive power increases.

(d) Velocity decreases because the width of the channel is significantly less and the erosive power decreases.

  5. The construction of a dam across a river is likely to cause ______ upstream of the dam, and _______ downstream.

(a) erosion; aggradation

(b) erosion; erosion

(c) aggradation; erosion

(d) aggradation; aggradation

  6. The height of a tsunami grows as it approaches a coastline primarily because

(a) its energy level increases.

(b) its wavelength shortens.

(c) the height of the surf is added to the height of the tsunami.

(d) none of the above are true -- the height of a tsunami remains constant from its time of origin.

  7. The littoral zone extends inland to ______________.

(a) the foreshore dune.

(b) the backshore dune.

(c) the trough between the primary and secondary dune.

(d) the highest water line that occurs during a storm.

  8. A coral is a type of ______ that secretes _______ to form an organic rock home.

(a) polyp; calcium carbonate

(b) polyp; silica

(c) algae; calcium carbonate

(d) algae; silica

  9. Which of the following occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth are in alignment (i.e., in opposition or conjunction)?

(a) maximum tidal ranges occur

(b) neap tides occur

(c) a lower tidal range occurs

(d) none of the above -- this type of alignment does not happen in nature.

  10. Approximately what percentage of the world's population lives within 100 km of the ocean?

(a) 1/20

(b) 1/4

(c) 2/5

(d) 9/10