Question 1

What is the mostly likely setting for this drainage pattern? 
A)The rocks have a relatively equal resistance to erosion.
B)Drainages have followed a series of fractures that branch off of one another.
C)The area has folded or faulted rocks with different resistances to erosion.
D)A volcano once existed here but has been partly eroded away.

Accepted Answer

A

Question 2

Which of the following does not influence whether sediment is picked up by a stream?
A)Size and density of the sediment
B)Turbulence of the moving water
C)Location of the sediment in the stream
D)Whether the stream flows north-south or east-west

Accepted Answer

The direction in which the stream flows (north-south or east-west) does not affect the ability of the stream to pick up sediment. Therefore, option D is the correct answer. Option A, B, and C are all factors that can influence whether sediment is picked up by a stream.

Question 3

Which of the following sediment sizes is likely to be transported mostly on the bottom of the stream bed?
A)Fine sand
B)Sticky clay particles
C)Pebbles and cobbles
D)Dissolved materials

Accepted Answer

Pebbles and cobbles are larger and heavier particles that are more likely to be transported on the bottom of the stream bed due to their size and weight. Fine sand and sticky clay particles can be transported in suspension or as bedload, while dissolved materials are carried in the water itself.

Question 4

What units of measure would most likely be represented by letters A-E on the bottom of the accompanying hydrograph? 
A)Meters
B)Hours
C)Kilograms
D)Miles

Accepted Answer

The letters A-E typically represent time intervals or hours on a hydrograph, with each letter corresponding to a different time interval (e.g. A = 1 hour, B = 2 hours, etc.). Therefore, the most likely unit of measure represented by these letters is hours.

Question 5

What typically happens when tributaries join the main river? 
A)Channel size increases
B)Water velocity increases
C)The amount of discharge increases
D)Total sediment load increases
E)All of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

When tributaries join the main river, the channel size increases due to the additional volume of water, which in turn increases water velocity. The amount of discharge, or the volume of water flowing through the river, also increases. With the increase in water velocity and discharge, the total sediment load carried by the river also increases. Therefore, all of these options are correct.

Question 6

What is the mostly likely setting for this drainage pattern? 
A)The rocks have a relatively equal resistance to erosion.
B)Drainages have followed a series of fractures that branch off of one another.
C)The area has folded or faulted rocks with different resistances to erosion.
D)A volcano once existed here but has been partly eroded away.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the mostly likely setting for...

Question 7

Which particles of sediment are most likely to be transported as suspended load?
A)Small,low density particles
B)Pebbles of average density
C)Sand and gravel of relatively high density
D)Dissolved ions in solution
E)All of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

Small, low density particles are most likely to be transported as suspended load because they are light enough to be carried by the moving water without settling out. Pebbles and sand and gravel are too heavy to remain suspended, while dissolved ions are not solid particles and do not settle out.

Question 8

What is the pattern of discharge shown by this hydrograph? 
A)Discharge gradually increases and quickly decreases.
B)Discharge quickly increases and gradually decreases.
C)Discharge gradually decreases and quickly increases.
D)Discharges quickly decreases and gradually increases.

Accepted Answer

The hydrograph shows a rapid increase in discharge, indicating a sudden increase in water flow, followed by a gradual decrease in discharge, indicating a slow decline in water flow. This pattern is consistent with a precipitation event, such as a storm or heavy rain, causing an increase in water flow, which gradually subsides as the water is absorbed or flows downstream.

Question 9

If erosion and deposition occur at the same rate,how can we best describe the particles of sediment on a streambed?
A)Only very small particles will be present along the stream bottom.
B)Particles neither move in,nor move out of this part of the stream.
C)As the sediment moves downstream,it is replaced by a similar volume of sediment.
D)Pebbles and cobbles carried away are replaced by the same number of smaller particles.

Accepted Answer

When erosion and deposition occur at the same rate, the sediment that moves away is replaced by a similar volume of sediment, maintaining a balance in the streambed's composition.

Question 10

Which of the following is a condition favoring deposition of sediment?
A)An increase in water velocity
B)A decrease in gradient of the stream
C)An increase in turbulence of the water
D)An increase in the salt content of the water
E)A decrease in grain size as a clast breaks into two pieces

Accepted Answer

A decrease in gradient of the stream slows down the water flow, allowing sediment particles to settle and deposit on the stream bed.

Question 11

Which of the following is true about transport of sediment in a stream?
A)Pebbles and cobbles are mostly transported by suspension.
B)Sediment that is deposited within a stream bed is unlikely to be transported again.
C)Sand can be transported in a series of bounces along the stream bed.
D)Slower current can carry larger clasts because the water is in contact with each clast for a longer time.
E)Sand grains are converted into salt by the process of saltation.

Accepted Answer

Sand can be transported through a process called saltation, in which sand grains bounce along the stream bed in a series of jumps. Pebbles and cobbles are too heavy to be transported in suspension, and slower currents cannot carry larger clasts because they do not have enough energy to do so. Sediment deposited within a stream bed can be re-transported if the stream flow increases, causing the sediment to be suspended or moved along the stream bed. Sand grains are not converted into salt through the transport process.

Question 12

Bedrock and sediment in a stream is most susceptible to erosion if it is
A)in slow-moving water in an eddy.
B)in a site that is sheltered from oncoming clasts.
C)located in a turbulent part of the river.
D)composed entirely of large clasts that affect stream flow.
E)All of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

Sediment in a turbulent part of the river is most susceptible to erosion because the high velocity and turbulence of the water can more easily transport and move sediment. Slow-moving water in an eddy (A) is less likely to erode sediment, while a sheltered site (B) may protect sediment from oncoming clasts, reducing erosion. Sediment composed entirely of large clasts (D) can also affect stream flow but may not always be the most susceptible to erosion, as smaller sediment can still be easily moved by fast-flowing, turbulent water.

Question 13

Compared with curve 2 on this hydrograph,what is a possible explanation for curve 1? 
A)The basin for curve 1 has steeper slopes than the basin for curve 2.
B)The storm recorded by curve 1 was shorter and more intense than the storm represented by curve 2.
C)Curve 1 shows the same area as curve 2 but after urbanization.
D)All of these are possible.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compared with curve 2 on this hydrograph,what...

Question 14

Which of the following is true about how a stream erodes material?
A)Abrasion is concentrated on the upstream side of obstructions.
B)Turbulence of the water is less important than the temperature,which affects viscosity.
C)Erosion occurs equally on two sides of a bend.
D)Water cannot erode unless it is carrying sediment.
E)All of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

Abrasion is concentrated on the upstream side of obstructions because that is where the water is forced to flow faster, causing more erosion. The other options are incorrect. Turbulence plays a significant role in erosion, the temperature of the water does not affect viscosity enough to impact erosion, erosion is generally more pronounced on the outer bend of a curve in a stream, and water can erode even without sediment if it is moving fast enough.

Question 15

Based on the accompanying hydrograph,what was the stream discharge when the data period shown in the graph ended? 
A)1.8 meters per second
B)4 meters per second
C)4 cubic meters per second
D)9 cubic meters per second
E)10 cubic meters per second

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on the accompanying hydrograph,what was the...

Question 16

The size of clasts that a stream can carry is primarily controlled by
A)the water temperature.
B)the amount of dissolved and suspended load of a stream.
C)how close the stream is to the ocean.
D)the velocity and turbulence of the current.
E)whether it is a permanent or ephemeral stream.

Accepted Answer

The velocity and turbulence of the current are the primary factors controlling a stream's ability to carry different sizes of clasts. A faster-moving and more turbulent current can carry larger and heavier clasts, while a slower-moving current can only transport smaller particles. Water temperature, the amount of dissolved and suspended load, proximity to the ocean, and stream permanence may affect a stream's overall characteristics, but they do not directly control the size of clasts it can carry.

Question 17

In this diagram,water velocity downstream generally 
A)decreases.
B)remains the same.
C)increases.
D)There is no way to tell because discharge cannot be determined.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In this diagram,water velocity downstream generally 
A)decreases.
B)remains...

Question 18

A delta forms when
A)ocean waves,especially during storms,pile up sediment along the coast.
B)a steep mountain front collapses sending sediment out into the sea.
C)a river slows and deposits sediment as it enters a lake or sea.
D)windblown dust slides down steep hillsides and into a lake.

Accepted Answer

A delta is formed when a river slows down and deposits sediment as it enters a lake or sea. The sediment builds up over time creating a triangular-shaped landform called a delta.

Question 19

What is a reasonable interpretation for the flow event recorded by this hydrograph? 
A)There were two pulses of runoff because there were two storms.
B)The drainage basin has several distinct parts.
C)One pulse could be due to snowmelt and the other to rain.
D)All of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a reasonable interpretation for the...

Question 20

Which event is best represented by the hydrograph shown here? 
A)A summer thunderstorm
B)A very long period of steady light rain
C)A long drought with no rain for months
D)A winter snowstorm followed by very cold weather

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which event is best represented by the...

Quiz 13: Streams and Flooding

What is the mostly likely setting for this drainage pattern?

Which of the following does not influence whether sediment is picked up by a stream?

Which of the following sediment sizes is likely to be transported mostly on the bottom of the stream bed?

What units of measure would most likely be represented by letters A-E on the bottom of the accompanying hydrograph?

What typically happens when tributaries join the main river?

What is the mostly likely setting for this drainage pattern?

Which particles of sediment are most likely to be transported as suspended load?

What is the pattern of discharge shown by this hydrograph?

If erosion and deposition occur at the same rate,how can we best describe the particles of sediment on a streambed?

Which of the following is a condition favoring deposition of sediment?

Which of the following is true about transport of sediment in a stream?

Bedrock and sediment in a stream is most susceptible to erosion if it is

Compared with curve 2 on this hydrograph,what is a possible explanation for curve 1?

Which of the following is true about how a stream erodes material?

Based on the accompanying hydrograph,what was the stream discharge when the data period shown in the graph ended?

The size of clasts that a stream can carry is primarily controlled by

In this diagram,water velocity downstream generally

A delta forms when

What is a reasonable interpretation for the flow event recorded by this hydrograph?

Which event is best represented by the hydrograph shown here?