Ch 8 Practice Questions
Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the diagram below, which shows four tubes containing 500
milliliters of sediment labeled A, B, C, and D. Each tube contains well-sorted, loosely packed particles of
uniform shape and size and is open at the top. The classification of the sediment in each tube is labeled.
1. Water was poured into each tube of sediment and the time it took for the water to infiltrate to
the bottom was recorded, in seconds. Which data table best represents the recorded results?
A)
B)
C)
D)
2. Water will be able to infiltrate each of these sediment samples if the sediment is
A) saturated and impermeable
C) unsaturated and impermeable
B) saturated and permeable
D) unsaturated and permeable
3. Each tube is filled with water to the top of the sediments and the tube is covered with a fine screen. The
tubes are then tipped upside down so the water can drain. In which tube would the sediment retain the most
water?
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
Mrs. Dixon
Ch 8 Practice Questions
4. Base your answer to the following question on on the diagram below, which shows laboratory materials
used for an investigation of the effects of sediment size on permeability, porosity, and water retention. Four
separate columns, labeled A through D, were filled to the same level with different sediments. The
sediments within each column are of uniform size.
An equal amount of water is poured through each column. On the grid, draw a line to show the relative
amount of water retained in the sediment after the water flows through each column.
Ch 8 Practice Questions
5. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below. The arrows show the direction in which
sediment is being transported along the shoreline. A barrier beach has formed, creating a lagoon (a shallow
body of water in which sediments are being deposited). The eroded headlands are composed of diorite
bedrock. A groin has recently been constructed. Groins are wall-like structures built into the water
perpendicular to the shoreline to trap beach sand.
Which event will most likely occur during a heavy rainfall?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Less sediment will be carried by the streams.
An increase in sea level will cause more sediments to be deposited along the shoreline.
The shoreline will experience a greater range in tides.
The discharge from the streams into the lagoon will increase.
6. Which soil conditions normally result in the greatest
amount of runoff?
A)
B)
C)
D)
low permeability and gentle slope
low permeability and steep slope
high permeability and gentle slope
high permeability and steep slope
7. A soil sample with a large amount of space between the
particles will have a
A)
B)
C)
D)
low permeability rate
low infiltration rate
high porosity
high capillarity
Ch 8 Practice Questions
8. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below, which shows Earth's water cycle.
Numbers indicate the estimated volume of water, in millions of cubic kilometers, stored at any one time in
the atmosphere, the oceans, and on the continents. The yearly amount of water that moves in and out of each
of these three of Earth is also indicated in millions of cubic kilometers.
Calculate the total amount of water stored in the atmosphere, the oceans, and on the continents together at
any one time.
9. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below, which shows limestone bedrock with
caves.
The precipitation in this area is becoming more acidic. Explain why acid rain weathers limestone bedrock.
Ch 8 Practice Questions
Base your answers to questions 10 and 11 on cross section below, which shows the general pattern of water
movement in the water cycle. Letter X represents a water-cycle process.
10. Describe one surface condition that would allow runoff to occur.
11. As the lake surface freezes in the winter, how many calories of heat are released by each gram of water?
12. The diagram below shows the result of leaving an
empty, dry clay flowerpot in a full container of water
for a period of time. The water level in the container
dropped to level A. The top of the wet area moved to
level B.
Level B is higher than level A because water
A) is less dense than the clay pot
B) is more dense than the clay pot
C) traveled upward in the clay pot by capillary
action
D) traveled downward in the clay pot by capillary
action
Ch 8 Practice Questions
13. Base your answer to the following question on the data table below and on your knowledge of Earth
science. The data table shows the average monthly discharge, in cubic feet per second, for a stream in New
York State.
Explain one possible reason why this stream’s discharge in April is usually greater than this stream’s
discharge in January.
14. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below, which represents part of Earth’s
water cycle. Letters A, B, C, and D represent processes that occur during the cycle. The level of the water
table and the extent of the zone of saturation are shown.
Which two letters represent processes in the water cycle that usually cause a lowering of the water table?
A) A and B
B) A and C
C) B and D
D) C and D
Ch 8 Practice Questions
Base your answers to questions 15 and 16 on the two graphs below, which show the relationship between
the amount of rainfall during a storm and the amount of discharge into a nearby stream. Letter A represents
the time when approximately 50% of the precipitation from the storm has fallen. Letter B represents the
time when peak runoff from the storm is flowing into the stream. The delay is the difference in time
between letters A and B on the graph. Graph I shows data before urbanization in an area. Graph II shows
data after urbanization in the same area.
15. The delay time between points A and B on both graphs is due mainly to the time needed for
A)
B)
C)
D)
groundwater to evaporate
precipitation water to move into the streams
green plants to absorb precipitation
rainfall rate to decrease
16. How did urbanization affect delay time between points A and B and the maximum stream discharge?
A)
B)
C)
D)
The delay time decreased, and the maximum discharge decreased.
The delay time decreased, and the maximum discharge increased.
The delay time increased, and the maximum discharge decreased.
The delay time increased, and the maximum discharge increased.
17. Which sediment size would allow water to flow through
at the fastest rate?
A) clay
C) sand
B) silt
D) pebbles
Ch 8 Practice Questions
18. The diagram below shows a model of the water cycle. The arrows show the movement of water molecules
through the water cycle. The circled numbers represent the processes that occur as the water molecules
reach the different stages of the water cycle.
Complete the table by identifying the name of the water cycle process occurring at each number.
Ch 8 Practice Questions
19. The diagram below shows tubes A and B partly filled with equal volumes of round plastic beads of uniform
size. The beads in tube A are smaller than the beads in tube B. Water was placed in tube A until the pore
spaces were filled. The drain valve was then opened, and the amount of time for the water to drain from the
tube was recorded. The amount of water that remained around the beads was then calculated and recorded.
Data table 1 shows the measurements recorded using tube A.
If the same procedure was followed with tube B, which data table shows the measurements most likely
recorded?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Ch 8 Practice Questions
20. The photograph below shows a sign near the Esopus Creek in Kingston, New York.
The main purpose of the word “watershed” on this sign is to communicate that the Esopus Creek
A)
B)
C)
D)
is a tributary of the Hudson River
is a flood hazard where it flows into the Hudson River
forms a delta in the Hudson River
contains ancient fish fossils
21. Base your answer to the following question on the water cycle diagram shown below. Some arrows are
numbered 1 through 4 and represent various processes.
For infiltration to occur, the ground must be
A) permeable and saturated
C) impermeable and saturated
B) permeable and not saturated
D) impermeable and not saturated
Ch 8 Practice Questions
22. The columns A, B, C, and D shown below contain equal volumes of sediment.
When an equal volume of water is added to each column, the greatest rate of infiltration will occur in
which column?
A) A
B) B
C) C
23. During a dry summer, the flow of most large New York
State streams generally
A) continues because some groundwater seeps into
the streams
B) increases due to greater surface runoff
C) remains unchanged due to transpiration from
grasses, shrubs, and trees
D) stops completely because no water runs off into
the streams
24. Soil composed of which particle size usually has the
greatest capillarity?
A) silt
C) coarse sand
B) fine sand
D) pebbles
D) D
Ch 8 Practice Questions
25. A student performed a laboratory activity in which water was poured slowly into four cups containing
equal volumes of loosely packed sediment samples, as shown in the diagram below. All particles were
spherical in shape and uniform in size within a container. After the water level reached the surface of each
sample, the student determined the amount of water that had been added.
The results of the activity should have indicated that approximately equal amounts of water were added to
the cups of
A) silt and pebbles, only
C) pebbles and the mixture, only
B) sand, silt, and pebbles, only
D) sand, pebbles, and the mixture, only
26. The diagrams below show the relative sizes of particles from soil samples A, B, and C. Equal volumes of
each soil sample were placed in separate containers. Each container has a screen at the bottom. Water was
poured through each sample to determine the infiltration rate.
Which graph best shows how the infiltration rates of the three soil samples would compare?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Ch 8 Practice Questions
27. Which graph best represents the general relationship
between soil particle size and the permeability rate of
infiltrating rainwater?
A)
B)
C)
D)
28. Through which of the following loose soil materials
does water infiltrate fastest?
A) clay
C) sand
B) silt
D) pebbles
29. Sand sediments are usually more permeable than silt
sediments because sand grains are
A) larger
C) rounder
B) smoother
D) more soluble
Ch 8 Practice Questions
30. Base your answer to the following question on the water budget data and climate classification below.
Table 1 shows water budget data for a location in New Jersey, and table 2 describes climate types. All data
are expressed in millimeters of water.
According to the information provided in table 2, the area represented by the water budget data would have
a climate classified as
A) humid
B) subhumid
C) semiarid
D) arid
Ch 8 Practice Questions
31. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram, data and information below. The diagram
below represents part of the laboratory setup for an activity to investigate the effects of particle size on
permeability, porosity, and water retention. Three separate tubes were used, each containing 300 milliliters
of beads of uniform size. Bead sizes were 4 millimeters, 7 millimeters, and 12 millimeters in diameter,
respectively.
What was the total amount of water retained on the 7-millimeter beads after the tubing was unclamped and
the water flowed out?
A) 8 mL
B) 12 mL
C) 22 mL
32. An area with a high potential for evapotranspiration has
little actual evapotranspiration and precipitation. The
climate of this area is best described as
A) hot and arid
C) cold and arid
B) hot and humid
D) cold and humid
33. Which soil-property measurement usually is greater
when particles are fine than when particles are coarse?
A) infiltration
C) porosity
B) capillarity
D) permeability rate
D) 36 mL
Ch 8 Practice Questions
34. The maps show changes occurring around a small Louisiana lake over a 30-year period.
Which graph best shows the probable changes in the quality of ground water and lake water in this region
as the changes indicated in the maps took place from 1967 to 1997? (Use the key above.)
A)
B)
C)
D)
35. Which conditions produce the most surface water
runoff?
A)
B)
C)
D)
steep slope, heavy rain, and frozen ground
steep slope, gentle rain, and unfrozen ground
gentle slope, heavy rain, and frozen ground
gentle slope, gentle rain, and unfrozen ground
Ch 8 Practice Questions
36. Which graph best represents the relationship between
soil permeability rate and infiltration when all other
conditions are the same?
A)
B)
C)
D)
37. Which earth material covering the surface of a landfill
would permit the least amount of rainwater to infiltrate
the surface?
A) silt
C) sand
B) clay
D) pebbles
Ch 8 Practice Questions
Base your answers to questions 38 through 40 on the
diagram below, which represents samples of soil and
bedrock at Earth's surface. The arrows represent
possible infiltration of rainwater.
40. Zones within soil and rock are classified by the water
movement occurring in the zones. Which diagram best
represents the most common arrangement of these
zones?
A)
B)
C)
D)
41. Why would a stream in South Carolina have a lower
stream discharge in late summer than in spring?
38. The pebble-and-sand soil has greater capillarity than the
pebble soil because the pebble and sand soil
A)
B)
C)
D)
is weathering more rapidly
is more loosely packed
has smaller pore spaces
has less surface area
39. The least amount of rainwater will infiltrate the surface
of the
A)
B)
C)
D)
pebble soil
pebble-and-sand soil
conglomerate bedrock
granite bedrock
A) Potential evapotranspiration is less in late summer
than in spring.
B) Plants carry on more transpiration in spring than in
late summer.
C) The local water budget shows a surplus in late
summer.
D) The local water budget shows a deficit in late
summer.
Ch 8 Practice Questions
42. Base your answer to the following question on the
diagrams below, which show two soil cross sections
from adjacent fields in Nebraska. Both soils are the
same except that human activities have removed the
vegetation from the surface of field B. Each field has
been receiving rain for several hours.
44. Which graph best represents the relationship between
the particle size and the capillarity of a sample of soil?
A)
C)
The soils in field B would have a higher rate of
permeability if the soils
A)
B)
C)
D)
had lower porosity
had a steeper surface slope
were composed of larger rock particles
were compacted by machinery traveling over the
field
43. Samples of air collected from the region surrounding a
large city were tested for pollutants. Which graph
below best shows the probable relationship between air
pollution and distance from the city?
A)
B)
C)
D)
B)
D)
Ch 8 Practice Questions
45. The data table below shows the stream discharge in April for a creek in the southern United States for a
period of 8 days.
Which graph most accurately shows stream discharge for the 8-day period?
A)
B)
46. If wastewater from a nuclear power plant raises the
temperature of a nearby body of water, the
concentration of biologic pollutants in the water will
most likely
A) decrease
C) remain the same
C)
D)
48. According to the diagram below, at which location
would the water probably be most polluted?
B) increase
47. The direct cause of ground water supplies becoming
unfit for human use is usually
A)
B)
C)
D)
an uncontrollable moisture deficit
contamination of the saturated zone
excessive surface runoff
very heavy precipitation
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
Ch 8 Practice Questions
49. During a 3-week period without rain in June, water
continued to flow in a small Maryland stream. The
water in the stream most likely came from
A) the roots of trees along the stream bank
B) evapotranspiration in a region far away and
unaffected by the dry period
C) ground water flowing into the streambed
D) condensation on the surface of rocks in the stream
50. Why do many streams continue to flow during long
periods when there is no precipitation?
A) Soil moisture storage is recharged by vegetation
along the streams.
B) Ground water continues to move into the
stream channels.
C) An increase in potential evapotranspiration
increases the stream runoff.
D) The porosity beneath the stream channels becomes
higher than normal.
Answer Key
Ch 8 Practice Questions
1.
A
2.
D
3.
A
4.
18.
19.
A
20.
A
21.
B
22.
B
23.
A
5.
D
24.
A
6.
B
25.
B
7.
C
26.
A
– any value from 1408 27.
to 1409 millions of
28.
cubic kilometers.
29.
– The acid rain
A
dissolves the
limestone.
30.
A
31.
C
Examples: — The
soil is saturated. —
Rate of rainfall
exceeds the rate of
infiltration. — The
ground is frozen. —
The land has a steep
slope.
32.
A
33.
B
34.
B
35.
A
36.
A
37.
B
80 calories/gram
38.
C
39.
D
40.
A
41.
D
42.
C
43.
B
44.
C
45.
D
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
C
Examples: —
Snowmelt in April
results in a greater
discharge. — greater
rainfall in April —
Saturated ground
would cause more
runoff in April.
D
A
14.
A
46.
B
15.
B
47.
B
16.
B
48.
D
17.
D
49.
C
50.
B