Ch 14 Practice Questions
1. Which of the following is an environmental hazard
created by humans?
A) air pollution
C) hurricane
B) flood
D) drought
2. Base your answer to the following question on the passage below.
Graywacke
Graywacke is a type of sandstone composed of a great variety of minerals. Unlike
a "clean" sandstone where both the sand-sized grains and cement are composed
mostly of quartz, graywacke is a "dirty" sandstone which can be composed of potassium
feldspar, plagioclase feldspar, calcite, hornblende, and augite, as well as quartz.
Graywacke can be used for paving highways. The hard, massive bedrock is first
drilled and then blasted into large chunks. Stone crushers grind these chunks into
pebble-sized pieces. Truckloads of the graywacke pebbles are then hauled to plants
where asphalt for paving is made.
State one negative environmental impact a graywacke quarry could have on the area where it is located.
3. On a certain day, the isobars on a weather map are very
close together over eastern Kentucky. To make the
people of this area aware of possible risk to life and
property in this situation, the National Weather Service
should issue
A)
B)
C)
D)
a dense-fog warning
a high-wind advisory
a heat-index warning
an air-pollution advisory
Ch 14 Practice Questions
4. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section of two crustal plates and the boundary
between them shown below. The arrows indicate the direction of rock movement.
Which geologic events occur most often at this mid-oceanic ridge plate boundary?
A)
B)
C)
D)
magnetic pole reversals and cooling of ocean water
meteorite impacts and tilting of shorelines
hydrospheric pollution and adiabatic heating
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
5. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram and field map below. The diagram shows an
underground gasoline storage tank at a service station that is leaking gasoline into the soil. Ground-water
monitoring wells were drilled to show the pattern of the leakage. The concentration of gasoline, in parts per
million, at each well is indicated on the field map.
Which statement best describes the pollution field’s size and concentration measurement if the gasoline
continues to leak out of the tank?
A)
B)
C)
D)
The size of the pollution field will decrease, and the concentration measurement will decrease.
The size of the pollution field will decrease, and the concentration measurement will increase
The size of the pollution field will increase, and the concentration measurement will decrease.
The size of the pollution field will increase, and the concentration measurement will increase.
Ch 14 Practice Questions
6. Friction occurring at an interface always produces a
A)
B)
C)
D)
transformation of energy
form of pollution
chemical change
phase change
10. The graph below shows the amount of noise pollution
caused by factory machinery during a one-week period.
7. What is the most direct cause of major surface ocean
currents?
A) wind
C) tides
B) gravity
D) pollution
8. Points are plotted on the graph below to show the
relationship between lake-water pollution and the
population density around several small lakes in
Minnesota.
Which inference is best supported by the graph?
A) The machinery ran 24 hours a day.
B) The machinery was turned off on Saturday and
Sunday.
C) The level of pollution remained constant during
working hours.
D) The noise volume reached a peak on Friday.
11. Which is the least probable source of atmospheric
pollution in heavily populated cities?
A) human activities
C) natural processes
B) industrial plants
D) automobile traffic
12. Which of the sources of energy listed below is most
nearly pollution free?
A) nuclear
C) coal
As population density increases, the lake pollution
A) decreases
C) remains the same
B) increases
9. What always happens when a change occurs?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Pollution is produced.
The temperature of a system increases.
The properties of a system are altered.
Dynamic equilibrium is reached.
B) solar
D) natural gas
Ch 14 Practice Questions
13. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below, which shows limestone bedrock
with caves.
Identify one source of pollution caused by human activity that contributes to the precipitation becoming
more acidic.
14. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below, which shows an area near
Watertown, New York. The top layer of soil contains broken rock fragments. A representative sample of
this layer has been magnified.
Rocks and minerals are natural resources that are mined in New York State. State one negative impact that
should be considered before mining these natural resources.
Ch 14 Practice Questions
15. Which graph shows the most probable effect of
environmental pollution on the chances of human
survival?
A)
C)
B)
D)
16. Which statement about air pollution over this city is
best supported by the graph?
A)
B)
C)
D)
It is decreasing at a constant rate.
It is increasing at a constant rate.
It is a cyclic event.
It has no pattern.
17. Which graph best represents the typical relationship
between population density near a lake and pollution of
the lake?
A)
B)
C)
D)
18. 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)
19. Which graph best represents the most common
relationship between the amount of air pollution and
the distance from an industrial city?
A)
B)
C)
D)
20. Which graph best shows the general relationship
between the population density of an area (x-axis) and
the amount of pollution in the area (y-axis)?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Ch 14 Practice Questions
21. As the concentration of pollution particles in the
atmosphere increases, the amount of insolation that
reaches the Earth's surface will most likely
A) decrease
C) remain the same
B) increase
22. Which graph best illustrates the relationship between
lake water pollution and human population density near
the lake?
A)
B)
C)
D)
23. The map below shows major streams in the New York State area. The bold lines mark off sections A
through I within New York State.
The best title for the map would be
A)
B)
C)
D)
“Tectonic Plate Boundaries in New York State”
“Bedrock Geology Locations of New York State”
“Landscape Regions of New York State”
“Watershed Areas of New York State”
Ch 14 Practice Questions
Base your answer to questions 24 and 25 on the illustrations below, which show two landscape regions
with similar bedrock type and structure.
24. Which statement best explains why these two landscape regions are different in
appearance?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Landscape A formed in a dry region, and landscape B formed in a humid region.
Landscape A formed in a dry region, and landscape B formed in a glaciated region.
Landscape A formed in a humid region, and landscape B formed in a dry region.
Landscape A formed in a humid region, and landscape B formed in a glaciated
region.
25. Which statement best explains why these two landscape regions are different in appearance?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Landscape A formed in a dry region, and landscape B formed in a humid region.
Landscape A formed in a dry region, and landscape B formed in a glaciated region.
Landscape A formed in a humid region, and landscape B formed in a dry region.
Landscape A formed in a humid region, and landscape B formed in a glaciated
region.
26. Features such as mountains, plains, and plateaus divide
continents into
A)
B)
C)
D)
crustal activity zones
natural resource zones
landscape regions
erosional activity areas
27. What do Plattsburgh and Massena, New York, have in
common?
A) They are located in the same landscape region.
B) Their surface bedrock formed during the same
geologic time period.
C) They have the same latitude.
D) They have the same longitude.
28. The coldest climates on Earth are found at the polar
regions because the polar regions
A)
B)
C)
D)
absorb the most insolation
are usually farthest from the Sun
receive the shortest duration of insolation
receive the lowest angle of insolation
29. Which statement best describes the boundaries between
different landscape regions?
A) Landscape regions are generally hard to
distinguish.
B) Landscape regions are usually marked by
well-defined surface features.
C) The boundary between landscape regions is
usually formed by rivers.
D) Landscape boundaries usually coincide with
international or state boundaries.
Ch 14 Practice Questions
30. The diagram below shows a highway road cut.
The water well has probably gone dry because
A)
B)
C)
D)
crustal uplift has altered the landscape
human activities have altered the landscape
the climate has become more humid
the bedrock porosity has changed
31. Which statement best describes the relationship
between landscape regions and their observable
characteristics?
A) The boundaries between landscape regions in New
York State usually are not well defined.
B) Sets of landscape characteristics seem to occur
together, thereby identifying distinctive
landscape regions.
C) The surface of New York State displays no
distinctive landscape regions.
D) Most continental landmasses display little
variation in observable characteristics from one
landscape region to the next.
32. Hillslopes, stream patterns, and the structure of the
bedrock would most likely be helpful in identifying
A)
B)
C)
D)
fossils
earthquake epicenters
landscape regions
magnetic north
33. The climate that existed in an area during the early
Paleozoic Era can best be determined by studying
A) the present climate of the area
B) recorded climate data of the area since 1700
C) present landscape surface features found in the
area
D) the sedimentary rocks deposited in the area
during the Cambrian and Ordovician Periods
34. Base your answer on the diagram below.
Which change would probably be noted if the climate
in this area became more humid?
A) The elevation of the entire region will increase.
B) The rate of erosion will decrease.
C) The landscape features will become more
rounded.
D) The limestone will weather more slowly.
35. Base your answer on the diagram below.
Which change would probably be noted if the climate
in this area became more humid?
A) The elevation of the entire region will increase.
B) The rate of erosion will decrease.
C) The landscape features will become more
rounded.
D) The limestone will weather more slowly.
36. Landscapes with horizontal bedrock structure, steep
slopes, and high elevations are classified as
A) plateau regions
C) lowland regions
B) plain regions
D) mountain regions
Ch 14 Practice Questions
37. The block diagram below shows a portion of Earth’s
surface.
If the climate in this area becomes more humid, which
change will most likely occur?
A) The landscape features will become more
rounded.
B) The elevation of the entire region will increase.
C) The limestone will stop dissolving.
D) The rate of wind erosion will increase.
38. Geologists have subdivided geologic time into periods
that are based on
A) carbon dating
C) fossil evidence
B) rock types
D) landscape regions
39. Which factor has the most influence on the
development of soil?
A)
B)
C)
D)
climate
longitude
amount of rounded sediment
slope of the landscape
Ch 14 Practice Questions
40. Base your answer to the following question on the Earth Science Reference Tables and the map below. The
map shows the major landscape regions of New York State.
In what way do plateau landscape regions differ from mountain landscape regions?
A)
B)
C)
D)
The climate of plateau regions is generally more humid.
The altitude of plateau regions is generally higher.
The bedrock of plateau regions is generally more horizontal.
The bedrock age of plateau regions is generally greater.
41. The Catskills landscape region is classified as a plateau
because the region has
A)
B)
C)
D)
deep gorges
shallow valleys
rock type similar to the Adirondack Highlands
landscape characteristics most similar to the
Appalachian Uplands
42. Geologists have subdivided geologic time into units
based on
A)
B)
C)
D)
rock type
fossil evidence
erosion rates
landscape development
43. The major landscape regions of the United States are
identified chiefly on the basis of
A)
B)
C)
D)
similar surface characteristics
similar climatic conditions
nearness to major mountain regions
nearness to continental boundaries
Ch 14 Practice Questions
44. The three diagrams below represent the same location at 49. The graph below shows how environmental
different times. What is the best explanation for the
temperatures affect the amount of organic material
differences in appearance of this location?
(humus) added to and removed from soils in humid
regions.
A) This region was exposed to leveling forces for
different lengths of time.
B) This region has different underlying bedrock
structures.
C) This region developed in different climate regions.
D) This region has the same type of underlying rock
layers.
45. In New York State, both the Delaware River and the
Susquehanna River flow over landscapes classified as
A) mountain regions
C) lowlands
B) coastal plains
D) plateaus
46. In which type of landscape are meandering streams
most likely found?
A)
B)
C)
D)
regions of waterfalls
gently sloping plains
steeply sloping hills
V-shaped valleys
47. Which bedrock characteristics most influence landscape
development?
A)
B)
C)
D)
composition and structure
structure and age
age and color
color and composition
48. Continents are divided into landscape regions on the
basis of
A)
B)
C)
D)
bedrock fossils and depositional patterns
rainfall and temperature changes
surface features and bedrock structure
boundaries of the drainage basins of major rivers
The graph supports the conclusion that soils in regions
with average annual temperatures above 25ºC have
A)
B)
C)
D)
little humus present
the highest production of humus
a low breakdown of humus
the same amount of humus as soils in cooler
regions
50. Although the Adirondacks are classified as a mountain
landscape, the Catskills are classified as a plateau
landscape because of a major difference in their
A) amounts of rainfall B) bedrock structure
C) index fossils
D) glacial deposits
51. The Catskills landscape region is classified as a plateau
primarily because the region has
A)
B)
C)
D)
V-shaped valleys
jagged hilltops
horizontal bedrock structure
folded metamorphic rock
Ch 14 Practice Questions
52. The cross sections of crust below represent two regions
of sedimentary rock layers that have been altered.
55. The boundaries between landscape regions are usually
indicated by sharp changes in
A)
B)
C)
D)
bedrock structure and elevation
weathering rate and method of deposition
soil associations and geologic age
stream discharge rate and direction of flow
56. Landscape regions are best identified by their
The sedimentary bedrock in both regions originally
formed as
A) horizontal layers
C) faulted layers
B) recrystallized layers
D) folded layers
53. The boundaries of landscape regions are generally well
defined by changes in
A)
B)
C)
D)
vegetation and soil type
stream size and drainage pattern
latitude and longitude
elevation and bedrock structure
54. Base your answer to the following question on the
Earth Science Reference Tables and the map below.
The map shows the Generalized Landscape Regions of
New York State as they appear in the Earth Science
Reference Tables. Letters A through K represent the
different landscape regions. Letters P and Q indicate
viewpoints for interpreting landscape cross sections.
Letters X and Y are two points along the New
York-New Jersey border.
A)
B)
C)
D)
fossils and rock age
latitude and climate
elevation and bedrock structure
soil composition and particle size
57. The diagrams below show the same region of the
Earth's crust at two different times.
These diagrams seem to indicate that landscape features
are the result of
A) only uplifting forces within the Earth's crust
B) only leveling forces within the Earth's crust
C) both uplifting and leveling forces acting on the
Earth's crust
D) neither uplifting nor leveling forces acting on the
Earth's crust
58. The primary reason that several landscape regions have
formed in New York State is that the various regions of
the State have different
A)
B)
C)
D)
climates
latitudes
soil characteristics
bedrock characteristics
59. Which characteristics of a landscape region would
provide the best information about the stage of
development of the landscape?
Which letter represents the Manhattan Prong landscape
region?
A) H
B) I
C) J
D) K
A) the age and fossil content of the bedrock
B) the type of hillslopes and the stream patterns
C) the amount of precipitation and the potential
evapotranspiration
D) the type of vegetation and the vegetation's growth
rate
Ch 14 Practice Questions
60. If the rate of erosion in a particular landscape on the
Earth's surface increases and the uplifting forces remain
constant, the elevation of that landscape will
A) decrease
C) remain the same
B) increase
61. The landscape of northeastern New York State was
formed mainly by
A)
B)
C)
D)
mountain building and glacial erosion
faulting and volcanic activity
changes in the water level of Lake Ontario
erosion of Devonian sedimentary bedrock by
rivers
Ch 14 Practice Questions
62. Base your answer to the following question on the passage and map below. The map shows the generalized
landscape regions of Vermont.
Landscape Regions of Vermont
Most of Vermont’s landscape regions consist of ancient, weathered mountains that were covered
by several ice sheets during the last ice age. When the ice melted, sand, cobbles, and boulders were
deposited throughout the state, Vermont is divided into six landscape regions.
(1) The Vermont Lowlands region has a mild climate, with Lake Champlain moderating its
temperature.
(2) The Green Mountains run the length of Vermont and were formed over 400 million years
ago. Most of the bedrock is metamorphic and the region is known for its deposits of talc and
asbestos.
(3) The Taconic Mountains extend into New York State. Slate and marble are commonly
mined in this region.
(4) The Valley of Vermont is a narrow valley between two mountain ranges. Most of the
bedrock in the region is limestone and marble.
(5) The Vermont Piedmont covers the largest area of the state. This region consists of rolling
hills and valleys. Granite mining is an important industry.
(6) The Northeast Highlands is a mountainous region composed of granite bedrock.
Which Vermont landscape region is a continuation of New York State’s Champlain Lowlands landscape?
A) Vermont Lowlands
C) Taconic Mountains
B) Valley of Vermont
D) Green Mountains
Ch 14 Practice Questions
63. The generalized landscape regions of New York State
are classified according to
A)
B)
C)
D)
bedrock structure and elevation
bedrock type and index fossils
latitude and longitude
climate and topography
64. New York State landscape regions are identified and
classified primarily by their
A)
B)
C)
D)
surface topography and bedrock structure
existing vegetation and type of weather
latitude and longitude
chemical weathering rate and nearness to large
bodies of water
65. Which diagram represents a plateau landscape?
A)
C)
B)
D)
66. The block diagrams below show a landscape region
before and after uplift and erosion.
The landscape shown in the "after" diagram is best
classified as a
A) folded mountain
C) plains region
B) plateau region
D) volcanic dome
67. The Mohawk River and the Hudson River both flow
primarily over a landscape region classified as
A) lowlands
C) highlands
B) mountains
D) plateaus
68. As population increases, the amount of alteration of the
landscape by human activity will most likely
A) decrease
C) remain the same
B) increase
69. A local landscape can be changed most in the shortest
amount of time by
A)
B)
C)
D)
activities of humans
wind erosion
physical weathering
a changing climate
Ch 14 Practice Questions
70. The block diagrams below show two landscape regions labeled A and B.
What is the most probable cause of the difference in surface features between A and B?
A)
B)
C)
D)
A is the result of a humid climate, while B is the result of a dry climate.
A is at a high elevation, while B is located at sea level.
A is a plateau region, while B is a mountainous region.
A is composed of igneous bedrock, while B is composed of sedimentary bedrock.
71. The topographic map below shows a particular
landscape.
Which map best represents the stream drainage pattern
for this landscape?
A)
C)
B)
D)
Ch 14 Practice Questions
72. The photograph below shows an eroded plateau found in the southwestern United States.
The landscape was developed by the processes of
A) crustal uplift and stream erosion
C) crustal folding and stream erosion
B) crustal uplift and glacial erosion
D) crustal folding and glacial erosion
73. The generalized landscape regions of New York
State are identified chiefly on the basis of
A)
B)
C)
D)
nearness to continental boundaries
nearness to major mountain ranges
climatic conditions
surface bedrock characteristics
74. The Tug Hill Plateau is classified as a plateau because
the landscape has
A) low elevation and nearly horizontal bedrock
structure
B) high elevation and nearly horizontal bedrock
structure
C) low relief and deformed bedrock structure
D) high relief and deformed bedrock structure
75. The diagram below is a three-dimensional model of a landscape region.
Which map view best represents the topography of this region?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Ch 14 Practice Questions
76. The diagram below represents a landscape area.
Which map represents the stream drainage pattern that
has most likely developed within this area?
A)
B)
C)
D)
79. The landscape shown below developed in a region with
an arid climate.
If the erosion of this plateau had taken place in a much
more humid climate, which diagram below best
represents how the landscape would appear?
A)
B)
C)
77. Which New York State landscape region is best
represented by the block diagram below?
D)
A)
B)
C)
D)
Appalachian Plateau
Adirondack Mountains
Atlantic Coastal Lowlands
Lake Ontario Lowlands
78. The block diagram below represents a landscape that
covers a large geographic region.
Which factor is most directly responsible for this type
of landscape?
A)
B)
C)
D)
human technology
amount of vegetation
bedrock structure
soil associations
Answer Key
Ch 14 Practice Questions
1.
2.
A
— noise or dust from
drilling, blasting,
grinding, and/or truck
traffic
— pollution of
streams and
groundwater
— increased erosion
— habitat
20.
A
56.
C
21.
A
57.
C
22.
C
58.
D
23.
D
59.
B
24.
C
60.
A
25.
C
61.
A
26.
C
62.
A
27.
B
63.
A
3.
B
28.
D
64.
A
4.
D
29.
B
65.
B
5.
D
30.
B
66.
B
6.
A
31.
B
67.
A
7.
A
32.
C
68.
B
8.
B
33.
D
69.
A
9.
C
34.
C
70.
A
10.
B
35.
C
71.
A
11.
C
36.
A
72.
A
12.
B
37.
A
73.
D
Examples: – burning
fossil fuels – exhaust
emission from
automobiles
38.
C
74.
B
39.
A
75.
A
40.
C
76.
A
Examples: – Rocks
and minerals are
nonrenewable
resources. – Mining
can result in pollution
of the land, water, and
air in the region. –
Mining can result in
the removal of
topsoil. – danger to
miners – destruction
of natural habitats –
landscape destruction
41.
D
77.
A
42.
B
78.
C
43.
A
79.
B
44.
A
45.
D
46.
B
47.
A
48.
C
49.
A
50.
B
13.
14.
15.
B
51.
C
16.
C
52.
A
17.
B
53.
D
18.
B
54.
D
19.
D
55.
A