Earth Boot Camp
4.7B:
Observe and identify slow changes to Earth’s
surface caused by weathering, erosion, and
deposition from water, wind, and ice.
Release Items TAKS Study Guide, #24
1. A student placed some clean rocks in a clear plastic
jar. The jar was filled with clean water and covered
with a lid. Then the student shook the jar for five
minutes. The student noted that smaller pieces had
broken off some of the rocks and that there was a fine
grit on the bottom of the jar. Which change of Earth’s
surface was the student modeling?
A
B
C
D
Physical weathering
Chemical weathering
Erosion of sediments
Forming deltas
Release Items TAKS Study Guide, #24
1. A student placed some clean rocks in a clear plastic
jar. The jar was filled with clean water and covered
with a lid. Then the student shook the jar for five
minutes. The student noted that smaller pieces had
broken off some of the rocks and that there was a fine
grit on the bottom of the jar. Which change of Earth’s
surface was the student modeling?
A
B
C
D
Physical weathering
Chemical weathering
Erosion of sediments
Forming deltas
2003—#24 (55%)
2. Which experiment would best show how
different methods of plowing fields on a hill
affect erosion?
A
C
B
D
2003—#24 (55%)
2. Which experiment would best show how
different methods of plowing fields on a hill
affect erosion?
A
C
B
D
2003—#12 (49%)
3. The prairie is ideal for the growth of grasses because it has
rich topsoil. All of these processes help form topsoil EXCEPT —
F
G
H
J
decay of trees
weathering of rocks
erosion of hills
movement of oceans
2003—#12 (49%)
3. The prairie is ideal for the growth of grasses because it has
rich topsoil. All of these processes help form topsoil EXCEPT —
F
G
H
J
decay of trees
weathering of rocks
erosion of hills
movement of oceans
2006—#34 (85%)
4. Which of these can cause sharp, rough
mountains to become rounded and smooth
over time?
A
B
C
D
Wind and rain
The sun’s rays
Light and darkness
Earth’s magnetic field
2006—#34 (85%)
4. Which of these can cause sharp, rough
mountains to become rounded and smooth
over time?
A
B
C
D
Wind and rain
The sun’s rays
Light and darkness
Earth’s magnetic field
2009—#23 (77%)
5. The Davis Mountains in West Texas used to
be taller than they are now. Which of the
following conditions most likely caused the
mountains to become shorter over time?
A
B
C
D
Heat and pressure
Soil deposition
Rain and wind
River formation
2009—#23 (77%)
5. The Davis Mountains in West Texas used to
be taller than they are now. Which of the
following conditions most likely caused the
mountains to become shorter over time?
A
B
C
D
Heat and pressure
Soil deposition
Rain and wind
River formation
6. Which of the following is an example of erosion?
A Wind blowing across a field and picking up dust and small
rocks
B Sediment falling to the bottom of a lake or ocean
C The breaking up of rocks due to the effects of freezing water
D The formation of stalactites in underground caves
6. Which of the following is an example of erosion?
A Wind blowing across a field and picking up dust and small
rocks
B Sediment falling to the bottom of a lake or ocean
C The breaking up of rocks due to the effects of freezing water
(weathering)
D The formation of stalactites in underground caves
7. Which of the following is a constructive force
that changes the surface of the Earth slowly
over time?
A
B
C
D
Deposition
Earthquakes
Tidal waves
Weathering
7. Which of the following is a constructive force
(build up) that changes the surface of the Earth
slowly over time?
A
B
C
D
Deposition
Earthquakes
Tidal waves
Weathering
8. What two forces are the main agents of
erosion?
A
B
C
D
Deposition and weathering
Gravity and evaporation
Precipitation and gravity
Moving wind and moving water
8. What two forces are the main agents of
erosion?
A
B
C
D
Deposition and weathering
Gravity and evaporation
Precipitation and gravity
Moving wind and moving water
9. Which of the following would be an
environmentally correct way to prevent soil
erosion?
A
B
C
D
Cut down a large number of trees
Plow bare ground into straight rows
Plant grass on bare ground
Replace flower beds with a concrete sidewalk
9. Which of the following would be an
environmentally correct way to prevent soil
erosion?
A
B
C
D
Cut down a large number of trees
Plow bare ground into straight rows
Plant grass on bare ground
Replace flower beds with a concrete sidewalk
11. Which conclusion is best
supported by the diagram?
A Plants help prevent
erosion.
B Rain is the most common
cause of weathering.
C Hillsides support the
most plant growth.
D Bare soil slows flowing
water.
11. Which conclusion is best
supported by the diagram?
A Plants help prevent
erosion.
B Rain is the most common
cause of weathering.
C Hillsides support the
most plant growth.
D Bare soil slows flowing
water.
12. Water in the form of ice is responsible for
which form of weathering listed below?
A
B
C
D
A glacier creating a valley
Rivers depositing sediments
Earthquakes creating mountains
Wind carving formations in rock
12. Water in the form of ice is responsible for
which form of weathering listed below?
A
B
C
D
A glacier creating a valley
Rivers depositing sediments
Earthquakes creating mountains
Wind carving formations in rock
13. Sam poured water on a pile of dirt and observed
that some dirt eroded from the pile. Which question
could he test to learn more about erosion?
A
B
C
D
How long will the dirt stay wet?
What types of animals live in the dirt?
Will adding more water change the type of dirt?
Do different types of dirt wash away at different
rates?
13. Sam poured water on a pile of dirt and observed
that some dirt eroded from the pile. Which question
could he test to learn more about erosion?
A
B
C
D
How long will the dirt stay wet?
What types of animals live in the dirt?
Will adding more water change the type of dirt?
Do different types of dirt wash away at different
rates?
14. Tyrone put two stones in a plastic bottle of water and shook it. After he
stopped shaking the bottle, he observed that small pieces of the stones
were floating in the water. What is the best prediction he can make based
on this observation? If shaking the bottle causes pieces of stones to break
off—
A
then using cold water will break off more pieces.
B
then using hot water will make the stones change colors.
C
then shaking for a longer amount of time will break off more pieces.
D
then shaking for a shorter amount of time will make the rocks change
colors.
14. Tyrone put two stones in a plastic bottle of water and shook it. After he
stopped shaking the bottle, he observed that small pieces of the stones
were floating in the water. What is the best prediction he can make based
on this observation? If shaking the bottle causes pieces of stones to break
off—
A
then using cold water will break off more pieces.
B
then using hot water will make the stones change colors.
C
then shaking for a longer amount of time will break off more pieces.
D
then shaking for a shorter amount of time will make the rocks change
colors.
15. Walter wanted to find out if faster wind
speeds increased the amount of wind erosion.
Which instrument should he use to measure
wind speed?
A
B
C
D
anemometer
barometer
rain gauge
thermometer
15. Walter wanted to find out if faster wind
speeds increased the amount of wind erosion.
Which instrument should he use to measure
wind speed?
A
B
C
D
anemometer
barometer
rain gauge
thermometer
16. How does freezing water cause the
weathering of rocks? The freezing water—
A
B
C
D
keeps the rocks in place.
makes the rocks last longer
expands cracks and breaks rocks
causes rocks to fall in landslides
16. How does freezing water cause the
weathering of rocks? The freezing water—
A
B
C
D
keeps the rocks in place.
makes the rocks last longer
expands cracks and breaks rocks
causes rocks to fall in landslides
17. Which thing near this house will erode (wash
away) the MOST during a heavy rain?
A
B
C
D
The soil under the grass
The gravel in the driveway
The pile of dirt on the hillside
The stepping stones around the flower bed
17. Which thing near this house will erode (wash
away) the MOST during a heavy rain?
A
B
C
D
The soil under the grass
The gravel in the driveway
The pile of dirt on the hillside
The stepping stones around the flower bed
18. The change in the sea cliff pictured below was
most likely caused by –
1900
A
B
C
D
2004
deposition and erosion
precipitation and glaciers
weathering and erosion
evaporation and precipitation
18. The change in the sea cliff pictured below was
most likely caused by –
1900
A
B
C
D
2004
deposition and erosion
precipitation and glaciers
weathering and erosion
evaporation and precipitation
19. Study the diagram above showing an island before and after a hurricane.
What most likely caused the changes to the island seen in the diagram?
A
B
C
D
The rainwater from the hurricane raised the level of the ocean.
The island sank deeper into the ocean during the hurricane.
Ocean waves caused by the hurricane eroded sand from the beaches.
Rivers on the island deposited new sand on the beach.
19. Study the diagram above showing an island before and after a hurricane.
What most likely caused the changes to the island seen in the diagram?
A
B
C
D
The rainwater from the hurricane raised the level of the ocean.
The island sank deeper into the ocean during the hurricane.
Ocean waves caused by the hurricane eroded sand from the beaches.
Rivers on the island deposited new sand on the beach.