Question 1

The major erosional force in the desert is

Accepted Answer

A)   wind.
B)   the eolian process.
C)   water and fluvial processes.
D)   human activity.E) None of the above
F) B) and D)

Question 2

Abrasion is usually confined to a zone that extends up to ________ above the ground.

Accepted Answer

A)   1 cm (0.39 in) 
B)   1 m (3.28 ft) 
C)   5 m (16.4 ft) 
D)   10 m (32.4 ft) E) A) and C)
F) B) and D)

Question 3

The impact of saltating particles acts to

Accepted Answer

A)   initiate the movement of other particles.
B)   suppress the movement of other particles.
C)   abrade surfaces.
D)   both A and C
E)   both B and CF) A) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 4

The Persian Gulf War resulted in the disruption and destruction of thousands of square kilometers of desert pavement.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The dust in a dust storm consists primarily of wind-blown sand.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Dry, arid climates occupy approximately what percentage of Earth's land surface?

Accepted Answer

A)   5 percent
B)   10 percent
C)   26 percent, and as much as 35 percent if all semiarid climates are considered
D)   65 percentE) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 7

Desertification is not caused by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   overgrazing
B)   climate change
C)   erosion and salinization of crop land
D)   deforestation
E)   all of the above cause desertificationF) C) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 8

Which of the following characterizations regarding Colorado River discharges and annual budgets is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)   There are adequate average flows (1930-1980)  in the system to meet the Compact (1923)  and Mexican Water Treaty (1944)  allotments.
B)   The reservoirs that are in operation experience insignificant losses of water due to rock storage and evaporation.
C)   The average flows in the second half of this century are more than double the budgeted amount.
D)   The river system is about 3.5 million acre-feet in deficit from meeting annual budgets based on average flows from 1930 to 1980.E) A) and B)
F) B) and C)

Question 9

Which of the following correctly describes a dry stream bed that is intermittently filled with water?

Accepted Answer

A)   wash
B)   wadi
C)   arroyo
D)   all of theseE) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 10

A ventifact can be used to determine the dominant wind direction in an area.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

What size material composes the dust in a dust storm that extends thousands of feet above the ground?

Accepted Answer

A)   sand
B)   silts and clays
C)   gravels
D)   sand, silts, and claysE) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 12

The lowering of the land surface by the lifting and removal of material is termed ________, whereas the grinding of rock surfaces with a "sandblasting" action is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   abrasion; deflation
B)   deflation; abrasion
C)   saltation; abrasion
D)   mass wasting; deflationE) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 13

Relative to dune movement and form, a dune's slipface forms on which side?

Accepted Answer

A)   leeward side
B)   windward side
C)   freedune side
D)   none of theseE) A) and B)
F) All of the above

Question 14

Which of the following surface conditions would limit the effectiveness of wind as an erosional agent?

Accepted Answer

A)   Surface materials that are noncohesive.
B)   Surface materials consisting of clay-sized particles.
C)   Surface materials that are dry.
D)   Surfaces covered with little or no vegetation.E) A) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 15

Desertification is caused by

Accepted Answer

A)   poor agricultural practices.
B)   deforestation.
C)   global climate change.
D)   all of theseE) A) and C)
F) B) and C)

Question 16

Small particles are difficult for wind to move because

Accepted Answer

A)   although they are small, they have a higher density than many of the larger sized particles in a desert environment.
B)   they are aerodynamic.
C)   they tend to be cohesive.
D)   all of these
E)   They are aerodynamic and cohesive only.F) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 17

Alluvial fans often serve as groundwater sources.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Which of the following is false regarding loess?

Accepted Answer

A)   It consists of fine-grained clays and silts and can form vertical cliffs.
B)   It serves as good agricultural land.
C)   It is derived from glacial outwash plains or deserts.
D)   It has low binding strength.E) None of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 19

Desert pavement refers to

Accepted Answer

A)   specially constructed roadbeds in dry and hot regions.
B)   surfaces of concentrated pebbles and gravels that are produced by particle removal and water-delivered cementing materials.
C)   surfaces that evidently were not affected by the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
D)   sand-covered surfaces.E) None of the above
F) All of the above

Question 20

As deltas are depositional features of fluvial processes, so ________ are depositional features of eolian (wind)  processes.

Accepted Answer

A)   canyons
B)   landslides
C)   moraines
D)   dunesE) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Exam 12: Wind Processes and Desert Landscapes

The lowering of the land surface by the lifting and removal of material is termed ________, whereas the grinding of rock surfaces with a "sandblasting" action is ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Alluvial fans often serve as groundwater sources.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The dust in a dust storm consists primarily of wind-blown sand.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following correctly describes a dry stream bed that is intermittently filled with water?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A ventifact can be used to determine the dominant wind direction in an area.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Desertification is caused by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

As deltas are depositional features of fluvial processes, so ________ are depositional features of eolian (wind) processes.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Desertification is not caused by which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following surface conditions would limit the effectiveness of wind as an erosional agent?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What size material composes the dust in a dust storm that extends thousands of feet above the ground?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The impact of saltating particles acts to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The major erosional force in the desert is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Relative to dune movement and form, a dune's slipface forms on which side?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following characterizations regarding Colorado River discharges and annual budgets is correct?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Abrasion is usually confined to a zone that extends up to ________ above the ground.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is false regarding loess?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Desert pavement refers to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Dry, arid climates occupy approximately what percentage of Earth's land surface?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Persian Gulf War resulted in the disruption and destruction of thousands of square kilometers of desert pavement.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Small particles are difficult for wind to move because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The lowering of the land surface by the lifting and removal of material is termed , whereas the grinding of rock surfaces with a "sandblasting" action is .

Correct Answer
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