Example Test 3

Instructions: The first 21 questions refer to the slides we will view together in class. Please use the space provided to answer the questions.

1. (3 pts) (a) What is risk? Give the definition we’ve been using in class.

(b) How does the figure shown relate to that definition?

2. (4 pts) What are two ways of determining the probability of a hazardous event? Explain each with an example of its use.

3. (6 pts) We discussed three ways of making ethical decisions about reducing risk, such as in deciding whether or not to require car seats for children. On an recent field trip to New Mexico with students, we went white-water rafting. For each of the three ways discussed in class, explain how you would decide whether wearing life-jackets while white-water rafting should be required.

4. (4 pts) a) in the figure shown, identify the two points marked in red and yellow.

b) Explain two differences between P and S waves.

5. (2 pts) How does the speed at which P and S waves travel relate to the size of the three circles shown. What are the circles used for?

6. (6 pts) In the figure shown, the red areas indicate deep earthquakes, green are intermediate depth, and yellow are shallow. Explain the pattern for each using your understanding of plate tectonics. For (C), explain how an earthquake may lead to a tsunami. (A drawing is fine.)

7. (4 pts) What is viscosity? How does it related to the difference between mafic and felsic magma? What kind of volcanic landform is the lava shown likely to produce? Why?

8. (4 pts) a) In what geologic setting is the type of volcanic landform shown likely to be found? Explain how it forms. b) Describe two ways of predicting the eruption of a volcano.

9. (2 pts) In what geologic setting is the type of volcanic landform shown likely to be found? Explain how it forms. (Think Yellowstone. )

10. (3 pts) What is the difference between relative and absolute sea level? How do you interpret the feature shown?

11. (4 pts) Lake Pontchartrain, shown in the figure, is an estuary. What is an estuary? Why are estuaries particularly rich biologically? Explain, not just with one-word answers.

12. (3 pts) What is the process shown? Why is it important for understanding how beaches change over time?

13. (7 pts) (a) What are the three most important factors causing ice ages?

(b) What are the two main kinds of glaciers?

(c) What are two types of evidence of past glaciation?

14. (3 pts) What is the stream pattern shown? What are two ways in which the stream shown might form?

15. (3 pts) What is a drainage divide? What is a drainage basin? (Explain both in terms of the figure.) Explain the purple area labelled Interior Drainage.

16. (3 pts) What is a delta? Think of two reasons why many early great civilizations developed on deltas (Nile, Mesopotamia, etc.). Explain.

17. (3 pts) What were three factors contributing to the 1993 Mississippi River flood?

18. (3 pts) What are three ways sediment is transported by streams, two of which are shown? Explain each.

19. (5 pts) Describe five ways a stream changes from headwaters to mouth in terms of discharge, velocity, sediment load, channel shape, or sediment size.

20. (5 pts) What is urbanization? In the figure shown, which discharge curve, A or B, represents the stream after urbanization? What are three ways urbanization affects flooding?

21. (6 pts) What are three videos or stories that were part of this section? Explain how each relates to geology. You need to provide at least two sentences per example. Extra credit: Name and explain a 4th story.

22. (3 pts) What is beach nourishment? (And don’t put shrimp or a Corona!) What are a benefit and a potential problem?

23. (2 pts) What is the difference between tides and waves?

24. (3 pts) If you were in charge of protecting people from an earthquake, what would be your plan? Include at least 3 parts.

25. ( 4 pts) (a) What is a sharecropper?

(b) How was the sharecropping system often abused?

(c) Most sharecroppers were African-American. How were they treated differently from whites during the flood?

(d) What happened to many of the sharecroppers after the 1927 flood was over?

26. (5 pts) What is one question you reviewed for this test that did not appear on it? Answer it.