Free Practice Quiz Question List

4 Rivers and Streamflow Online Quiz Questions

Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 4 Rivers and Streamflow, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.

20 questions

Written response

1 point

A channel has a wetted cross-sectional area of 10 m² and an average water velocity of 3 m/s. What is its discharge? Enter the value in m³/s.

Choose one

1 point

Two basins receive the same storm. Which comparison of their likely hydrograph responses is best supported?

A
The larger basin will usually rise and fall more quickly because it collects more water.
B
The smaller basin may rise and fall more quickly because water has less distance to travel.
C
Both basins must respond at the same rate if they receive the same storm.
D
The smaller basin will respond more slowly because its channels are shorter.

Fill in the blank

1 point

When flow slows or its carrying capacity falls, sediment may and accumulate.

Written response

1 point

What is the river-system term for a smaller stream that enters a larger stream or river?

Choose one

1 point

In a meandering river bend, which pattern of erosion and deposition is most likely?

A
The inner bank is eroded by faster flow, while the outer bank accumulates sediment.
B
Both banks accumulate sediment because water slows around a bend.
C
The outer bank is commonly eroded by faster flow, while sediment is deposited on the inner bank.
D
Both banks are eroded at the same rate, so the bend cannot shift.

Fill in the blank

1 point

A ridge or other high ground that separates neighboring areas draining to different outlets is a . Each area that drains to a common outlet is a .

Choose all

1 point

Select all statements that correctly describe how rivers transport sediment.

A
Minerals carried in solution are dissolved load.
B
Fine particles that settle on the channel bed are always bed load.
C
Fine silt and clay carried within the water are suspended load.
D
Sand or gravel moved along the bed by rolling, sliding, or hopping are bed load.
E
Dissolved load consists of coarse particles rolling along the channel bed.

Choose one

1 point

After tracing where surface water flows, a field team needs to identify the boundary separating two neighboring drainage basins. Which feature should it map?

A
A confluence
B
A drainage divide
C
A point bar
D
A floodplain

Choose all

1 point

Select all factors listed in the material that can contribute to flooding or affect its magnitude and timing.

A
Intense or prolonged rain
B
Rapid snowmelt
C
The name given to the river
D
Basin slope, soil, and vegetation
E
The color of the water

Choose one

1 point

A streamgage records water-surface height at a particular river location. What can it use to estimate the river's flow from that reading?

A
Treat the observed stage as the discharge without any conversion.
B
Use the channel's drainage divide to convert water height into flow.
C
Use a locally established stage–discharge relationship to estimate flow.
D
Assume that the same stage always represents the same discharge at every river.

Open ended

1 point

Explain how floodwater can shape a floodplain, and describe one benefit and one trade-off of using levees or other barriers.

True or false

1 point

A streamgage records the height of the water surface. A student concludes that this reading directly measures the volume of water passing the location per unit time. Is the student correct?

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

A map shows a ridge between two valleys. Rain falling on one side drains to one river, while rain on the other side drains to another. What does the ridge represent?

A
A low area where water from two basins flows into one channel
B
A ridge that separates areas draining to different outlets
C
The point where a smaller stream enters a larger one
D
A flat area beside a river that may be inundated

Choose one

1 point

After a storm, muddy water carries fine clay particles through a river channel. Which sediment-transport category best describes the clay?

A
Dissolved load
B
Bed load
C
Suspended load
D
Drainage load

Choose one

1 point

Two basins receive a similar storm. One is small and the other is much larger. Based on typical basin responses, which outcome is most likely?

A
The small basin is likely to rise and fall more quickly after the storm.
B
The large basin is likely to rise and fall more quickly because it contains more water.
C
Both basins must respond at the same speed if the storm is the same.
D
Neither basin can show a change in discharge unless the river overtops its banks.

Written response

1 point

Two streams join at a particular point. What is the geographic term for the place where they meet?

Choose one

1 point

A river bend is shifting over time. Which pattern of erosion and deposition is most likely?

A
The inner bank erodes into a cut bank, while the outer bank gains a point bar.
B
Both banks erode equally because the channel curves.
C
The inner bank erodes faster, while the outer bank receives most of the deposited sediment.
D
The outer bank commonly erodes into a cut bank, while sediment accumulates on the inner bank as a point bar.

True or false

1 point

A “100-year flood” is expected to occur exactly once every 100 years.

A
True
B
False

Written response

1 point

A channel has a wetted cross-sectional area of $8\,\text{m}^2$ and an average water velocity of $1.5\,\text{m/s}$ . Using $Q=A\times v$ , what is its discharge in $\text{m}^3/\text{s}$ ? Enter only the numerical value; the unit is fixed as m³/s.

True or false

1 point

A winding river bend becomes disconnected from the main channel, leaving a lake in the abandoned bend. Is this lake an oxbow lake?

A
True
B
False

4 Rivers and Streamflow Online Quiz Questions

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