Chapter 2: Geomorphic Processes (Agents of Gradation) (Set-1)
Weathering is considered a fundamental geomorphic process because it primarily initiates landscape evolution by
A Transporting sediments to oceans
B Breaking rocks in situ without movement
C Depositing sediments in basins
D Creating tectonic stresses
Weathering refers to the physical, chemical, and biological disintegration of rocks at or near Earth’s surface without transportation. This process prepares material for erosion and further geomorphic action, making it the starting point of landform development.
Which type of weathering is most effective in hot and humid tropical regions due to high temperature and rainfall
A Mechanical weathering
B Chemical weathering
C Frost action
D Thermal expansion
Chemical weathering dominates in hot and humid climates because high temperature accelerates chemical reactions and abundant moisture promotes processes like oxidation, hydration, and solution, leading to rapid decomposition of rocks.
The process by which rocks crack due to repeated heating and cooling in deserts is known as
A Frost wedging
B Exfoliation
C Oxidation
D Carbonation
Exfoliation occurs when outer rock layers expand during intense daytime heating and contract at night, causing peeling of rock sheets. This process is common in arid and semi-arid desert regions.
Which weathering process involves chemical reaction between rainwater and calcium carbonate in limestone
A Oxidation
B Hydration
C Carbonation
D Solution
Carbonation occurs when carbon dioxide dissolved in rainwater forms weak carbonic acid, which reacts with calcium carbonate in limestone, leading to dissolution and development of karst landforms.
Biological weathering mainly occurs due to
A Earthquakes
B Plant roots and organisms
C High wind velocity
D Ocean currents
Biological weathering is caused by activities of living organisms such as plant roots widening cracks, burrowing animals, and microbial action, all of which weaken and disintegrate rocks over time.
Mass wasting differs from erosion mainly because mass wasting involves
A Movement by wind
B Movement by water
C Gravity-driven downslope movement
D Chemical decomposition
Mass wasting refers to the downslope movement of weathered material under the direct influence of gravity, without a transporting medium like water or wind.
Which mass wasting process is extremely slow and often unnoticed
A Landslide
B Mudflow
C Soil creep
D Rock fall
Soil creep is a very slow movement of soil downslope caused by repeated expansion and contraction due to moisture and temperature changes, making it difficult to observe directly.
Rapid downslope movement of water-saturated soil is known as
A Rock slide
B Debris flow
C Soil creep
D Talus formation
Debris flow involves fast movement of water-laden soil, rocks, and organic material downslope, often triggered by heavy rainfall in mountainous or hilly areas.
Running water is considered the most powerful geomorphic agent because it
A Operates only in mountains
B Has universal presence
C Works continuously and extensively
D Acts only during floods
Running water shapes landscapes through erosion, transportation, and deposition across vast areas and long periods, making it the most effective agent of gradation.
Which stage of river development is characterized by vertical erosion and deep valleys
A Old stage
B Youthful stage
C Mature stage
D Delta stage
In the youthful stage, rivers have steep gradients and strong vertical erosive power, forming deep V-shaped valleys, waterfalls, and gorges.
A river’s meanders are most commonly developed during its
A Youthful stage
B Mature stage
C Old stage
D Delta stage
Meanders form during the mature stage when lateral erosion dominates over vertical erosion, causing rivers to develop wide loops and floodplains.
Ox-bow lakes are formed due to
A River rejuvenation
B Volcanic activity
C Cut-off of river meanders
D Glacial erosion
Ox-bow lakes form when a river cuts through the narrow neck of a meander loop, isolating the loop from the main channel during lateral erosion.
Which depositional feature is formed at the mouth of a river
A Alluvial fan
B Floodplain
C Delta
D Levee
A delta forms when a river loses velocity upon entering a standing body of water, depositing sediments at its mouth in a triangular or fan-shaped pattern.
Wind action is most effective as a geomorphic agent in
A Polar regions
B Tropical rainforests
C Humid plains
D Arid and semi-arid regions
Wind erosion and deposition are most effective in dry regions where sparse vegetation, loose sediments, and strong winds allow aeolian processes to dominate.
Which wind-formed feature is created by deposition of sand
A Mushroom rock
B Yardang
C Sand dune
D Ventifact
Sand dunes are depositional landforms created when wind velocity decreases and sand particles settle, forming various dune shapes depending on wind direction.
Yardangs are primarily formed due to
A Wind erosion
B River deposition
C Glacial plucking
D Sea wave action
Yardangs are elongated ridges carved by wind abrasion in desert regions where persistent winds erode softer rocks more rapidly than harder layers.
Ventifacts are rocks shaped by
A Chemical weathering
B Glacial abrasion
C Wind abrasion
D River erosion
Ventifacts are stones polished and faceted by sand-laden winds that erode rock surfaces through abrasion in arid environments.
Glacial erosion mainly occurs through
A Solution and carbonation
B Plucking and abrasion
C Deflation and deposition
D Hydraulic action
Glaciers erode landscapes by plucking rock fragments from the bed and by abrasion as embedded debris grinds against the surface.
A U-shaped valley is a characteristic feature of
A River erosion
B Wind erosion
C Glacial erosion
D Sea wave action
Glaciers widen and deepen existing river valleys through abrasion, transforming V-shaped valleys into broad U-shaped valleys.
Moraines are best described as
A River deposits
B Wind-blown sediments
C Glacial deposits
D Volcanic materials
Moraines consist of unsorted debris deposited directly by glaciers, forming ridges along glacier margins or at their terminal points.
Sea waves act as geomorphic agents mainly through
A Vertical erosion only
B Lateral erosion and deposition
C Chemical weathering
D Frost action
Sea waves erode coastlines laterally, forming cliffs and caves, while also depositing materials to create beaches and spits.
Which coastal landform is formed by wave erosion
A Beach
B Sand bar
C Sea cave
D Lagoon
Sea caves form when waves exploit weaknesses in coastal rocks through hydraulic action and abrasion, gradually enlarging cracks into caves.
A spit is formed due to
A Glacial deposition
B River erosion
C Longshore drift
D Volcanic activity
Spits develop when sediments transported by longshore currents are deposited in shallow coastal waters, extending outward from the coast.
Karst topography develops mainly in regions underlain by
A Basalt
B Granite
C Limestone
D Sandstone
Karst landscapes form on soluble rocks like limestone, where carbonation and solution processes create distinctive landforms such as sinkholes and caves.
A doline in karst topography is essentially a
A Limestone plateau
B Sinkhole
C Underground river
D Residual hill
A doline is a circular depression formed by dissolution or collapse of limestone, commonly known as a sinkhole in karst regions.
Stalactites are formed due to
A Mechanical erosion
B Chemical precipitation
C Volcanic deposition
D Wind erosion
Stalactites form when calcium carbonate precipitates from dripping water in limestone caves, gradually building downward-pointing formations.
Which geomorphic agent is most responsible for shaping floodplains
A Wind
B Glaciers
C Running water
D Sea waves
Floodplains are formed by river deposition during floods when sediments are spread over adjoining low-lying areas, gradually creating fertile plains.
The removal of fine particles by wind leaving coarse material behind is called
A Abrasion
B Deflation
C Attrition
D Suspension
Deflation involves wind lifting and removing finer sediments, leaving behind heavier particles and forming desert pavements.
Which mass wasting process is common in steep mountainous regions
A Soil creep
B Rock fall
C Solifluction
D Slumping
Rock fall occurs when loose rocks detach and fall rapidly from steep slopes due to gravity, often triggered by weathering or seismic activity.
Solifluction is associated with
A Tropical deserts
B Permafrost regions
C Coastal plains
D River deltas
Solifluction occurs in cold regions where the topsoil becomes waterlogged during thawing while underlying permafrost remains frozen, causing slow downslope movement.
Which river feature indicates dominant deposition over erosion
A Gorge
B Waterfall
C Delta
D Rapids
A delta represents heavy sediment deposition at the river mouth where water velocity decreases significantly, allowing materials to settle.
Mushroom rocks are formed mainly due to
A Wind abrasion near ground level
B River erosion
C Chemical weathering
D Glacial plucking
Strong sand-laden winds erode the lower portions of rocks more intensely, creating mushroom-shaped structures common in deserts.
Which glacial landform indicates both erosion and deposition
A Cirque
B Horn
C Moraine
D Roche moutonnée
Roche moutonnée forms when glaciers erode the stoss side by abrasion and deposit materials on the lee side, showing combined erosional and depositional processes.
Wave-cut platforms are formed due to
A Wind deposition
B Vertical erosion by waves
C Lateral erosion by waves
D River deposition
Continuous wave attack at the base of cliffs causes lateral erosion, leading to retreat of cliffs and formation of wave-cut platforms.
Which karst feature represents underground drainage
A Doline
B Uvala
C Polje
D Sinkhole river
In karst regions, surface streams often disappear into sinkholes, forming underground rivers that re-emerge at springs.
Attrition in river action refers to
A Dissolution of rocks
B Collision of rock fragments
C Transportation of sediments
D Chemical reaction with water
Attrition occurs when transported rock fragments collide with each other, breaking into smaller, smoother particles during river transport.
Which type of dune is crescent-shaped
A Longitudinal dune
B Transverse dune
C Barchan dune
D Parabolic dune
Barchan dunes are crescent-shaped dunes formed under unidirectional winds with limited sand supply, common in deserts.
Fjords are associated with
A River erosion
B Wind erosion
C Glacial erosion
D Coastal deposition
Fjords are deep, narrow coastal inlets formed when glaciers carve valleys that are later submerged by sea water.
Which coastal feature forms when a spit grows across a bay
A Cliff
B Lagoon
C Headland
D Arch
When a spit extends across a bay, it encloses a body of water behind it, forming a lagoon separated from the open sea.
Chemical weathering is fastest in rocks rich in
A Quartz
B Feldspar
C Iron oxide
D Mica
Feldspar minerals readily undergo chemical reactions such as hydrolysis, transforming into clay minerals, making them more susceptible to chemical weathering.
Which process rounds and smoothens river pebbles
A Abrasion
B Attrition
C Hydraulic action
D Solution
Attrition involves rock fragments striking each other during transport, causing them to become smaller, rounder, and smoother over time.
Which slope movement involves rotational sliding
A Rock fall
B Slump
C Soil creep
D Debris flow
Slumping occurs when a mass of soil moves downward along a curved surface, often due to saturation and gravity.
The dominant geomorphic process in deserts that lowers land surface is
A Abrasion
B Deflation
C Deposition
D Weathering
Deflation removes fine particles by wind, gradually lowering the desert surface and exposing coarser materials.
Which glacial deposit marks the farthest advance of a glacier
A Lateral moraine
B Medial moraine
C Terminal moraine
D Ground moraine
Terminal moraines accumulate at the furthest point reached by a glacier, marking its maximum advance.
Which coastal landform develops from sea cave and arch collapse
A Stack
B Spit
C Beach
D Lagoon
When a sea arch collapses due to continued wave erosion, it leaves behind an isolated pillar of rock called a stack.
Karst springs emerge mainly due to
A Volcanic eruptions
B Underground water flow
C River deposition
D Wind erosion
Karst springs form when underground rivers in limestone regions reappear at the surface through openings after flowing beneath soluble rocks.
Which river process dominates during floods
A Erosion only
B Transportation only
C Deposition only
D Transportation and deposition
During floods, rivers carry large sediment loads and deposit them on floodplains when water spreads beyond the channel.
Which desert feature indicates wind erosion at varying heights
A Sand dune
B Yardang
C Mushroom rock
D Loess
Mushroom rocks form because wind erosion is strongest near the ground, shaping the base more than the top.
Which process is essential for formation of karst caves
A Mechanical weathering
B Chemical solution
C Glacial plucking
D River abrasion
Karst caves develop through chemical dissolution of limestone by acidic water, enlarging joints and bedding planes over long periods.
Agents of gradation are termed exogenic because they
A Originate inside Earth
B Operate on Earth’s surface
C Cause tectonic movements
D Generate internal heat
Exogenic processes act on Earth’s surface using energy from the Sun and gravity, shaping landforms through weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition.