Quick Review Flashcards - Click to flip and test your knowledge!
Question
What is the definition of a landform?
Answer
A natural feature of the earth's surface.
Question
List the three concentric rock layers that make up the earth.
Answer
The crust, mantle, and core.
Question
Why is the asthenosphere, located underneath the crust, kept in a semi-molten state?
Answer
Intense internal heat melts the rocks because they are poor conductors of heat.
Question
Which general category of forces originates deep inside the earth to create landforms?
Answer
Endogenic Forces (Internal Processes).
Question
Large-scale internal forces responsible for relief like mountains and plateaus are called _____ forces.
Answer
Diastrophic.
Question
The lithosphere is broken into several small and big sections called _____.
Answer
Plates.
Question
What is the literal meaning of the Greek-derived term 'orogenic'?
Answer
Mountain-building.
Question
In what direction do orogenic forces act in relation to the earth's surface?
Answer
At a tangent (horizontally).
Question
Which type of diastrophic forces are responsible for large-scale vertical uplift or subsidence of land?
Answer
Epeirogenic (Continent building) forces.
Question
The Greek word 'epeiros' means _____.
Answer
Continent.
Question
Which forces operate on the surface of the earth to cause landform development through weathering and erosion?
Answer
Exogenic Forces (External Processes).
Question
Why are exogenic forces often described as 'Destructive Forces'?
Answer
They cause widespread destruction of existing landforms through weathering and erosion.
Question
Identify the three main types of mountains classified by their formation.
Answer
Fold Mountains, Residual Mountains, and Block Mountains.
Question
Fold mountains are primarily the result of the _____ compression of the earth's crust.
Answer
Lateral.
Question
Term: Anticline
Answer
Definition: The upfold rock strata in an arch-like shape formed during mountain building.
Question
Term: Syncline
Answer
Definition: The down-folded structures or troughs in fold mountain formations.
Question
Most fold mountains are composed of _____ rocks formed by the consolidation of sediments in shallow oceans.
Answer
Sedimentary.
Question
Which ancient shallow ocean provided the sediments that eventually formed the Himalayas?
Answer
The Tethys.
Question
Fold mountains generally have a greater _____ but a comparatively smaller width.
Answer
Length.
Question
In which direction do the Rockies and Andes mountain ranges run?
Answer
North-south.
Question
High plateaus located between parallel ranges of fold mountains are known as _____ plateaus.
Answer
Intermontane.
Question
How do young fold mountains differ from old fold mountains regarding their peaks?
Answer
Young fold mountains have sharp pointed peaks, while old fold mountains have rounded tops.
Question
Which type of fold mountains are much higher and characterised by a rough topography?
Answer
Young Fold Mountains.
Question
Give three examples of Young Fold Mountains.
Answer
The Himalayas, Andes, and Alps (or Rockies).
Question
Give three examples of Old Fold Mountains.
Answer
The Appalachians, Urals, and Aravallis.
Question
Term: Residual Mountains
Answer
Definition: Mountains formed when existing highlands are lowered by long-term weathering and erosion. Example: Nilgiri Hills.
Question
What is another common name for residual mountains?
Answer
Relict mountains (or mountains of denudation).
Question
The forces of faulting, also known as _____ forces, lead to the formation of block mountains.
Answer
Epeirogenic.
Question
In geological faulting, what is the term for a block of land that rises?
Answer
A horst.
Question
How is a rift valley formed in the earth's crust?
Answer
The land between two parallel faults subsides due to tensional forces.
Question
The intervening basins that separate block mountains are called _____.
Answer
Graben.
Question
Name two examples of block mountains located in Europe.
Answer
The Vosges and the Black Forest mountains.
Question
A plateau is defined as an area of high ground at least _____ feet above ground level.
Answer
$500$.
Question
Because the upper part of a plateau is generally flat, it is often referred to as a _____.
Answer
Tableland.
Question
Which plateau is recognized as the highest and most extensive intermontane plateau in the world?
Answer
The Tibetan Plateau.
Question
How are volcanic plateaus formed?
Answer
By numerous volcanic eruptions that slowly build up layers of lava over time.
Question
The north-western Deccan in India is a prominent example of a _____ plateau.
Answer
Volcanic (or lava).
Question
The Columbian Plateau is composed of approximately _____ layers of lava.
Answer
$20$.
Question
Term: Plain
Answer
Definition: An extensive area of lowland with a level or gently undulating surface.
Question
List the three main types of plains.
Answer
Structural Plains, Erosional Plains, and Depositional Plains.
Question
Which type of plains are formed due to the uplift or subsidence of land beneath ocean water?
Answer
Structural Plains.
Question
How were the Great Plains of the USA formed?
Answer
Through the uplift of land previously submerged under ocean water.
Question
The Coromandel plains in India resulted from mild _____ followed by sedimentation.
Answer
Subsidence.
Question
Term: Depositional Plains
Answer
Definition: Plains formed by the accumulation of materials brought by various agents of transportation.
Question
Which type of depositional plain is found specifically at the foothills of mountains?
Answer
Piedmont Alluvial Plains.
Question
In the context of Indian flood plains, what is the difference between Khadar and Bhangar?
Answer
Khadar refers to new deposits made annually, while Bhangar refers to older, non-renewed deposits.
Question
Wind-deposited plains like the Sahara have irregular surfaces due to the presence of sand dunes and _____.
Answer
Hallows.
Question
What are 'loess' plains?
Answer
Plains formed from wind-blown desert deposits, common in China.
Question
Term: Polder
Answer
Definition: A piece of land reclaimed from the sea or a lake, typically found in Denmark.
Question
A submerged piece of land surrounded by an embankment and drained is called a _____.
Answer
Dyke.
Question
Why are alluvial plains often referred to as the 'granaries of the world'?
Answer
They are highly fertile areas found along major rivers like the Ganga and Mekong.
Question
How do mountain ranges like the Himalayas influence regional climate?
Answer
They act as a climatic divide, shaping precipitation and wind directions.
Question
What makes mountain ranges the primary source of perennial rivers?
Answer
They house glaciers and permanent snow that provide a continuous water supply.
Question
How does relief contribute to the biodiversity of life on earth?
Answer
Slopes of mountains and plateaus provide diverse habitats for various forest types and animal species.
Question
Why are coastal regions and island groups considered ideal fishing sites?
Answer
The presence of underwater relief features creates suitable environments for marine life.
Question
Why are mineral and fossil fuels often found near the earth's surface?
Answer
Disturbances resulting from internal forces bring these materials up from the earth's interior.
Question
Diastrophic forces originate deep inside the earth and act both _____ and vertically.
Answer
Horizontally.
Question
Which force is described as acting along the radius from the earth's centre to the surface?
Answer
Epeirogenic (Uplift and Submergence) force.
Question
Which type of mountain is formed by the lateral compression of sedimentary rocks lying between plates?
Answer
Fold Mountains.
Question
What process involves the 'down cutting action of rivers' to form mountains?
Answer
Denudation (forming residual mountains).