Daily Practice Questions (DPQs)

(Lecture 05)

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 Syllabus
● Landforms by various exogenic processes
Prelims Practice MCQs

Q1. Which of the following are types of exogenic processes?

1. Weathering
2. Erosion
3. Deposition
4. Volcanism

Select the correct option from below

a) Only 1
b) Only 1 and 2
c) 1, 2 and 3
d) Only 2

Q2. Which of the following are agents of weathering

1. Wate
2. Wind
3. Ice
4. Gravity

Select the correct option from below

a) Only 1
b) Only 1 and 2
c) 1, 2 and 3
d) Only 2

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 Q3. ‘Weathering can be classified by the nature of the process that causes the breaking down or
dissolving of rocks. X weathering involves chemical reactions that alter the minerals in rocks. Y
weathering involves physical forces that break rocks into smaller pieces. Z weathering involves
living organisms that contribute to the decomposition of rocks. Mechanical weathering is another
term for physical weathering.’

Fill X, Y Z in that order. Select the correct option.

a) Physical, Chemical, Biological

b) Chemical, Physical, Biological
c) Biological, Physical, Chemical
d) Physical, Biological, Chemical

Q4. Which of the following are types of mass movements?

1. Landslides
2. Slumps
3. Creep
4. Avalanche

How many of the above are correct?

a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Only 3
d) All 4

Q5. Find the incorrectly written statement about weathering.

a) It prepares the rocks for erosion and transportation by reducing their size and strength
b) It alters the chemical composition and fertility of the soil by releasing nutrients and
minerals
c) It creates various landforms such as caves, arches, and pillars by sculpting the rocks

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 d) It increases the stability and resistance of the rocks by hardening their surface

Q6. Consider the following.

1. Parent material
2. Climate
3. Topography
4. Biodiversity

Which of the above are factors that influence soil formation?

a) 1 and 3
b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 2
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. Consider the following:

1. V-shaped valleys
2. Waterfalls
3. Canyons
4. Dunes

Which of the above are erosional landforms formed by water?

a) 1 and 2
b) 1, 2 and 3
c) 1 and 4
d) 1. 2 and 4

Q8. Consider the following.

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 1. The type and structure of the rock
2. The slope and relief of the land
3. The climate and vegetation cover
4. The human activities and land use

Which of the above are factors that affect the rate of erosion?

a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Only 3
d) All 4

Q9. Which of the following are depositional landforms formed by glaciers?

1. Moraines
2. Eskers
3. Drumlins
4. Kames

Select the correct option.

a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Only 3
d) All 4

Q10. Which of the following are karst landforms not formed by groundwater?

a) Caves
b) Sinkholes
c) Stalactites
d) Gorges

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 Mains Level 1 Answer Writing - Practice Question

Q. Write about the exogenic processes and give examples. (10 Marks)

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 Prelims MCQ Answers

Q1. c The correct option is 1, 2 and 3. Exogenic processes are the processes that take place at
or near the Earth’s surface due to the influence of external forces such as weather, climate, water,
wind, ice, and gravity. Weathering, erosion, and deposition are examples of exogenic processes
that shape the landforms by breaking down, removing, and accumulating rocks and sediments.
Volcanism is not an exogenic process, but an endogenic process, which means it originates from
the interior of the Earth and involves the movement of magma and lava to the surface. Volcanism
creates landforms such as volcanoes, lava flows, and geysers.

Q2. c The correct option is 1, 2 and 3. Weathering is the breaking down or dissolving of rocks
by weather and climate. Water, wind, and ice are agents of weathering that act on the rocks by
chemical or physical means. Water can dissolve soluble minerals, react with certain rocks, or
expand and contract due to freezing and thawing. Wind can blow sand and dust particles that
abrade the rocks or carry water droplets that erode the rocks. Ice can form in cracks and crevices
of rocks and exert pressure that splits the rocks. Gravity is not an agent of weathering, but it can
influence the movement of weathered materials. Gravity causes the downward and outward
movement of slope materials due to mass movements such as landslides, slumps, and creep.

Q3. b The correct option is Chemical, Physical, Biological. Weathering can be classified by
the nature of the process that causes the breaking down or dissolving of rocks. Chemical
weathering involves chemical reactions that alter the minerals in rocks. For example, oxidation,
hydration, carbonation, and acid rain are types of chemical weathering. Physical weathering
involves physical forces that break rocks into smaller pieces. For example, thermal expansion,
frost wedging, salt crystallization, and exfoliation are types of physical weathering. Biological
weathering involves living organisms that contribute to the decomposition of rocks. For example,
plant roots, lichens, fungi, bacteria, and animals are agents of biological weathering. Mechanical
weathering is another term for physical weathering.

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Q4. d The correct option is All 4. Mass movements are the downward and outward movement
of slope materials due to gravity. They can be classified by the type of material, the rate of
movement, and the nature of movement. Landslides, slumps, creep, and avalanche are examples
of types of mass movements that differ in these aspects. Landslides are the rapid and sudden
movement of rock or soil along a slope. Slumps are the downward and outward movement of a
mass of soil or rock along a curved surface. Creep is the slow and gradual movement of soil or
rock particles down a slope. Avalanche is the rapid and turbulent movement of snow or ice along
a slope.

Q5. d This statement is false because weathering does not increase the stability and resistance
of the rocks, but rather weakens them by breaking their bonds. Weathering makes the rocks more
susceptible to erosion and transportation by water, wind, ice, and gravity. Weathering does not
harden the surface of the rocks, but rather creates holes, cracks, and irregularities in them.

The other statements are true because weathering does prepare the rocks for erosion and
transportation by reducing their size and strength; it does alter the chemical composition and
fertility of the soil by releasing nutrients and minerals; and it does create various landforms such
as caves, arches, and pillars by sculpting the rocks.

Q6. d All statements are correct.

Soil formation is the process of transforming rocks and organic matter into a thin layer of
material that covers the Earth’s surface. Soil formation is influenced by various factors such as
parent material, which is the type and origin of the rocks that are weathered; climate, which
affects the rate and type of weathering, erosion, and deposition; topography, which affects the
drainage, exposure, and slope of the soil; and biodiversity, which affects the amount and type of
organic matter and biological activity in the soil.

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Q7. b Statement 4 is incorrect.

The correct option is 1,2 and 3. Erosion is the removal and transportation of rocks by water,
wind, glaciers, and waves. Erosion creates various landforms by carving out the rocks and
sediments. V-shaped valleys and waterfalls are examples of erosional landforms formed by
water. V-shaped valleys are narrow valleys with steep sides that are formed by the downward
cutting of rivers. Waterfalls are steep drops in the course of a river that are formed by the
differential erosion of hard and soft rocks. Canyons are deep and wide valleys with steep walls
that are formed by the erosion of plateaus by rivers. Dunes are mounds or ridges of sand that are
formed by the deposition of wind-blown sand, not water.

Q8. d All statements are correct.

The correct option is All 4. Erosion is the removal and transportation of rocks by water, wind,
glaciers, and waves. The rate of erosion depends on various factors that influence the resistance
of the rocks and the intensity of the agents. The type and structure of the rock affect the rate of
erosion by determining the hardness, solubility, and fracturing of the rock. The slope and relief of
the land affect the rate of erosion by influencing the drainage, exposure, and gravity of the land.
The climate and vegetation cover affect the rate of erosion by affecting the amount and type of
precipitation, temperature, wind, and organic matter. The human activities and land use affect the
rate of erosion by altering the natural conditions of the land, such as deforestation, agriculture,
mining, and construction.

Q9. d All statements are correct.

The correct option is All 4. Deposition is the accumulation and settlement of eroded materials by
water, wind, glaciers, and waves. Deposition creates various landforms by forming mounds,
ridges, or plains of sediments. Moraines, eskers, drumlins, and kames are examples of
depositional landforms formed by glaciers. Moraines are ridges of till (unsorted glacial sediment)
that are deposited along the margins or terminus of a glacier. Eskers are long and winding ridges
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of sand and gravel that are deposited by meltwater streams flowing under or within a glacier.
Drumlins are elongated hills of till that are streamlined by the movement of a glacier. Kames are
mounds or hills of sand and gravel that are deposited by meltwater streams flowing into
depressions on the surface of a glacier.

Q10. d The correct option is Gorges. Karst landforms are landforms that are formed by the
dissolution and collapse of limestone rocks by groundwater. Karst landforms include caves,
sinkholes, stalactites, and other features that result from the chemical weathering and erosion of
limestone. Caves are hollow spaces in the rock that are formed by the dissolution of limestone by
acidic groundwater. Sinkholes are depressions or holes in the ground that are formed by the
collapse of limestone caves or roofs. Stalactites are icicle-like formations that hang from the
ceiling of a cave and are formed by the dripping of calcium-rich water. Gorges are not karst
landforms, but rather erosional landforms formed by rivers. Gorges are deep and narrow valleys
with steep walls that are carved out by the downward cutting of rivers. Therefore, the answer is
Gorges.

MAINS Model Answer to Practice Question

Q. Write about the exogenic processes and give examples. (10 Marks)

Give background

Define exogenic processes

Go to the main demand of the question

Features of exogenic processes

● Part of denudation: wearing away of Earth’s surface

● Energy from gradients: tectonic factors and atmosphere
● Affected by climate: precipitation and temperature
● Produce landforms: breaking down, removing, and accumulating rocks and sediments

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(Give relevant examples and elaborate as needed)

Types of exogenic processes

● Weathering: breaking down rocks by weather and climate. Eg frost wedging

● Erosion: removing and transporting rocks by water, wind, ice, and waves. Eg river
erosion leading to canyons
● Deposition: accumulating and settling eroded materials by water, wind, ice, and waves.
Eg delta formation
● Karst: dissolving and collapsing limestone rocks by groundwater. Eg pavements of
limestone

(Give relevant examples and elaborate as needed)

Conclusion

Exogenic processes are important for shaping the Earth’s surface by wearing away, transporting
and depositing rocks and sediments.

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