Earth’s

Changing
Surface:
Weathering and Erosion

©2005 Created by J. Kelsheimer

 Earth’s Changing Surface
DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions about the Earth’s changing surface.

1. What does the word “creeping” mean?

a. flowing
b. freezing
c. slowly moving
d. growing

2. Which does not cause rocks to change into bits of sand and soil?
a. crashing waves
b. water freezing
c. wind-blown sand
d. deposition

3. What happens when a plant is sprouting from a crack in rock?

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Illustrate: Show what happens
when a plant is sprouting from a crack in rock.
4. The word “carve” means –
a. cut into
b. destroyed
c. blended into
d. grew

5. What are two causes when rocks crack? Explain how each cause rocks to crack or break down into
smaller pieces.
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6. What word means “a ridge of rocks?”

a. a glacier
b. a moraine
c. erosion
d. deposition

7. Earth’s surface is exposed to wind, water, ice, and growing plants. If

something is exposed like the Earth’s surface, what does that mean?
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©2005 Created by J. Kelsheimer
8. What is a butte?
a. small rolling hills
b. a steep hill that stands alone in a flat area
c. a large flat area around the mouth of a river
d. it carries away soil, sand, and small rocks

9. Read the flow chart.

Water collects Ice pushes apart

Water freezes.
in cracks. rock & breaks it.

Which of the following best fits in the chart?

a. Plants sprout from the cracks.
b. Water collects.
c. Water expands.
d. Water carries away rock chips.

10. What does the word “weathering” mean?

a. depositing materials
b. carrying materials away from a place
c. exposed to water, wind, and ice
d. breaking down of rocks

11. The surface of Earth is constantly changing. Surface means –

a. the core of the Earth
b. the top layers of the ground
c. the grass on the ground
d. the soil

12. When something expands, it –

a. shrinks
b. sprouts
c. pushes apart
d. breaks

©2005 Created by J. Kelsheimer

13. Wind makes the most changes when it blows over open areas: beaches, deserts, and fields.
How do erosion and deposition affect a farmer?

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14. When glaciers pick up pebbles, rocks, and boulders, which one would have the greatest affect moving
across on the land? Why?

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15. How are weathering and erosion alike? How are they different? Write your answers by filling in the
Venn diagram below.

©2005 Created by J. Kelsheimer

ANSWER KEY:
1. C – SLOWLY MOVING

2. D – DEPOSITION

3. ACCEPT REASONABLE ANSWERS. Suggestion: As the roots grow, they widen the
cracks. This eventually breaks the rock into pieces. Then over time, trees can break apart
even large rocks. Even small plants, such as moss, can enlarge tiny cracks as they grow.

4. A – CUT INTO

5. ACCEPT REASONABLE ANSWERS.

6. B – MORAINE

7. EXPOSED - means to uncover or bare to the air, cold, (or the weather)

8. B – STEEP HILL THAT STANDS ALONE IN A FLAT AREA

9. C – WATER EXPANDS

10. D – BREAKING DOWN OF ROCKS

11. B – TOP LAYERS OF THE GROUND

12. C – PUSHES APART

13. ACCEPT REASONABLE ANSWERS. Suggestion: A farmer plants his crops

which have certain weather requirements – between heat and moisture. Put on top of that
other conditions such as erosion from wind, water, etc. Too much rain and/or wind can
result in loss of crops. When particles are deposited and/or important particles washed
away and deposited elsewhere, the result can also be a loss in crops. The loss of even the
topsoil can cause the soil to be much less fertile.

(Farmers have to reduce these affects. They must: cultivate their land, make windbreaks, cover
plants, or have strong trees to break the wind.)
©2005 Created by J. Kelsheimer
14. ACCEPT REASONABLE ANSWERS: Suggestion: The boulder, being the
largest and heaviest object being dragged across the land, would seem to affect the land
the greatest.

15. ACCEPT REASONABLE ANSWERS: Suggestion:

WEATHERING EROSION
DIFFERENT ALIKE DIFFERENT

 It’s the process of  Both have formed  It’s the moving of

breaking down rocks caves, valleys, that weathered
by water, air, animals canyons, and other sediment away from
or plants. naturally formed the original place it
structures. was.

©2005 Created by J. Kelsheimer