CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
A dendritic drainage pattern resembles:
A. Tree branches
B. Spokes of a wheel
C. Right-angle grid
D. Parallel straight lines only
Correct Answer: A
Dendritic networks develop where substrate offers relatively uniform resistance.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
An estuary is:
A. A tidal river mouth where fresh and salt water mix
B. A mountain lake
C. A desert basin
D. A glacier
Correct Answer: A
Estuaries are semi-enclosed coastal water bodies influenced by river flow and tides.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
Distributaries are channels that:
A. Branch away from the main river, common in deltas
B. Always join a main river
C. Cross watersheds uphill
D. Occur only underground
Correct Answer: A
Deltaic flow commonly splits into multiple distributary channels.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
A delta forms where:
A. River sediment deposition exceeds removal at the mouth
B. River erosion is maximum at source
C. A glacier occupies the valley
D. A transform fault crosses a river
Correct Answer: A
Reduced velocity at standing water encourages sediment accumulation.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
Natural levees form through:
A. Coarser sediment deposition beside a channel during floods
B. Glacial deposition
C. Tectonic uplift
D. Wind deflation
Correct Answer: A
Floodwater loses competence rapidly after leaving the channel and drops coarser load near banks.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
A floodplain is built mainly by:
A. Lateral channel migration and overbank deposition
B. Volcanic lava only
C. Glacial ice
D. Wind erosion only
Correct Answer: A
Repeated flooding deposits alluvium while meanders migrate across the valley floor.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
An oxbow lake forms when:
A. A meander loop is cut off from the main channel
B. A glacier melts
C. A volcano collapses
D. A dam is built only
Correct Answer: A
Neck cutoff and deposition isolate the former bend.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
The inner bank of a meander commonly develops a:
A. Point bar/slip-off slope
B. River cliff
C. Waterfall
D. Gorge
Correct Answer: A
Lower velocity encourages deposition on the inside bend.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
The outer bank of a meander commonly experiences:
A. Faster flow and erosion
B. Slower flow and deposition
C. No flow
D. Only groundwater
Correct Answer: A
The thalweg tends toward the outside bend, increasing shear stress.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
Meanders are bends that develop mainly through:
A. Lateral erosion and deposition
B. Only vertical erosion
C. Glacial plucking
D. Volcanic activity
Correct Answer: A
Outer-bank erosion and inner-bank deposition migrate channel bends.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
A gorge may form by:
A. Headward retreat of a waterfall
B. Delta deposition
C. Wind deflation
D. Coral growth
Correct Answer: A
As a waterfall retreats upstream it can leave a narrow steep-sided gorge.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
A waterfall commonly forms where:
A. There is a sudden break in channel gradient or resistant rock over weaker rock
B. A river reaches a flat delta
C. Only tides occur
D. No erosion occurs
Correct Answer: A
Differential erosion can maintain a steep step in the long profile.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
Interlocking spurs are common in:
A. Young upper river valleys
B. Deltas
C. Estuaries only
D. Ocean trenches
Correct Answer: A
A river winds around resistant projections as it cuts into uplands.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
A V-shaped valley is commonly formed by:
A. River downcutting in the upper course
B. Glacial erosion
C. Marine deposition
D. Wind deposition
Correct Answer: A
Vertical fluvial incision plus slope weathering creates V-shaped cross profiles.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
The lower course of a river is generally characterized by:
A. Gentler gradient and greater deposition
B. Very steep gradient only
C. No sediment
D. No floodplain
Correct Answer: A
Lowland reaches have lower gradients and extensive alluvial deposition.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
The upper course of a river is typically dominated by:
A. Vertical erosion
B. Deposition only
C. Tidal processes
D. Delta formation
Correct Answer: A
Steep gradients promote incision in headwater reaches.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
Surface runoff increases when:
A. Rainfall intensity exceeds infiltration capacity
B. Soil is very permeable and dry
C. Vegetation always increases
D. Rainfall stops
Correct Answer: A
Excess rainfall flows overland when it cannot infiltrate quickly enough.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
Percolation is downward movement of water:
A. Through soil and permeable rock
B. Only across the land surface
C. Through the atmosphere
D. Along a fault only
Correct Answer: A
Water moves deeper through pores and fractures toward groundwater.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
Infiltration is the movement of water:
A. From the ground surface into soil
B. From river to atmosphere only
C. Through tectonic plates
D. Into magma
Correct Answer: A
Infiltration transfers water into the soil profile.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Geography
Rivers and Drainage Systems
Urbanization often causes storm hydrographs to have:
A. Shorter lag time and higher peak discharge
B. Longer lag and lower peak always
C. No runoff
D. No change ever
Correct Answer: A
Impervious surfaces and drains speed water delivery to streams.