2nd Grade Science : Earth and Space Science

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for 2nd Grade Science

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Effects Of Wind And Water On Landscapes

Which factor(s) can change the shape of the land?

Possible Answers:

Wind

Water

Plants

All of the answer choices are correct.

Correct answer:

All of the answer choices are correct.

Explanation:

All of these listed answer choices are correct. Wind, water, and plants all change the shape of the land through weathering and erosion. When the land changes, it can cause problems for humans and the environment. Sometimes humans have to intervene and help fix what nature has created.

Example Question #1 : Effects Of Wind And Water On Landscapes

Aanya's class is submitting ideas to help stop erosion on a riverbank. The riverbank has houses nearby, and the soil is slipping into the river. There are exposed tree roots, and they seem to be the only thing holding the bank in place.

Which idea of Aanya's seems most reasonable and practical to slow wind and water form changing the shape of the land?

Possible Answers:

Dig up the bank and replace all of the dirt with concrete

Tell people to move farther away because the bank cannot be fixed

Add more trees and plants along the bank

Remove the existing trees and replace them with small plants

Correct answer:

Add more trees and plants along the bank

Explanation:

Erosion is widespread and changes the shape of the land forever. The most reasonable and practical way to slow the wind and water would be to add more trees and plants along the bank. The additional trees and plants will help stabilize the soil and keep it from sliding and moving. This should help slow some of the erosion and stop the land from changing.

Example Question #1 : Effects Of Wind And Water On Landscapes

Patricia's teacher announced, "I have made a hill with rocks, sand, and dirt. You are going to get to make "rain" by pouring water down the hill." The students predict that the sand, dirt, and rocks will flow down the hill and break it up. Her teacher gives them a challenge.

What can you build to slow the water from changing the shape of our landform?

Possible Answers:

Build a dam upstream to control the water

Build a river in front of the hill to stop the wind

 

Build barriers to block the water, dirt, sand, and rocks from sliding

Put lots of bins and buckets in the water near the falling sides to catch the dirt and put it back

Correct answer:

Build barriers to block the water, dirt, sand, and rocks from sliding

Explanation:

This classroom investigation is very much like the real process of erosion that happens in the natural world. The students' prediction that the "rain" will blow the sand, rocks, and dirt everywhere is correct. The best option to prevent the changing of the landform is to build barriers to block the water, dirt, sand, and rocks from sliding. This will help prevent the land from changing shapes.

Example Question #6 : Effects Of Wind And Water On Landscapes

What does the term weathering mean? Example: Due to weathering, the house cannot be occupied. The foundation is unstable, and the rocks are loose.

Possible Answers:

Wear away or change the appearance or texture of something

Earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces

The action of depositing something

The three rock types igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic

Correct answer:

Wear away or change the appearance or texture of something

Explanation:

Weathering is the process of wind, water, and vegetation breaking apart rocks and other natural materials. The house in the example is unstable because the rocks below the foundation have been beaten by rain and wind and broken apart.

Example Question #1 : Compare Ways To Prevent Wind/Water From Changing Land Shape

The hill near the playground has been changing over the last few months. During heavy rain, the dirt is being quickly washed off the hill. This is a problem for the class because the students are unable to play in this area since it is unstable and unsafe.

Which solution would be best to prevent the wind and water from changing the hill?

Possible Answers:

Plant new grass. The roots will hold the dirt steady and absorb the water.

Cover the hill in leaves. The leaves will soak up the rain and stop the dirt from moving.

Leave the soil alone; there is nothing that can be done.

Install a new slide on the hill. Adding a slide will block the rain from reaching the hill.

Correct answer:

Plant new grass. The roots will hold the dirt steady and absorb the water.

Explanation:

The best option to prevent the hill from continuing to be eroded is to plant new grass. The roots of the grass will absorb water and hold the dirt in place. As wind and rain wear things down and move them away, humans must come up with solutions to prevent it from getting worse. The other answers are not reasonable or will not work. Leaves will not absorb the water and will wash away, leaving it alone will allow the problem to get worse, and putting a slide on the hill is dangerous!

Example Question #2 : Compare Ways To Prevent Wind/Water From Changing Land Shape

Our land is changed when wind and water break down the soil and wash it away. Hurricanes in the South cause a lot of damage and change the area in very severe ways. Below is a picture of the damage from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.


New Orleans, Louisiana, After Hurricane Katrina, City

What could the city do to prevent the water from changing the shape of the land and damaging the buildings in the future?

Possible Answers:

Move the city to another area because this one is damaged.

Build barriers to stop the water from flowing into the city.

Scoop up all the water as it floods and put it back in the ocean.

Plant bushes and flowers along the edge of the town to soak up all the water.

Correct answer:

Build barriers to stop the water from flowing into the city.

Explanation:

The damage from Hurricane Katrina permanently changed the area and the land of New Orleans. The floodwaters destroyed many buildings, and when the water receded to the ocean, it dragged dirt, rocks, and debris along with it changing the landscape. The city could install barriers or levees to block the water from passing into the city. There were already some in place, but there could be taller levees installed or more of them.

Example Question #3 : Compare Ways To Prevent Wind/Water From Changing Land Shape

Many times farmers face strong winds, and they can damage crops and change the shape of the land. Below you will see an image of a wheat field on a sunny day and then after a dust storm.

Cornfield, Field, Wheat Field, GrainBuried, Devastated, Devastation, Sandstorm, Dust Bowl

Farmers will often plant tall plants and shrubs alongside their wheat. Why would these plants help prevent the wind from changing the landscape and damaging crops?

 

Possible Answers:

The plants would do nothing to help with the wind storms, so they should not be planted.

The plants act as a windbreak or a barrier against the wind.

The plants absorb the water that is in the soil, which helps the wheat.

The plants absorb all of the wind that is in the air.

Correct answer:

The plants act as a windbreak or a barrier against the wind.

Explanation:

Shrubs and tall plants next to fields of wheat, corn, and other crops help act as a windbreak and stop the wind and dust from tearing up the fields. If the soil is very dry, it will get swept up by the strong winds and create a tornado-like force that will bury all of the crops in dust and dirt. The shrubs block the soil from being picked up, and the wind from pushing through the crops the farmers are growing.

Example Question #4 : Compare Ways To Prevent Wind/Water From Changing Land Shape

What caused erosion and the changes to the land to create this landform?

Desert, Horsheshoe Bend, Grand Canyon

Possible Answers:

Animals

Wind and water

Humans

Snow

Correct answer:

Wind and water

Explanation:

This beautiful canyon was formed by years and years of wind and water pushing through the ground and blowing against the sides. Erosion is the movement of broken down Earth to new places, and that is what the river and wind in this area have done. The water races through the canyon, cutting a path while the wind blows tiny particles of soil and sand into the walls breaking it away slowly and moving it to new places. Many times humans get involved and try to prevent wind and water from damaging areas.

Example Question #5 : Compare Ways To Prevent Wind/Water From Changing Land Shape

The soil around Maddie's farm is becoming very dry and loose. When the wind blows many pieces are picked up and blown around her fields. This process is called desertification. The area is turning into a desert because of the wind and dry soil.

What can Maddie do to prevent the wind or water from changing the land's shape?

Possible Answers:

Move the plants to a different field, park the tractors near them, and water once a week.

Plant all of the crops underneath a large roof so rain cannot reach them.

Water the soil, plant tall shrubs, and rotate crops.

Nothing can be done to help the farm, Maddie should move.

Correct answer:

Water the soil, plant tall shrubs, and rotate crops.

Explanation:

This is a widespread problem on many farms, especially in the mid-West, where it is very dry and can get windy. The best option to prevent the wind and water from changing the land's shape and damaging her farm is to water the soil to keep it wet and less dusty, plant tall shrubs to help block the wind, and rotate the crops, so the nutrients in the ground are not all used up. If farms are left to become very arid and dusty, it can create large dust storms and damage property and change the land over many miles.

Example Question #5 : Compare Ways To Prevent Wind/Water From Changing Land Shape

Which solution would be the best and most reasonable for stopping wind and water from changing the shape of the land?

Possible Answers:

Plant shrubs and trees to hold the soil together.

Place large tarps on the sides of cliffs so the rain cannot touch the rocks.

Move all the sand away from the beach so the water cannot touch it.

Place large umbrellas near the sides of cliffs to block the wind.

Correct answer:

Plant shrubs and trees to hold the soil together.

Explanation:

The best and most reasonable way to stop wind or water for changing the shape of the land would be to plant shrubs and trees to hold the soil together. Tree roots stabilize and secure the soil helping it from being eroded. This process can help control erosion (the movement of broken-down materials), so there are fewer changes to the Earth.

 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors