Mass Wasting - The Changing Earth: Exploring Geology and Evolution - page 298

7. Which of the following is a factor infl uencing mass
wasting?
a. _____ slope angle;
b. _____ vegetation;
c. _____ weathering;
d. _____ water content;
e. _____ all of these.
8. Which of the following is a type of mass wasting common
in mountainous regions in which talus accumulates?
a. _____ creep;
b. _____ solifl uction;
c. _____ rockfalls;
d. _____ slides;
e. _____ mudfl ows.
9. Which of the following helps reduce the slope angle or
provides support at the base of a hillside?
a. _____ cut and fi ll;
b. _____ retaining walls;
c. _____ benching;
d. _____ all of these;
e. _____ none of these.
10. Former landslides and areas currently susceptible to
slope failure can be identifi ed by which of the following
features?
a. _____ tilted objects;
b. _____ open fi ssures;
c. _____ scarps;
d. _____ hummocky surfaces;
e. _____ all of these.

11. Discuss some of the ways slope stability can be
maintained in order to reduce the likelihood of
mass movements.
12. What potential value would a slope stability map be
to a person seeking to purchase new home property?
Using the slope stability map in Figure 11.24, locate the
line that shows horizontal contact between rocks of dif-
ferent stability. What is the potential for mass wasting
along this line, and why?
13. Discuss how topography and the underlying geology
contribute to slope failure.
14. Why are slumps such a problem along highways and
railroad tracks in areas with relief?
15. How would removing preexisting vegetation tend to
affect most slopes in humid regions with respect to
mass wasting?
16. Discuss how the different factors that infl uence mass
wasting are interconnected.
17. How could mass wasting be recognized on other
planets or moons? What would that tell us about the
geology, and perhaps the atmosphere, of the planet or
moon on which it occurred?
18. If an area has a documented history of mass wasting
that has endangered or taken human life, how should
people and governments prevent such events from
happening again? Are most large mass wasting events
preventable or predictable?
19. Why is it important to know about the different types
of mass wasting?
20. Why is creep so prevalent? Why does it do so much
damage? What are some of the ways that creep might
be controlled?