Q1.
The following paragraph describes how sediment is transported by a river.
Complete the paragraph. Choose the correct words from the list below.
saltation suspension traction
Sediment is moved downstream by rivers in a number of ways. Small sediments
are carried in _______________________ while larger pebbles are moved along
the river bed in small ‘hops’. This movement is called _______________________ .
Larger material is pushed along the river bed by _______________________ .
(Total 2 marks)
Q2.
Water on the Land
Distinguish between the processes of abrasion and attrition.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
(Total 2 marks)
Q3.
Study the diagram below, showing the long profile of a river and cross profiles of a river
valley.
With the help of the diagram, describe how the long profile of a river and cross profile of a
river valley change downstream.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Page 1 of 11
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
(Total 4 marks)
Q4.
Describe how river processes of transportation and deposition change downstream.
(Total 8 marks)
Q5.
Study the figure below, a cross profile of a river.
Mark with an arrow and label:
• one part of the cross profile where vertical erosion takes place
• one part of the cross profile where lateral erosion takes place.
(Total 2 marks)
Q6.
The figure below shows four ways in which a river transports its load.
On the figure above, label each process in the space provided.
Choose the correct labels from the following list.
Page 2 of 11
saltation suspension solution
abrasion attrition traction
(Total 4 marks)
Q7.
Describe how a river transports its load.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
(Total 3 marks)
Q8.
River channels are affected by different erosion processes.
Draw a line to link each of the statements to the correct erosion process.
Erosion process Statement
occurs when some types of rock are dissolved in
Hydraulic action
the river
occurs when material carried by the river knocks
Abrasion
into other pieces of load
occurs when the force of the water hits the bed
Attrition
and banks
occurs when the load carried by the river hits the
Solution
bed and banks
(Total 3 marks)
Q9.
Describe how a river erodes.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Page 3 of 11
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
(Total 3 marks)
Q10.
Study the figure below which shows a long profile and cross profiles of a typical river.
(a) Are the following statements about the long profile and cross profiles true or false?
Tick the correct boxes.
True False
The steepest part of the long profile is near the source.
The cross profile shows the shape of the valley from one
side to the other.
The cross profile is narrower and deeper near the mouth.
Most lateral erosion occurs near the source.
(4)
(b) Complete the paragraph below to explain why deposition occurs along the course of
a river.
Choose the correct words from this list.
energy increases transports
decreases sediment leaves behind
Deposition occurs when the river __________________ material. This happens
when the speed of the river __________________ and the river has less
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__________________
(3)
(Total 7 marks)
Q11.
Study the figure below which shows a long profile and cross profiles of a typical river.
Describe how the cross profile changes downstream.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
(Total 3 marks)
Q12.
Tick the correct box to show whether or not each of the following is a process of river
transport.
True False
Traction
Corrosion
Suspension
(Total 3 marks)
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Mark schemes
Q1.
suspension saltation traction
One correct – 1 mark
Two to three correct – 2 marks
AO2 = 2
[2]
Q2.
This mark scheme is from a question paper that assessed a previous specification and
has not been edited.
Click [here] to access a document explaining the differences that might apply to it.
Abrasion occurs when load – pebbles, stones carried by the river hit against the bed and
the bank eroding them, whilst attrition involves the pebbles knocking against each other
making them smaller and smoother
2 × 1 – there must be reference to both processes for 2 marks.
AO1 = 2
[2]
Q3.
This mark scheme is from a question paper that assessed a previous specification and
has not been edited.
Click [here] to access a document explaining the differences that might apply to it.
The long profile begins steeply near the source and reduces quickly in height as the slope
reduces so that near the mouth, the valley is reducing in height very gradually and is
almost flat. The cross profile can be seen to change with distance from the source – being
a clear V – shape near the source where there will be interlocking spurs. Further down,
the valley widens and the sides become lower and less steep until in the lower course
nearer the mouth, the valley is very wide with a flood plain either side of the river in a very
broad open U with shallow sides – bluffs. There may be higher areas next to the river –
levees.
AO1 = 1
AO2 = 2
AO1 = 1
Level Marks Description
2 3–4 There is description of both the long and cross
(Clear) profile.
There is a focus on how these change downstream.
Statements are developed and linked.
1 1–2 Some description of the long profile and / or the
(Basic) cross profile.
Statements are simple and separate in a random
order.
Page 6 of 11
0 No relevant content.
[4]
Q4.
This mark scheme is from a question paper that assessed a previous specification and
has not been edited.
Click [here] to access a document explaining the differences that might apply to it.
Reference may be made to transportation processes, size of material that is carried and
deposition, where there should be reference to load size and amount that is deposited and
where it is deposited.
The emphasis should be on change downstream. Traction – the rolling of the largest
material - and saltation – the bouncing along the bed of stones and pebbles – should be
seen as occurring nearer the source as the load is larger there. In contrast, the load
carried by suspension – where fine silts and clays float within the body of the river – is
more apparent in the lower course as the material is smaller here. The river will be
carrying much greater quantities of material here than nearer the source as it has more
water present. Solution will vary with the rock type and may not relate to distance from the
source but whether there is soluble rock present within the drainage basin.
Deposition occurs anywhere along the river’s length – but nearer the source, it is large
material that is left behind. Often huge boulders that stick out above the level of the water
can be found, reducing in size with increasing distance from the source. The amount
deposited increases downstream – but this is increasingly fine sediment. This may be
deposited on flood plains lower down whereas these are not present in the upper course.
Meanders which are present in middle and lower course show contrasts in deposition from
one side to the other with little on the outside bank and much on the inside bend of the
meander.
AO1 = 6
AO2 = 2
Level Marks Description
3 7–8 There is detailed description of transportation and
(Detailed) deposition – in reasonable balance. Statements are
developed, linked and logically ordered – clearly
focuses on changes downstream. Describes how
river processes of transportation and deposition
change downstream.
In the upper course, much material is transported
by traction and saltation. Large boulders are rolled
along the river bed and smaller stones bounce
along it. This gets less as the load size reduces
downstream. However, suspension where fine silts
and clays are carried within the river’s water
increases in the middle and lower course and this
takes over as the main way of transporting the load
as it is now much smaller. The large load is
deposited in the upper course but this is replaced
by silts and clays downstream – smaller in size but
a larger amount is left behind. In the upper course,
large boulders are strewn across the channel often
above the water level, but downstream where
meanders are present, deposition occurs on the
inside bed particularly rather than all the way across
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the channel.
2 5–6 There is description of transportation and deposition
(Clear) – although there may be imbalance. Statements are
developed and linked – begins to focus on changes
downstream.
Large material is rolled along the river bed. This
process of traction occurs near the source and gets
less as you go downstream. The same is true of
saltation where smaller stones hop along the river
bed. However, suspension – where silt is carried
within the river floating in the water increases
downstream. Near the source, material is found
across the channel but further down, material is left
on one bend of a meander only.
1 1–4 Some description of the way(s) in which the river
(Basic) transports material and / or deposits it. Statements
are simple and separate in a random order.
A river deposits big material first and carries smaller
load further. It carries material by rolling boulders,
bouncing stones and dissolving some rocks.
Material is deposited on the inside bend of a
meander.
0 No relevant content.
[8]
Q5.
This mark scheme is from a question paper that assessed a previous specification and
has not been edited.
Click [here] to access a document explaining the differences that might apply to it.
Correct positioning of label for vertical erosion on river bed and lateral erosion at
sides / banks. If both arrows don’t connect – 1 mark
2×1
AO1 – 2
[2]
Q6.
This mark scheme is from a question paper that assessed a previous specification and
has not been edited.
Click [here] to access a document explaining the differences that might apply to it.
From top left clockwise – suspension, solution, saltation, traction.
Accept first answer only when 2 or more are given.
4×1
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AO1 – 2
AO2 – 1
AO3 – 1
[4]
Q7.
This mark scheme is from a question paper that assessed a previous specification and
has not been edited.
Click [here] to access a document explaining the differences that might apply to it.
A river transports large boulders (1) via traction – where material is rolled / dragged
along the bed (1). Smaller pebbles (1) are carried by saltation – a hopping /
leapfrogging motion (1). Fine material is carried within the water itself (1) – this is
suspension. Some rocks are soluble and will dissolve (1) – such as limestone (1) –
and these are carried in solution.
Allow 1 mark for a list. 2 terms or more.
Allow up to 2 marks on any one process.
3×1
AO1 – 3
[3]
Q8.
This mark scheme is from a question paper that assessed a previous specification and
has not been edited.
Click [here] to access a document explaining the differences that might apply to it.
Page 9 of 11
Hydraulic action – occurs when the force of the water hits the
bed and banks (1 process – 3 statement).
st rd
Abrasion – occurs when the load carried by the river hits the
bed and banks (2 process – 4 statement).
nd th
Attrition – occurs when material carried by the river knocks into
other pieces of load (3 process – 2 statement).
rd nd
Solution – occurs when some types of rock are dissolved in
the river (4 process – 1 statement).
th st
All correct = 3; 2 correct = 2; 1 correct = 1.
3
AO1 – 3
[3]
Q9.
This mark scheme is from a question paper that assessed a previous specification and
has not been edited.
Click [here] to access a document explaining the differences that might apply to it.
Four processes are relevant – hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition and solution.
There should be reference to how these work e.g. hydraulic action is the force of the
water against the bed and banks, this is most effective when the river is in high flow.
Abrasion occurs when the load being carried hits the bed and the banks, whilst
attrition is the reduction in size of the load itself as it knocks into other items of
material. Solution occurs when certain rock types, such as limestone or chalk are
dissolved by the slightly acidic rainwater.
May also refer to vertical, lateral and headward erosion.
Maximum 1 for list of 2 or more processes.
3×1
3
AO1 – 3
[3]
Q10.
This mark scheme is from a question paper that assessed a previous specification and
has not been edited.
Click [here] to access a document explaining the differences that might apply to it.
(a) The steepest part of the long profile is nesar the source – True
The cross profile shows the shape of the valley from one side to the other –
True
The cross profile is narrower and deeper near the mouth – False
Most lateral erosion occurs near the source – False
4×1
AO1 – 3
AO3 – 1
4
(b) Deposition occurs when the river leaves behind material. This happens when
the speed of the river decreases and the river has less energy.
3×1
AO1 – 3
3
[7]
Page 10 of 11
Q11.
This mark scheme is from a question paper that assessed a previous specification and
has not been edited.
Click [here] to access a document explaining the differences that might apply to it.
Near the source, the cross profile is narrow, steep sided and relatively deep valley
(1). As movement occurs downstream, the cross profile becomes wider, less deep
and the valley
sides are less steep (1). Nearest the mouth, the valley is especially broad, the sides
are a
long way from the river and these are gentle and very low lying. (1)
There should be 3 statements that convey change downstream.
The above is one strategy – going site by site, other approaches may refer to stages
or the characteristic of an individual change that takes place downstream. Accept
river channel changes as well as valley.
3 × 1 per stage or overall change from source to mouth.
AO1 – 3
[3]
Q12.
This mark scheme is from a question paper that assessed a previous specification and
has not been edited.
Click [here] to access a document explaining the differences that might apply to it.
True False True
[3]
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