MCQs on Glaciers, Continental glaciers, Alpine or Mountain Glaciers, and Icebergs – World Geography
Q1. What is a glacier?
a. A river of liquid water
b. A large mass of ice that forms on land and moves under its own weight
c. A frozen lake
d. A waterfall
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Correct Answer: b. A large mass of ice that forms on land and moves under its own weight
Explanation: A glacier is a large mass of ice that forms on land when snow accumulates over time, turns to ice, and begins to flow outwards and downwards under the pressure of its own weight.
Q2. Which of the following is a type of glacier that forms in mountainous regions?
a. Continental glacier
b. Alpine glacier
c. Iceberg
d. Ice sheet
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Correct Answer: b. Alpine glacier
Explanation: Alpine glaciers, also known as mountain glaciers, are glaciers that form in mountainous regions and flow down valleys.
Q3. Which of the following is a type of glacier that covers large, relatively flat landmasses?
a. Continental glacier
b. Alpine glacier
c. Iceberg
d. Ice sheet
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Correct Answer: a. Continental glacier
Explanation: Continental glaciers are vast, expansive bodies of dense ice covering large and relatively flat landmasses.
Q4. What is an iceberg?
a. A floating mass of ice detached from a glacier or ice sheet
b. A type of glacier that forms in valleys
c. A frozen river
d. A large mass of ice that forms on land and moves under its own weight
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Correct Answer: a. A floating mass of ice detached from a glacier or ice sheet
Explanation: An iceberg is a floating mass of ice that has broken off from a glacier or ice sheet and is floating in open water.
Q5. Which of the following is a feature formed by glacial erosion?
a. Cirque
b. Sand dune
c. Delta
d. Volcano
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Correct Answer: a. Cirque
Explanation: A cirque is a bowl-shaped depression formed by glacial erosion, typically found at the head of a valley.
Q6. Which of the following is a depositional feature formed by glaciers?
a. Moraine
b. Sand dune
c. Delta
d. Volcano
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Correct Answer: a. Moraine
Explanation: Moraines are depositional features formed by the accumulation of glacial debris and are exposed after the glacier has retreated.
Q7. What is the difference between a continental glacier and an alpine glacier?
a. Continental glaciers form in valleys, while alpine glaciers cover large landmasses
b. Continental glaciers cover large landmasses, while alpine glaciers form in valleys
c. Continental glaciers are made of ice, while alpine glaciers are made of snow
d. There is no difference; they are the same thing
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Correct Answer: b. Continental glaciers cover large landmasses, while alpine glaciers form in valleys
Explanation: Continental glaciers are vast, expansive bodies of dense ice covering large and relatively flat landmasses, while alpine glaciers form in mountainous regions and flow down valleys.
Q8. Which of the following is a characteristic of a glacier’s zone of accumulation?
a. More snow melts than accumulates
b. More snow accumulates than melts
c. The glacier is stationary
d. The glacier is retreating
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Correct Answer: b. More snow accumulates than melts
Explanation: In a glacier’s zone of accumulation, more snow accumulates than melts, contributing to the growth of the glacier.
Q9. Which of the following is a characteristic of a glacier’s zone of ablation?
a. More snow melts than accumulates
b. More snow accumulates than melts
c. The glacier is stationary
d. The glacier is advancing
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Correct Answer: a. More snow melts than accumulates
Explanation: In a glacier’s zone of ablation, more snow melts than accumulates, leading to a loss of ice mass.
Q10. What is the process by which glaciers erode the underlying bedrock?
a. Plucking
b. Deposition
c. Sublimation
d. Melting
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Correct Answer: a. Plucking
Explanation: Plucking is the process by which glaciers erode the underlying bedrock by freezing onto it and then pulling away pieces of rock as the glacier moves.
Q11. What is a crevasse?
a. A deep crack in a glacier
b. A mound of glacial debris
c. A bowl-shaped depression formed by glacial erosion
d. A floating mass of ice detached from a glacier
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Correct Answer: a. A deep crack in a glacier
Explanation: A crevasse is a deep crack or fracture in a glacier, often caused by the movement and deformation of the ice.
Q12. Which of the following is a landform created by glacial deposition?
a. Cirque
b. Moraine
c. U-shaped valley
d. Hanging valley
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Correct Answer: b. Moraine
Explanation: Moraines are landforms created by glacial deposition, consisting of accumulations of glacial debris.
Q13. What is a nunatak?
a. A mountain peak protruding through a glacier
b. A deep crack in a glacier
c. A bowl-shaped depression formed by glacial erosion
d. A floating mass of ice detached from a glacier
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Correct Answer: a. A mountain peak protruding through a glacier
Explanation: A nunatak is a mountain peak or rocky outcrop that protrudes through a glacier or ice sheet.
Q14. What is a glacial till?
a. A type of soil deposited by glaciers
b. A deep crack in a glacier
c. A bowl-shaped depression formed by glacial erosion
d. A floating mass of ice detached from a glacier
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Correct Answer: a. A type of soil deposited by glaciers
Explanation: Glacial till is a type of unsorted and unstratified soil deposited by glaciers, consisting of a mixture of clay, silt, sand, gravel, and boulders.
Q15. What is a fjord?
a. A long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs
b. A mound of glacial debris
c. A bowl-shaped depression formed by glacial erosion
d. A floating mass of ice detached from a glacier
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Correct Answer: a. A long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs
Explanation: A fjord is a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, typically formed by the submergence of a glaciated valley.
Q16. Which of the following is a type of glacier that forms in polar regions?
a. Continental glacier
b. Alpine glacier
c. Iceberg
d. Ice sheet
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Correct Answer: a. Continental glacier
Explanation: Continental glaciers are vast, expansive bodies of dense ice covering large and relatively flat landmasses, typically found in polar regions.
Q17. What is the process by which glaciers deposit sediment?
a. Plucking
b. Deposition
c. Sublimation
d. Melting
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Correct Answer: b. Deposition
Explanation: Deposition is the process by which glaciers deposit sediment, forming features such as moraines and glacial till.
Q18. What is the largest glacier in the world?
a. The Greenland Ice Sheet
b. The Antarctic Ice Sheet
c. The Columbia Glacier
d. The Hubbard Glacier
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Correct Answer: b. The Antarctic Ice Sheet
Explanation: The Antarctic Ice Sheet is the largest glacier in the world, covering an area of about 14 million square kilometers and containing about 90% of the world’s ice.
Q19. Which of the following is a consequence of glacial retreat?
a. Sea level rise
b. Increased volcanic activity
c. Formation of new glaciers
d. All of the above
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Correct Answer: a. Sea level rise
Explanation: Glacial retreat, or the melting and shrinking of glaciers, can contribute to sea level rise as the meltwater flows into the ocean.
Q20. Which of the following is a human activity that can contribute to glacial retreat?
a. Deforestation
b. Groundwater extraction
c. Greenhouse gas emissions
d. All of the above
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Correct Answer: c. Greenhouse gas emissions
Explanation: Human activities such as greenhouse gas emissions can contribute to glacial retreat by causing global warming, which leads to increased melting of glaciers.