humanities test

1) Match the words to their correct definitions. (4 marks)

Swash - c) The forward movement of water up the beach after a wave breaks.
Backwash - d) The water flowing back into the sea after a wave retreats.
Erosion - a) When waves carry sand and rocks away from the beach.
Deposition - b) When waves drop sand and rocks onto the shore, making the beach bigger.

2) How do waves change the shape of the coastline? (2 marks)

Answer: B) Waves can wear away cliffs and beaches or build them up.
Waves erode the land by wearing away rocks and sand, but they also deposit materials, helping to create beaches and landforms.

3) Fill in the blanks. (3 marks)

When longshore drift occurs, sand moves along the coastline. Waves hit the beach at an angle, and the sand moves in a zigzag pattern.

4) Draw a simple diagram of longshore drift. (3 marks)

(Accept simple diagrams showing waves hitting the shore at an angle, moving sand in a zigzag motion.)

5) Why do softer rocks erode faster than harder rocks? (2 marks)

Answer: B) Softer rocks break down more easily from waves, wind, and rain.
Softer rocks, such as sandstone, are less resistant to erosion compared to harder rocks like granite. Waves, wind, and rain wear them down more quickly.

6) Choose the correct answer: What is the difference between constructive and destructive waves? (2 marks)

Answer: A) Constructive waves build up the beach, and destructive waves take sand away.
Constructive waves have strong swash and weak backwash, bringing sand onto the beach. Destructive waves have strong backwash and weak swash, eroding beaches.

7) List three ways humans use coastal areas. (3 marks)

1. Tourism – People visit beaches for holidays, swimming, and surfing.

2. Fishing – Many communities depend on fishing for food and jobs.

3. Transport – Ports and harbors allow ships to move goods and people.

Practice Test 2: Coastal Landforms
Year 8 Humanities
Student Name: ______________________
Teacher Name: ______________________
Total Marks: 20
Weighting: Practice only

1) Match the words with their meanings. (4 marks)

Longshore Drift - d) The process where sand moves along the beach due to angled waves.
Sea Stack - a) A tall rock formation that stands in the ocean after erosion removes the surrounding land.
Destructive Wave - b) A wave that takes sand away from the beach.
Constructive Wave - c) A wave that brings sand onto the beach.

2) How do waves change the shape of the coastline over time? (2 marks)

Answer: Waves cause erosion by breaking down rocks and taking sand away. They also cause deposition by adding sand and rocks to build up the beach.

3) What is longshore drift, and how does it move sand? (3 marks)

Answer: B) Waves hit the beach at an angle, moving sand along the coast.
Longshore drift transports sand along the shoreline in a zigzag pattern due to waves approaching the beach at an angle.

4) Describe how a sea stack is formed. (3 marks)

Answer: A) Wind and waves wear away the softer rock, leaving a tall stack behind.
Sea stacks form when headlands erode over time, leaving behind isolated rock formations in the sea.

5) Why do some beaches have more sand than others? (2 marks)

Answer: A) Some beaches have more sand because of strong constructive waves.
Constructive waves bring sand onto beaches, while destructive waves remove sand. This explains why some beaches have more sand than others.

6) What are two characteristics of a destructive wave? (2 marks)

1. Strong backwash – Pulls sand away from the beach.

2. Steep, tall waves – These waves have a lot of energy and crash onto the shore.

7) Identify three human activities that contribute to coastal erosion. (3 marks)

1. Building structures too close to the coast – Leads to increased wave erosion.

2. Dredging and sand mining – Removes sand from beaches, making them more vulnerable to erosion.

3. Deforestation near coastlines – Less plant cover means more soil and sand wash away into the sea.