Internal Land-Forming Processes

18 Grade 9 Social Studies questions on Internal Land-Forming Processes, with worked marking schemes. 18 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   Which of the following is an internal land-forming process?

   A. Weathering

   B. River transportation

   C. Folding

   D. Wind erosion

   (1 mark)

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2. Question 2

   1 mark

   Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro are examples of landforms created by which internal process?

   A. Vulcanicity

   B. River deposition

   C. Coastal erosion

   D. Mass wasting

   (1 mark)

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3. Question 3

   4 marks

   Distinguish between internal and external land-forming processes, giving one example of each.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   2 marks: internal processes originate within the earth's crust/interior (e.g. faulting, folding, vulcanicity, earthquakes) — 1 mark explanation + 1 mark example. 2 marks: external processes operate on the earth's surface (e.g. weathering, erosion, deposition by rivers/wind/waves) — 1 mark explanation + 1 mark example.

4. Question 4

   1 mark

   Fold mountains are formed when crustal rocks are subjected to:

   A. Compressional forces

   B. Wind abrasion

   C. Tensional forces

   D. Chemical solution

   (1 mark)

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5. Question 5

   6 marks

   Explain three negative effects of earthquakes on human activities.

   (6 marks)

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6. Question 6

   1 mark

   Which internal land-forming process led to the formation of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya?

   A. Deposition by rivers

   B. Faulting

   C. Wind erosion

   D. Glaciation

   (1 mark)

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7. Question 7

   3 marks

   State three ways in which faulting and volcanic activity have benefited Kenya.

   (3 marks)

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8. Question 8

   1 mark

   The Great Rift Valley in Kenya was formed mainly as a result of:

   A. Wind erosion

   B. Wave action

   C. Deposition by rivers

   D. Faulting (tensional forces in the crust)

   (1 mark)

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9. Question 9

   4 marks

   Internal land-forming processes shape the surface of the earth from within.

   (a) Name the internal process that led to the formation of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. (1 mark)

   (b) State three effects of vulcanicity on the physical landscape of East Africa. (3 marks)

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) The Great Rift Valley was formed mainly through faulting (tensional forces/movement of the earth's crust along normal faults causing the middle block to sink), associated with internal earth movements. (b) Three effects of vulcanicity on the landscape of East Africa: 1. Formation of volcanic mountains, for example Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro. 2. Formation of crater and caldera lakes, for example the crater lakes around the Rift Valley. 3. Formation of lava plateaus and fertile volcanic soils that support agriculture. (Other acceptable: formation of hot springs and geysers; volcanic plugs/necks.)

10. Question 10

    5 marks

    The Great Rift Valley in Kenya was formed through internal land-forming processes.

    (a) Explain how the faulting process led to the formation of the Rift Valley. (3 marks)

    (b) State two features found within the Kenyan section of the Rift Valley. (2 marks)

    (5 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) The Rift Valley was formed through faulting caused by tensional (pulling apart) forces in the earth's crust. As the crust was subjected to tensional forces, parallel cracks or faults developed. The land between the two parallel faults sank/subsided downward to form a long, deep depression (a graben or trough) with steep escarpments (fault scarps) on either side. This sunken block of land is the Rift Valley. (b) Any two features within the Kenyan Rift Valley, such as: lakes (e.g. Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Lake Bogoria, Lake Magadi, Lake Turkana); escarpments (e.g. Nguruman, Mau, Elgeyo escarpments); volcanic mountains (e.g. Mount Longonot, Menengai Crater); hot springs and geysers (e.g. at Lake Bogoria); or the flat valley floor.

11. Question 11

    5 marks

    With the aid of named examples, describe how block mountains and rift valleys are formed by faulting.

    (5 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Up to 5 marks: tensional/compressional forces create cracks (faults) in the crust (1); when the land between two faults subsides/sinks it forms a rift valley/graben e.g. the Great Rift Valley (2); when the land between two faults is uplifted or the sides sink it forms a block mountain/horst e.g. Aberdare/Mau (2).

12. Question 12

    1 mark

    Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro are examples of landforms created by:

    A. Glaciation

    B. Coastal erosion

    C. River deposition

    D. Vulcanicity (volcanic activity)

    (1 mark)

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13. Question 13

    1 mark

    When the land between two faults is uplifted relative to the surrounding land, it forms a:

    A. Block mountain (horst)

    B. Rift valley

    C. River valley

    D. Sand dune

    (1 mark)

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14. Question 14

    1 mark

    A sudden violent shaking of the earth's crust caused by movement along faults is known as a/an:

    A. Avalanche

    B. Flood

    C. Landslide

    D. Earthquake

    (1 mark)

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15. Question 15

    1 mark

    A farmer near a rift valley enjoys very fertile soils and hot springs that attract tourists. These benefits are mainly a result of:

    A. Volcanic and faulting activity

    B. Wind deposition

    C. Wave erosion

    D. River flooding

    (1 mark)

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16. Question 16

    1 mark

    Molten rock that cools and solidifies beneath the earth's surface forms:

    A. Intrusive igneous landforms such as batholiths

    B. Sand dunes

    C. Sedimentary cliffs

    D. River deltas

    (1 mark)

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17. Question 17

    1 mark

    When a block of land sinks between two parallel faults, the resulting landform is a:

    A. Rift valley (graben)

    B. Block mountain

    C. Delta

    D. Plateau

    (1 mark)

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18. Question 18

    1 mark

    The Great Rift Valley in Kenya was formed mainly by which internal land-forming process?

    A. Deposition by rivers

    B. Faulting

    C. Wind erosion

    D. Glaciation

    (1 mark)

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