Sand Dunes And Its Characteristics Quiz Questions With Answers

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Sand Dunes And Its Characteristics Quiz Questions With Answers - Quiz

Get ready to play this quiz and try to beat this "Sand dunes and its characteristics Quiz questions with answers" with a good score. This quiz will give you a better understanding of sand dunes and their characteristics. If you are an expert in this subject, then you should be able to beat the quiz with an 80 percent score at least. So, are you up to this challenge? Let us see!


Questions and Answers
  • 1. 

    Why are dunes made of finer sand than the beaches?

    • A.

      Waves deposit the fine sand onto the dune.

    • B.

      Saltation carries only the finest of beach sand.

    • C.

      Saltation mixes salt with sand making it more finer.

    • D.

      Fine sand is more porous.

    Correct Answer
    B. Saltation carries only the finest of beach sand.
    Explanation
    Saltation is the process by which sand particles are transported by wind in a bouncing motion. During saltation, only the finest sand particles are lifted and carried, while the larger, coarser particles tend to stay closer to the ground. This selective transport of finer sand particles by saltation explains why dunes are made of finer sand than the beaches.

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  • 2. 

    Why do some dune animals move back and forth between dunes and the maritime forest?

    • A.

      Dune animals move back and forth between the dunes and the maritime forest to get fresh water from ponds in the maritime forest and move to the dunes to scavenge and forage for food at night. 

    • B.

      Dune animals move back and forth between the dunes and the maritime forest because of the dune heat, wind, and salt spray.

    • C.

      Dune animals move back and forth between the dunes and the maritime forest because they eat ghost crabs. 

    • D.

      Dune animals move back and forth between the dunes and the maritime forest to avoid predators.

    Correct Answer
    A. Dune animals move back and forth between the dunes and the maritime forest to get fresh water from ponds in the maritime forest and move to the dunes to scavenge and forage for food at night. 
    Explanation
    Dune animals move back and forth between the dunes and the maritime forest to access fresh water from ponds in the maritime forest and to scavenge and forage for food at night in the dunes. This behavior allows them to meet their basic needs for hydration and sustenance.

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  • 3. 

      Look at the photo. American beach grass and sea oats are primary dune plants.  What structural adaptations do they have for this habitat?

    • A.

      These plants have flexible, long, narrow leaves that curl inward and blades that turn to a vertical position that can withstand whipping winds.

    • B.

      These are plants that grow in the summer and die at the end of the summer season because they need continuous access to sunlight and heat.  

    • C.

      American beach grass and sea oats tend to have short and woody structures capable of capturing and holding sand in place. 

    • D.

      American beach grass and sea oats plant fibers are light in color, reducing the amount of heat it can absorb. 

    Correct Answer
    A. These plants have flexible, long, narrow leaves that curl inward and blades that turn to a vertical position that can withstand whipping winds.
    Explanation
    American beach grass and sea oats have flexible, long, narrow leaves that curl inward and blades that turn to a vertical position. This structural adaptation allows them to withstand whipping winds in their habitat.

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  • 4. 

    Nutrient minerals leach out (filter out) of sand quickly, causing low fertility in the soil. Why is this?

    • A.

      Beach sand cannot hold nutrients or water because the sand is loose sediment made up of broken-down rock and shell particles that water and nutrients can easily run through.

    • B.

      Beach sand cannot hold nutrients or water because the sand is made up of clay and mud that water and nutrients can easily run through. 

    • C.

      Beach sand can hold nutrients if clay and detritus are added to the soil.

    • D.

      Nutrient minerals leach out (filter out) of sand quickly because of the wind and waves on the beach.

    Correct Answer
    A. Beach sand cannot hold nutrients or water because the sand is loose sediment made up of broken-down rock and shell particles that water and nutrients can easily run through.
    Explanation
    Beach sand is composed of loose sediment made up of broken-down rock and shell particles. This loose structure allows water and nutrients to easily pass through the sand, causing them to leach out or filter out quickly. The wind and waves on the beach also contribute to the movement of water and nutrients through the sand. As a result, the sand lacks the ability to retain nutrients and water, leading to low fertility in the soil.

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  • 5. 

    Why is soil moisture greater in the back dune habitat than the frontal dune habitat?

    • A.

      Back dune soil retains moisture because the vegetation provides a canopy of shrubs and trees, lower soil surface temperatures, and reduced evaporation. 

    • B.

      Back dune soil retains moisture because rain and high wave water over washes the dunes forming ponds that keep the back dunes moist.

    • C.

      Back dune soil is moist because of wind and salt spray.

    • D.

      The frontal dunes dry out due to wind and salt spray.

    Correct Answer
    A. Back dune soil retains moisture because the vegetation provides a canopy of shrubs and trees, lower soil surface temperatures, and reduced evaporation. 
    Explanation
    The back dune habitat retains more soil moisture compared to the frontal dune habitat due to the presence of vegetation. The canopy of shrubs and trees in the back dune habitat provides shade, which lowers the soil surface temperatures and reduces evaporation. This helps to retain moisture in the soil. In contrast, the frontal dunes dry out because of the exposure to wind and salt spray, which leads to increased evaporation and less moisture retention in the soil.

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  • 6. 

    Identify the irritating supratidal insect that scavenges among the remains of seaweed and dead animal organisms in the detritus along the strandline?

    • A.

      Beach flea

    • B.

      Earwig

    • C.

      Mole crab

    • D.

      Velvet ant

    • E.

      Ghost crab

    Correct Answer
    A. Beach flea
    Explanation
    The beach flea is an irritating supratidal insect that scavenges among the remains of seaweed and dead animal organisms in the detritus along the strandline.

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  • 7. 

    Identify: What is true about the dune structure in this diagram?

    • A.

      This diagram shows a low frontal dune. Low frontal dunes do not protect dunes behind them. The ocean side of the back dunes is exposed to the full force of the ocean winds, salt spray, and whipping sands.

    • B.

      This diagram shows a medium frontal dune. A medium-sized frontal dune protects the sand shadow side of the dune behind it. During storms, the ocean side of the back dunes is vulnerable to the forces of the ocean.

    • C.

      This diagram shows a high frontal dune. A high frontal dune protects the back dune behind it. High frontal dunes reduce the effects of whipping sand and salt spray, protecting the growth of vegetation behind it.

    • D.

      This diagram shows a storm eroded lower frontal dune. The back dune is higher because the storm winds moved sand to build the back dune and expose its dune plants. 

    Correct Answer
    A. This diagram shows a low frontal dune. Low frontal dunes do not protect dunes behind them. The ocean side of the back dunes is exposed to the full force of the ocean winds, salt spray, and whipping sands.
    Explanation
    A low frontal dune does not provide protection to the dunes behind it. The ocean side of the back dunes is fully exposed to the strong ocean winds, salt spray, and whipping sands. This lack of protection makes the back dunes vulnerable to the forces of the ocean, especially during storms.

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  • 8. 

    What is the relationship between the height of a sand dune and the type of vegetation behind the frontal dune?

    • A.

      The higher the dune, the larger the vegetation behind it.

    • B.

      The higher the dune, the smaller the vegetation behind it.

    • C.

      The dune height does not affect the vegetation behind it.

    • D.

      The lower the dune, the larger the vegetation behind it.

    Correct Answer
    A. The higher the dune, the larger the vegetation behind it.
    Explanation
    As the sand dune gets higher, it provides a greater amount of protection from wind and salt spray for the vegetation behind it. This allows larger and more diverse plant species to grow, resulting in larger vegetation.

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  • 9. 

    What is saltation, and under what condition does it occur? 

    • A.

      How much salt is in the water

    • B.

      The movement of sand along the shoreline

    • C.

      The effect of salt spray on barrier island plants

    • D.

      Saltation is the movement of sand by 10 mph or greater winds that create a dune.

    Correct Answer
    D. Saltation is the movement of sand by 10 mph or greater winds that create a dune.
  • 10. 

    Applying what you know:Albedo is the amount of light or the sun's radiation reflected by a surface (think of the Earth or moon).Consider Seacoast Life pg. 35. "Intense light is reflected by the bright sand surface, which is extremely hot in summer and cool in winter."If the bright sand surface reflects the sun's intense light, its albedo is higher than, let's say, the maritime forest, which is green and dark in color. What can be said about the ocean's albedo (amount of light or sun radiation that can be reflected)?

    • A.

      Because sand is a light and bright color, it reflects sunlight and has a higher albedo in comparison to the ocean, which appears blue, is a darker color, and which would absorb rather than reflect sunlight.

    • B.

      Because sand is bright, it absorbs sunlight. It has a lower albedo in comparison to the ocean, which appears blue, and which reflects rather than absorbs sunlight.

    • C.

      The beach sand and the ocean have equal albedo’s during the summer when the sunlight is more intense. They both reflect sunlight.

    • D.

      Because the ocean is a darker blue in winter than summer, the ocean can reflect more light in summer than winter.

    Correct Answer
    A. Because sand is a light and bright color, it reflects sunlight and has a higher albedo in comparison to the ocean, which appears blue, is a darker color, and which would absorb rather than reflect sunlight.
    Explanation
    The explanation for the given correct answer is that the sand's light and bright color allows it to reflect sunlight, resulting in a higher albedo. In contrast, the ocean appears blue and is a darker color, causing it to absorb sunlight rather than reflect it. Therefore, the ocean has a lower albedo compared to the sand.

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  • 11. 

    Trees and shrubs on the back rows of dunes moderate the effects of:

    • A.

      Wind and sun

    • B.

      Ocean forces

    • C.

      Salt spray

    • D.

      Wind and water

    Correct Answer
    A. Wind and sun
    Explanation
    Trees and shrubs on the back rows of dunes moderate the effects of wind and sun. The presence of these plants helps to break the force of the wind, reducing erosion and providing a barrier against sand movement. Additionally, the foliage of the trees and shrubs provides shade, which helps to regulate temperature and reduce the drying effects of the sun. Overall, the trees and shrubs play a crucial role in protecting the dunes and maintaining their stability in the face of wind and sun exposure.

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  • 12. 

    Nitrogen is scarce on the dunes because:

    • A.

      There is little or no decaying plant and animal material to enrich the dunes.

    • B.

      There is too much Oxygen.

    • C.

      There is too much Hydrogen and Oxygen.

    • D.

      The organisms in a dune habitat consume more Nitrogen than they produce.

    Correct Answer
    A. There is little or no decaying plant and animal material to enrich the dunes.
    Explanation
    The reason why nitrogen is scarce on the dunes is that there is little or no decaying plant and animal material to enrich the dunes. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants, and it is usually obtained from the decomposition of organic matter. However, in the dune habitat, there is a lack of decaying material, which results in a limited supply of nitrogen. As a result, plants and organisms in the dunes struggle to obtain enough nitrogen for their growth and survival.

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  • 13. 

    What provides the main source of nutrients on frontal dunes?

    • A.

      Salt spray

    • B.

      Oxygen

    • C.

      Plant nitrogen

    • D.

      Water (Hydrogen + Oxygen)

    Correct Answer
    A. Salt spray
    Explanation
    Salt spray provides the main source of nutrients on frontal dunes. Salt spray contains various minerals and nutrients that are essential for the growth and survival of plants in this harsh environment. The salt spray is carried by the wind from the nearby ocean and deposited on the dunes, providing a source of nutrients for the plants that are adapted to tolerate the high levels of salt. These plants are able to extract the necessary nutrients from the salt spray, allowing them to thrive in this unique ecosystem.

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  • 14. 

    Why is oxygen plentiful in the dune habitat?

    • A.

      Ocean breezes provide a steady flow of wind.

    • B.

      Dune plants provide Oxygen to the dune.

    • C.

      Ocean spray provides Oxygen in the water that mists the dunes.

    • D.

      All of these.

    Correct Answer
    A. Ocean breezes provide a steady flow of wind.
    Explanation
    Ocean breezes provide a steady flow of wind, which helps to circulate and disperse oxygen in the dune habitat. The movement of air from the ocean brings fresh oxygen to the dunes, ensuring that there is a plentiful supply of oxygen for the dune plants and other organisms. This constant flow of oxygen is essential for the survival and thriving of the dune ecosystem.

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  • 15. 

    What do ghost crabs feed on?

    • A.

      Ghost crabs feed on decaying plant and animal remains that accumulate at the side lines.

    • B.

      Ghost crabs feed on insects and small crabs found on the ocean beach.

    • C.

      Ghost crabs feed on mole crabs and coquinas found at the shoreline.

    • D.

      Ghost crabs feed on dune plants and detritus found on the ocean beach.

    Correct Answer
    A. Ghost crabs feed on decaying plant and animal remains that accumulate at the side lines.

Quiz Review Timeline +

Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Mar 29, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • May 18, 2015
    Quiz Created by
    Rhaveno

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