```html Class 9 Chapter 2 Test - English Medium | GSI MANTRA
GSI MANTRA

GSI MANTRA

Class 9 – Chapter 2 Test

Shaping of the Earth's Surface

English Medium | Academic Session 2026–27

📝 Chapter 2 – Practice & Assessment Test

Subject: Social Science – Geography

Total Questions: 50

Level: Advanced

Instructions: Read each question carefully and select the most appropriate option. For Matching, Arrangement and Assertion–Reason questions, choose the correct option from the alternatives provided.

PART A – MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. Which statement best explains why the Earth's surface has such a great variety of landforms?

(A) Only rainfall shapes the Earth's surface
(B) Only volcanic activity shapes the Earth's surface
(C) Internal and external geomorphic processes act together over time
(D) Only ocean currents are responsible

2. Processes originating within the Earth are generally known as:

(A) Exogenic processes
(B) Endogenic processes
(C) Biological processes
(D) Depositional processes

3. What is the most important distinction between weathering and erosion?

(A) Both are exactly the same process
(B) Weathering breaks down or alters rock in place, whereas erosion involves removal and transport
(C) Erosion occurs only underground
(D) Weathering occurs only in oceans

4. Which of the following can act as an agent of erosion?

(A) Running water
(B) Wind
(C) Glaciers
(D) All of the above

5. When a river deposits the material carried by it, the process is called:

(A) Weathering
(B) Deposition
(C) Folding
(D) Faulting

6. Why is the movement of tectonic plates important in the formation of mountains?

(A) It changes only atmospheric temperature
(B) It can create compression, uplift and deformation of the crust
(C) It produces rainfall directly
(D) It stops ocean currents

7. A boundary where two tectonic plates move towards each other is called:

(A) Divergent boundary
(B) Convergent boundary
(C) Transform boundary
(D) Passive boundary

8. Which process is commonly associated with divergent plate boundaries?

(A) Formation of new crust
(B) Only coastal erosion
(C) River deposition
(D) Soil formation

9. What is characteristic of a transform plate boundary?

(A) Plates move away from each other
(B) Plates move towards each other
(C) Plates slide horizontally past one another
(D) Plates remain completely stationary

10. Why does plate tectonic theory help explain the occurrence of earthquakes?

(A) Earthquakes are often associated with movement and stress along plate boundaries
(B) Earthquakes are caused only by rainfall
(C) Earthquakes are caused only by rivers
(D) Earthquakes are unrelated to the Earth's crust

11. Which landform may develop as a result of volcanic activity?

(A) Volcanic cone
(B) Delta only
(C) Beach only
(D) Floodplain only

12. In the upper course of a river, a steep gradient generally favours:

(A) Strong vertical erosion
(B) Marine deposition
(C) Coastal deposition
(D) Wind deposition

13. When the velocity of a river decreases, what is likely to increase?

(A) Deposition
(B) Volcanic activity
(C) Earthquake frequency
(D) Plate movement

14. The scraping and grinding action of moving ice against rock is associated with:

(A) Glacial erosion
(B) Marine deposition
(C) Wind deposition
(D) Volcanic eruption

15. A U-shaped valley is most commonly associated with:

(A) Glacial erosion
(B) River deposition
(C) Wind erosion
(D) Marine deposition

16. A V-shaped valley is generally associated with:

(A) Vertical erosion by a river
(B) Glacial deposition
(C) Marine deposition
(D) Lava deposition

17. Wind erosion is generally more effective in:

(A) Dry areas with sparse vegetation
(B) Dense tropical forests
(C) Extremely humid areas only
(D) Permanently ice-covered regions

18. The accumulation of sand transported by wind is an example of:

(A) Wind deposition
(B) Glacial erosion
(C) Endogenic activity
(D) Seismic activity

19. Continuous cutting of a coastline by powerful waves is an example of:

(A) Coastal erosion
(B) Glacial deposition
(C) Volcanic deposition
(D) Plate divergence

20. Why is the study of present-day processes alone sometimes insufficient to understand a landform?

(A) Landforms are often the result of processes operating over long periods
(B) All landforms form within a single day
(C) Only weather creates landforms
(D) Landforms never change

21. Which pair correctly matches an internal force with its possible effect?

(A) Plate movement — mountain building
(B) Wind — volcanic eruption
(C) River erosion — plate movement
(D) Glacier — main cause of earthquakes

22. If vegetation cover is greatly reduced, which process may become more intense?

(A) Soil erosion
(B) Plate movement
(C) Volcanic activity everywhere
(D) Earth's rotation

23. Which statement best describes the role of water in shaping landforms?

(A) Water only deposits material
(B) Water only erodes material
(C) Water can erode, transport and deposit material
(D) Water has no geomorphic role

24. Which landform may develop from the deposition of sediments near the mouth of a river?

(A) Delta
(B) Volcanic cone
(C) U-shaped valley
(D) Arete

25. Which approach provides the most comprehensive understanding of landform development?

(A) Studying only one process
(B) Studying the interaction of different geomorphic processes
(C) Studying only maps
(D) Studying only present weather conditions

PART B – MATCH THE FOLLOWING

26. Match Column I with Column II.

Column I Column II
1. River a. U-shaped valley
2. Glacier b. Sand deposits
3. Wind c. V-shaped valley
4. Sea waves d. Coastal erosion
5. Plate movement e. Mountain building / seismic activity
(A) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-d, 5-e
(B) 1-a, 2-c, 3-d, 4-b, 5-e
(C) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a, 4-e, 5-d
(D) 1-d, 2-a, 3-c, 4-b, 5-e

27. Match the process with the most appropriate description.

Column I Column II
1. Weathering a. Removal and transport
2. Erosion b. Breakdown of rock in place
3. Transportation c. Movement of sediments
4. Deposition d. Settling of transported material
(A) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-d
(B) 1-a, 2-b, 3-d, 4-c
(C) 1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b
(D) 1-d, 2-c, 3-b, 4-a

28. Match the plate boundary with its characteristic movement.

Column I Column II
1. Convergent a. Plates move apart
2. Divergent b. Plates move towards each other
3. Transform c. Plates slide past one another
(A) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
(B) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
(C) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
(D) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a

29. Match the landform with the process most closely associated with it.

Column I Column II
1. V-shaped valley a. Glacial erosion
2. U-shaped valley b. River erosion
3. Delta c. River deposition
4. Sand dune d. Wind deposition
(A) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-d
(B) 1-a, 2-b, 3-d, 4-c
(C) 1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b
(D) 1-d, 2-c, 3-b, 4-a

30. Match the agent with its characteristic geomorphic role.

Column I Column II
1. Running water a. Glacial erosion
2. Wind b. River erosion and deposition
3. Glacier c. Aeolian erosion and deposition
4. Sea waves d. Coastal erosion
(A) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-d
(B) 1-c, 2-b, 3-d, 4-a
(C) 1-a, 2-d, 3-c, 4-b
(D) 1-d, 2-a, 3-b, 4-c

PART C – ARRANGE IN THE CORRECT ORDER

31. Arrange the basic stages involved in the movement of river sediments.

1. Transportation
2. Erosion
3. Deposition

(A) 1–2–3
(B) 2–1–3
(C) 3–2–1
(D) 2–3–1

32. Arrange the following processes in a logical sequence of external geomorphic activity.

1. Transportation
2. Erosion
3. Deposition

(A) 2–1–3
(B) 1–3–2
(C) 3–1–2
(D) 2–3–1

33. Arrange the following events related to convergence of tectonic plates.

1. Plates move towards each other
2. Compression develops
3. Crust undergoes deformation or uplift

(A) 1–2–3
(B) 2–1–3
(C) 3–2–1
(D) 1–3–2

34. Arrange the main sections of a river from source to mouth.

1. Upper course
2. Middle course
3. Lower course

(A) 3–2–1
(B) 1–2–3
(C) 2–3–1
(D) 1–3–2

35. Arrange the following stages of long-term surface modification.

1. Weathering / erosion
2. Transportation
3. Deposition
4. Development of a modified landform

(A) 1–2–3–4
(B) 4–3–2–1
(C) 2–1–4–3
(D) 3–2–1–4

PART D – ASSERTION AND REASON

36. Assertion (A): Rivers can continuously modify the Earth's surface.

Reason (R): Running water can erode, transport and deposit material.

(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true, but R is false.
(D) A is false, but R is true.

37. Assertion (A): Wind erosion can be particularly effective in dry regions.

Reason (R): Sparse vegetation allows loose surface material to be more easily picked up and transported by wind.

(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true, but R is false.
(D) A is false, but R is true.

38. Assertion (A): Glaciers can significantly modify valleys.

Reason (R): Moving glaciers can erode rocks and transport rock fragments.

(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true, but R is false.
(D) A is false, but R is true.

39. Assertion (A): Plate tectonics is important for understanding the development of major landforms.

Reason (R): Movement of plates can generate compression, stress and deformation within the crust.

(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true, but R is false.
(D) A is false, but R is true.

40. Assertion (A): Deposition takes place only through rivers.

Reason (R): Wind and glaciers can also transport and deposit material.

(A) Both A and R are true.
(B) Both A and R are false.
(C) A is false, but R is true.
(D) A is true, but R is false.

PART E – ADVANCED LEVEL MCQs

41. If the gradient of a river suddenly decreases, which change is most likely to occur?

(A) The river's erosive power will always increase
(B) Reduced velocity may favour deposition
(C) The river will immediately disappear
(D) The plate boundary will change

42. Suppose vegetation cover is drastically reduced in a dry region with strong winds. What is the most likely consequence?

(A) Increased wind erosion
(B) Increased glacial erosion
(C) Complete cessation of deposition
(D) Convergence of tectonic plates

43. A region experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. Which explanation is most appropriate?

(A) The region may be associated with tectonic plate activity
(B) The region must have very high rainfall
(C) The region is controlled only by river deposition
(D) The region must be a desert

44. A valley has a broad U-shaped profile with relatively steep sides. Which process most likely produced it?

(A) Glacial erosion
(B) River deposition
(C) Wind deposition
(D) Marine deposition

45. If erosion continues at a rate greater than deposition for a long period, what is the likely net effect?

(A) Net removal of surface material
(B) Universal increase in land elevation
(C) Formation of volcanoes everywhere
(D) Stoppage of Earth's rotation

46. If weathering, erosion and deposition are all occurring in the same region, what does this indicate?

(A) The landscape is part of a dynamic geomorphic system
(B) No surface change is occurring
(C) Only internal forces are operating
(D) Only climate is responsible

47. Which statement best demonstrates the interrelationship among geomorphic processes?

(A) Material may be weathered or eroded, transported and eventually deposited
(B) All geomorphic processes operate independently
(C) Deposited material can never be moved again
(D) Only endogenic processes are significant

48. If two tectonic plates are moving away from each other, which combination is most appropriate?

(A) Divergent boundary and formation of new crust
(B) Convergent boundary and compression
(C) Transform boundary and deposition only
(D) No geomorphic effect is possible

49. If the energy of waves acting on a coastline increases significantly, which process is most likely to intensify?

(A) Coastal erosion
(B) Glacial deposition
(C) Wind activity will completely stop
(D) River flow will reverse everywhere

50. Which conclusion provides the most comprehensive explanation of the shaping of the Earth's surface?

(A) Landforms are created by only one process
(B) The Earth's surface develops through the long-term interaction of internal and external processes
(C) Only human activities create landforms
(D) Landforms are permanent and cannot change

📌 Final Instructions

Attempt all 50 questions carefully. Review your answers after completing the test. The questions are designed to assess conceptual understanding, application and higher-order thinking.

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