UK physical landscapes
Edexcel GCSE Geography revision on UK physical landscapes. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Geography B 1GB0 specification. This bank has 10 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 10)
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Question 1
Hydraulic action erodes a coastline by...
- A) Acidic seawater dissolving rock
- B) Pebbles smashing against the cliff
- C) Trapped air being compressed by waves
- D) Sand grains scraping the rock
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Answer: Trapped air being compressed by waves
Four types of coastal erosion: hydraulic action (air compressed in cracks), abrasion (rocks thrown against the cliff), attrition (rocks smashing into each other and rounding), and solution (chemical — acidic seawater dissolves limestone/chalk). Easy mnemonic: HAAS.
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Question 2
A waterfall typically forms where a river crosses a band of...
- A) Permeable rock over impermeable rock
- B) Hard rock over softer rock
- C) Soft rock over hard rock
- D) Two equally hard rocks
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Answer: Hard rock over softer rock
The softer rock below erodes faster, leaving the harder rock as an overhang. Eventually the overhang collapses, the waterfall retreats upstream, and a gorge forms behind it. Classic example: High Force, River Tees.
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Question 3
Longshore drift transports sediment...
- A) Out to sea
- B) Along a beach in a zig-zag pattern
- C) Inland up cliffs
- D) Onto the river beds
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Answer: Along a beach in a zig-zag pattern
Swash brings sediment up the beach at the wave's angle. Backwash returns it down the steepest gradient (perpendicular to coast). Net result: zig-zag movement along the beach in the dominant wind direction. Creates features like spits + bars; can also strip beaches if not managed (groynes are built to trap sediment).
Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?
7 more questions on UK physical landscapes — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Geography spec.