Question

​​Which is an example of a physical characteristic of a place?​ Explain why you chose your answer.
Responses

​the annual profits of a local mining operation
​

​​a planned suburban office park

​​the historical census data of a town​

​a river whose path shifts from year to year

Answer 1

Of the given options, a river whose path shifts from year to year is an example of a physical characteristic of a place. This is because the path of a river is a natural feature that can vary over time due to geological and environmental factors, such as erosion, sediment deposition, and changes in water flow. The shifting path of a river influences the physical landscape of the surrounding area, impacting the landforms and vegetation in its vicinity. Thus, the changing course of a river is an observable and tangible attribute of a place that can have significant implications for the ecosystem and human activities in that area.