Question
Canyon Formation
Geoscience processes change the surface of Earth at various time and spatial scales. Some processes, such as the uplift of mountain ranges, occur over a long period of time. Others, such as volcanic eruption, occur over a short period of time. Processes can be small in scale like the weathering of a rock, or large in scale like the motion of Earth's plates.
In the formation of a canyon, moving water breaks down rock that is then transported away. The Colorado River has been forming the Grand Canyon in the United States for about 6 million years. The Grand Canyon now covers about 1,900 square miles. The picture shows how a canyon can form over millions of years.

Multiple Select Question
Based on the information in the passage, which two statements correctly compare other Earth processes to the formation of a canyon?
A.
A geochemical reaction in a rock creates changes on the same spatial scale.
B.
A volcanic eruption creates changes on a shorter time scale.
C.
The uplift of a mountain range creates changes on a smaller spatial scale.
D.
An earthquake creates changes on the same time scale.
E.
A landslide creates changes on a longer time scale.
F.
Plate motion creates changes on a larger spatial scale.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Based on the information in the passage, the two statements that correctly compare other Earth processes to the formation of a canyon are:
B. A volcanic eruption creates changes on a shorter time scale.
F. Plate motion creates changes on a larger spatial scale.
Statement B is correct because volcanic eruptions are events that occur relatively quickly compared to the long-term process of canyon formation by water erosion. Statement F is correct because plate motion occurs over large areas, influencing the Earth's surface on a much larger spatial scale compared to the localized formation of a canyon.
B. A volcanic eruption creates changes on a shorter time scale.
F. Plate motion creates changes on a larger spatial scale.
Statement B is correct because volcanic eruptions are events that occur relatively quickly compared to the long-term process of canyon formation by water erosion. Statement F is correct because plate motion occurs over large areas, influencing the Earth's surface on a much larger spatial scale compared to the localized formation of a canyon.