Lesson 3.1.1.1

3.1.1.1 Water and carbon cycles as natural systems Quiz: AQA Geography, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.1.1.1, Water and carbon cycles as natural systems: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Geography (7037), Unit 1: Physical geography, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which term describes a component where energy or matter accumulates in a system?

    • Transfer
    • Boundary
    • Flow
    • Store

  2. Which state describes a system whose inputs and outputs balance around a stable average?

    • Dynamic equilibrium
    • Threshold state
    • Static equilibrium
    • Positive feedback

  3. Which system type allows energy to transfer across its boundary, but not matter?

    • Closed system
    • Static system
    • Isolated system
    • Open system

  4. Which process counteracts changes in a physical system to restore equilibrium?

    • Negative feedback
    • Dynamic equilibrium
    • Dynamic threshold
    • Positive feedback

  5. Which process amplifies an initial change within a natural system?

    • Carbon sequestration
    • Positive feedback
    • Negative feedback
    • Dynamic equilibrium

  6. Which feature acts as an open physical geography system?

    • Sealed terrarium
    • Closed mesocosm
    • The Earth
    • Drainage basin

  7. What term describes the movement of energy or matter between system stores?

    • Boundary
    • Flow
    • Store
    • Component

  8. A store receives 35 units and loses 15 units annually. What is its net change?

    • +15 units
    • +50 units
    • -20 units
    • +20 units

  9. A store receives 60 units daily and loses 60 units daily. What state is it in?

    • Steady state
    • Positive feedback
    • Declining state
    • Dynamic threshold

  10. What term describes water held temporarily within a river channel?

    • Interception storage
    • Channel storage
    • Surface storage
    • Groundwater storage

  11. Which system mechanism acts to return a disturbed system towards equilibrium?

    • Positive feedback
    • Negative feedback
    • Dynamic threshold
    • System output

  12. A lake gains 120 m³ water daily and loses 110 m³ total. What is the net storage change?

    • -10 m³
    • +10 m³
    • -230 m³
    • +230 m³

  13. What mass balance state exists when glacial ablation exceeds accumulation?

    • Positive mass balance
    • Negative mass balance
    • Dynamic equilibrium
    • Steady state

  14. Which of the following is an input to a physical geography system?

    • Soil erosion
    • River discharge
    • Thermal radiation
    • Solar insolation

  15. An ice sheet gains 5 km³ ice annually and loses 2 km³. What is the net annual change?

    • -7 km³
    • +3 km³
    • +7 km³
    • -3 km³

  16. How does negative feedback affect a system experiencing change?

    • Increases change
    • Counteracts change
    • Amplifies change
    • Freezes flows

  17. What characterises dynamic equilibrium in a physical system?

    • Fixed unchanging state
    • Fluctuating mean state
    • Zero energy transfers
    • Uncontrolled positive feedback

  18. What primary effect does a positive feedback loop have on a system?

    • Amplifies change
    • Restores original balance
    • Maintains equilibrium
    • Counteracts change

  19. What happens to system storage when outputs exceed inputs?

    • Stores remain constant
    • Stores decrease
    • Equilibrium is reached
    • Stores increase

  20. What causes physical geography systems to constantly fluctuate around a baseline?

    • Fluctuating inputs
    • Constant insolation
    • Static outputs
    • Zero feedback loops

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