Cliff

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cliff

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location?Ubiquitous geological formations found across diverse terrestrial and coastal environments globally
2. What is the primary formation mechanisms?Marine erosion, fluvial erosion, tectonic uplift, glacial carving, mass wasting
3. How do cliffs form at the coast?At the coast, waves crash against the rock, slowly wearing it away and sometimes breaking it off, which creates a cliff.
4. Why do birds like puffins live on cliffs?Puffins and other seabirds use cliff ledges to build nests because the height keeps predators away and gives them a good view of the sea.

Stratigraphy: The study of rock layers (strata) and their sequence to understand geological history.
Paleontology: The scientific study of fossils to understand prehistoric life and ancient ecosystems.
Lithology: The physical characteristics of a rock, such as its color, texture, and composition.
Tectonic Activity: Processes related to the movement and deformation of the Earth's crust, such as earthquakes and mountain building.