Question

flood plains and deltas
figure a
usually, stream water stays in the channel. it does not flow onto its banks.
figure b
in times of heavy rain, however, the water may flow over its channel.
flood water deposits fine sediment on both banks of a stream. the sediment builds flood plains.
figure c

1. flood plain soil is very fertile. there are many good farms on flood plains. but the farmers are taking a big chance. why?

1. would you want to live on a flood plain?
2. explain why or why not.

Explanation:

Question 1

Flood plains are formed by stream flooding (as shown in Figure B, heavy rain causes water to overflow). So farmers on flood plains risk their crops, soil, and property being damaged by periodic floods when stream water overflows its channel, as flood events can destroy farmland, wash away crops, and harm agricultural infrastructure.

This is a personal choice question, but common considerations involve flood risks (from the text about flood plains forming via flooding) and benefits like fertile soil. A typical answer could be "No" (or "Yes" with reasoning), but "No" is more common due to flood risk.

If answering "No" (from Question 2), the reason is the risk of flooding (per Figure B and the text: heavy rain causes overflow, and floods can damage homes, property, and endanger lives. Even though soil is fertile for farms, for living, the risk of losing a home or safety issues from floods is a major drawback. If answering "Yes", one might say the fertile soil supports agriculture (so access to food, or potential for farming), but would need to address flood mitigation (like building flood - resistant structures).

Answer:

Farmers on flood plains take a big chance because during heavy rain (or flood events), the stream water can overflow its channel (as described for Figure B), leading to flooding. This flooding can damage crops, soil, and farming infrastructure, as the flood water may destroy plants, erode soil, or ruin equipment and storage for agricultural products.

Question 2