Spits are formed by

1. Analyze the question The question asks which process forms a spit, a coastal depositional landform. (Option C's "long share drift" is a typo for longshore drift.)

2. Explain the concept A spit is a long, narrow ridge of sand or shingle attached to the land at one end, with the other end projecting into the sea or across a bay or river mouth. It forms through deposition, not erosion.

• Longshore drift: Waves approach the beach at an angle (oblique) because of the prevailing wind. The swash carries sand and pebbles up the beach at that angle. The backwash pulls them straight back down the slope under gravity. The material therefore zigzags along the coast in one direction.
• Wave deposition: Where the coastline changes direction suddenly (at a bay, an estuary, or a river mouth), longshore drift keeps moving material straight ahead. The waves lose energy there and deposit the load in the sheltered water. Over time the deposits build up into a ridge that extends out into the sea.

3. Solution, step by step

1. A spit is a depositional feature, so we can rule out B (wave erosion).
2. Ocean currents and trade winds (A) and westerly winds (D) are broad climate and circulation factors. They are not the direct process that builds a spit.
3. The direct process is longshore drift transporting material, followed by wave deposition where the coast bends. This matches C.

4. Answer **C. Longshore drift and wave deposition.

5. Exam tip Remember the chain "Drift, then Deposit = Spit." Examples include the Lagos coast sand spits, such as the Lekki and Badagry coastal ridges, where longshore drift moves sand eastward. Also note that bars and tombolos are formed by the same process, and a spit that grows across a bay completely becomes a bar.