What type of slope failure includes rockslides and landslides?

Slides refer to a type of slope failure that encompasses both rockslides and landslides. This category is specifically characterized by the movement of rock or soil down a slope due to gravity. The distinction comes from the coherent mass of material that slides along a defined surface, which can be a natural fault, a fracture, or even a surface created by human activity. Rockslides involve the rapid falling of rocks, whereas landslides can involve a mix of earth materials moving down a slope, potentially triggered by factors such as heavy rainfall, earthquakes, or human activity.

In contrast, structural failure generally relates to the breakdown of manmade structures, which doesn't apply to natural slope movements. Heaves involve the upward movement of soil and rock, often due to freeze-thaw cycles, and are not classified as slides. Creep describes a very slow, gradual movement of the surface soil and is different from the more rapid and distinct movements categorized as slides. Thus, slides effectively capture the sudden and relatively sharp failures of material along a slope, making it the correct answer.