CHAPTER 11—WATER RESOURCES AND WATER POLLUTION
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Water that is used for crop irrigation in southern California’s Imperial Valley originates as snowmelt
in the
a.
Sierra Nevada mountain range
b.
Tehachapi mountain range of southern California
c.
Rocky Mountains
d.
springs that feed the Colorado River in nearby Arizona
e.
Cascade Mountain range
2. The Colorado River system can be said to provide water and electricity for
a.
one of every ten people in the United States
b.
1% of people in the United States
c.
5% of people in the United States
d.
10 million people in the United States
e.
The Colorado River does not provide electricity, but provides water for 10% of the U.S.
population
3. Which of the following statements about the Colorado River is not true?
a.
14 major dams and reservoirs have been built along the river
b.
the system has experienced severe drought since 1999
c.
it provides resources to people in 7 states
d.
part of the upper basin originates in the state of Wyoming
e.
the river still delivers the same amount of water to the sea in the Gulf of California
4. Lake Powell
a.
is a reservoir behind Hoover Dam and is the second largest reservoir in the U.S.
b.
is a reservoir behind Hoover Dam and is the largest reservoir in the U.S.
c.
is a reservoir behind Glen Canyon Dam and is the largest reservoir in the U.S.
d.
is a reservoir behind Glen Canyon Dam and is the second largest reservoir in the U.S.
e.
is behind Hoover Dam and Lake Mead is behind Glen Canyon Dam
5. Water covers about ____% of the Earth’s surface.
a.
51
b.
61
c.
71
d.
81
e.
91
6. A water resource that would be categorized as nonrenewable would be
a.
water vapor in the atmosphere
b.
Precipitation
c.
surface water in lakes and streams
d.
confined aquifers
e.
Snowpack
7. That portion of surface runoff that we can generally count on as a stable source of freshwater from
year to year is best described as
a.
surface water
b.
drainage basin
c.
reliable runoff
d.
watershed
e.
precipitation
8. Ultimately, which of the following is the source of energy that continually drives the hydrologic cycle?
a.
Gravity
b.
energy from the sun and gravity
c.
Electricity
d.
geothermal energy
e.
Wind
9. Virtual water is water
a.
that exists only in deep underground aquifers
b.
that we hope to be able to draw on in coming years
c.
that is not directly consumed but is used to provide us with food and other consumer
products
d.
that comes as precipitation in desert areas
e.
that is predicted to be in runoff from snowfields at high altitudes
10. We can say that the United States has _____________freshwater scarcity stress
a.
No
b.
very little or minimal
c.
Average
d.
Spotty
e.
Widespread
11. Worldwide, about 70% of the water withdrawn each year is used for
a.
industrial processes
b.
cooling towers of power plants
c.
irrigation of croplands and raising livestock
d.
domestic use
e.
water theme parks in tourist areas
12. In the western United States, as compared to the eastern United States, the major water problem(s) is
(are)
a.
Flooding
b.
insufficient water for some urban areas
c.
chronic drought and insufficient runoff
d.
pollution of rivers, lakes, and groundwater
e.
insufficient water for industry
13. Which of the following statements is false?
a.
The top of the groundwater zone is the water table.
b.
The recharge of aquifers below cities is very efficient because of storm drains.
c.
In the zone of saturation, spaces in rock and soil are completely filled with water.
d.
Rivers of underground water are sometimes found in caverns in aquifers.
e.
More than one of these choices is false.
14. The amount of water needed to produce the amount of beef in one single hamburger (most of which is
used to grow the grain to feed cattle) is approximately
a.
the same volume as the hamburger is
b.
10 gallons
c.
16 gallons
d.
10 bathtubs full of water
e.
16 bathtubs full of water
15. The Ogallala is which of the following?
a.
a massive desalination plant in the Middle East
b.
the world’s largest known aquifer
c.
a pumping station drawing fresh water from the Great Lakes for use in the S.W. United
States
d.
a large body of water in Russia that has almost completely dried up
e.
a river in the Middle East that flows into the Mediterranean Sea, and has the potential to
become dried up due to extensive irrigation systems
16. Which of the following is not a way to prevent groundwater depletion?
a.
waste less water
b.
subsidize water conservation
c.
limit the number of wells
d.
do not grow water intensive crops in dry areas
e.
tax water pumped from wells near surface waters
17. Large dams and reservoirs
a.
reduce danger of flooding upstream
b.
disrupt migration and spawning of fish
c.
cannot be used for outdoor recreation
d.
can be used to provide electric power
e.
two of these answers are correct
18. Which of the following statements about the Aral Sea is false?
a.
Water has been diverted from the Aral Sea and the two rivers that replenish its water for
use in manufacturing.
b.
The volume of the Aral Sea has dropped by 90%.
c.
The salinity levels have risen dramatically.
d.
Most native fish species have disappeared.
e.
Salts carried by the wind from the dried up lake basin are negatively impacting local
crops.
19. Currently, in the United States, groundwater is being withdrawn ____ times faster than it is being
replaced.
a.
2
b.
4
c.
8
d.
10
e.
20
20. In 2008, Saudi Arabia announced that it will stop producing wheat by 2016 and will from that point on
import wheat to feed its 29 million people. This decision has been made because
a.
its major deep aquifer has been depleted by drawing water for irrigation
b.
multiple years of severe droughts have depleted the water table
c.
this very rich, oil-financed economy can easily import food rather than grow its own
d.
desalinization of sea water around Saudi Arabia has contaminated local freshwater
reserves
e.
oil seepage from oil fields has contaminated local freshwater reserves
21. Which of the following statements about desalination is true?
a.
The common methods of desalination are reverse osmosis and transpiration.
b.
Desalination is expensive.
c.
The removed salt can be dumped back into the ocean with no real concerns.
d.
Desalination is the best approach to solving irrigation problems.
e.
Desalination is the best method of acquiring clear water for drinking.
22. It is most economically and environmentally sound to focus water resource management on
a.
increasing the water supply
b.
controlling the “mining” of groundwater
c.
reducing unnecessary waste of water
d.
developing desalination plants
e.
cloud seeding and towing icebergs to arid regions
23. Saltwater intrusion into freshwater (drinking water) supplies can occur when
a.
land subsidence occurs
b.
snowpack is used as drinking water in areas close to saltwater bodies
c.
groundwater is withdrawn near saltwater bodies
d.
water is drawn from desert lakes to irrigate crops
e.
runoff of agricultural fields drains into wells
24. Conflicts within and between countries over scarce water supplies is expected to be most severe in
a.
industrialized, developed countries
b.
South America
c.
the United Kingdom
d.
the Middle East and part of Asia
e.
all of these countries
25. In some areas of the Ogallala aquifer, water is being pumped
a.
four times faster than it is being replenished
b.
at the same rate it is being replenished
c.
10 to 40 times faster than it is being replenished
d.
It is not possible to determine this, since the aquifer is so far below ground.
e.
The Ogallala is not being pumped at this point in time due to a Federal court decision.
26. Solutions to the increasing problem with water shortages in central and southern California include
a.
reducing water waste by improving irrigation efficiency
b.
not growing water-thirsty crops in this arid climate
c.
raising the historically low cost of water to encourage water conservation
d.
educating water users as the value of this precious resource
e.
reducing water waste by improving irrigation efficiency, not growing water-thirsty crops
in this arid climate and raising the historically low cost of water to encourage conservation
27. According to the World Resources Institute, what percentage of the water that people use throughout
the world is unnecessarily wasted?
a.
one-tenth
b.
one-third
c.
one-fourth
d.
one-half
e.
two-thirds
28. Which of the following is true of flood irrigation?
a.
It relies solely on water that falls directly on the crop fields in the form of precipitation.
b.
It results in 40% inefficient loss of the water applied.
c.
It is the primary form of irrigation used in China.
d.
It results in 40% inefficient loss of the water applied and it is the primary form of
irrigation used in China.
e.
At this time, it is the most efficient way to irrigate, from all of the known methods.
29. Which of the following is the most efficient form of irrigation?
a.
flood irrigation
b.
center-pivot irrigation
c.
low pressure irrigation
d.
precision sprinkler irrigation
e.
micro irrigation
30. According to water resource experts, what are the two main causes of water waste?
a.
lack of government subsidies for improving the efficiency of water use and ignorance
about the amount of water being wasted
b.
low cost of water to users and lack of government subsidies for improving the efficiency
of water use
c.
lack of desire to conserve water and knowledge that there is actually enough water on the
planet to supply all uses
d.
lack of information about efficient irrigation systems and lack of regulation of water use
e.
There is a single main cause of water waste and it is the lack of regulation of water use.
31. The smart card water manager system that is used in ___________has typically reduced water and
electricity use, and has reduced household water bills by about _______%
a.
Singapore, 10%
b.
Beijing, 40%
c.
Singapore, 40%
d.
Brazil, 10%
e.
Brazil, 40%
32. According to the United Nations, from 30% to 60% of all water supplied in all of the world’s major
cities in developing countries is
a.
used for crop irrigation
b.
lost through leakage of water mains, pipes, pumps, and valves
c.
recycled as grey water
d.
used for watering landscaping
e.
polluted
33. Which of the following actions will help to decrease the single greatest use of domestic water in the
United States?
a.
use a drip system in your garden
b.
use a low-flow shower head
c.
use native plants in your landscaping that do not require a lot of extra water
d.
install a water-saving toilet tank
e.
use grey water to water your houseplants
34. Benefits of floods include all of the following except
a.
provision of productive farmland
b.
refilling of wetlands
c.
recharging of groundwater
d.
filling up of soil air spaces to prevent oxidation of nutrients
e.
supporting biodiversity
35. Floodplains usually contain
a.
highly productive wetlands
b.
debris that has been deposited during floods
c.
high concentrations of agricultural chemical runoff
d.
pest insect populations
e.
nutrient poor soil
36. Floods and droughts are
a.
strictly natural disasters
b.
influenced by human activities
c.
decreased by increases in human population
d.
independent of human activity
e.
always predictable and cyclic
37. Humans increase the likelihood of flooding by all of the following activities except
a.
building on wetlands
b.
draining wetlands
c.
removing water-absorbing vegetation
d.
building a park on a riverbank
e.
building levees
38. Which of the following human activities is thought to be directly linked to why the damage from
Hurricane Katrina was so devastating to the city of New Orleans?
a.
the overdraft of groundwater from the region
b.
the implementation of xeriscaping in the region
c.
the degradation or removal of coastal wetlands in the region
d.
the conversion of forests into land used for agriculture
e.
the channelization of streams nearby
39. All of the following are actions that the country of Bangladesh is implementing to adapt to sea level
rises due to climate change except
a.
using varieties of rice that can better tolerate flooding
b.
shifting to new crops such as maize
c.
building small ponds that can collect monsoon rainwater to be used for irrigation during
dry periods
d.
creating a network of earthen embankments to protect against high tides
e.
develop a system of capturing wave action during monsoons to run small, local power
plants
40. To reduce flooding risks, an environmentalist is most likely to choose
a.
floodplain management
b.
a flood control dam
c.
channelization of streams
d.
artificial levees
e.
artificial levees combined with channelization of streams
41. All of the following are nonpoint sources of water pollution except
a.
offshore oil wells
b.
livestock feedlots
c.
urban lands
d.
Croplands
e.
parking lots
42. Which of the following is a point source of pollution?
a.
acid deposition
b.
urban streets
c.
oil tankers
d.
suburban lawns
e.
parking lots
43. Which of the following statements is false?
a.
Heat lowers dissolved oxygen in streams and rivers.
b.
Organic wastes that can be decomposed by aerobic bacteria reduce the amount of oxygen
in the water supply.
c.
Toxic chemicals released from industries can result in fish kills.
d.
Inorganic nutrients such as fertilizers have no adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems.
e.
Sediment can cloud water and reduce photosynthesis.
44. Nitrates and phosphates are examples of
a.
disease-causing agents
b.
oxygen-demanding wastes
c.
organic chemicals
d.
plant nutrients
e.
Sediment
45. Acids, salts, and metals are examples of
a.
oxygen-demanding wastes
b.
organic plant nutrients
c.
inorganic plant nutrients
d.
inorganic chemicals
e.
sediment
46. One class of pollutants that can cause excessive growth of algae is
a.
radioactive substances
b.
oxygen-demanding wastes
c.
plant nutrients
d.
organic chemicals
e.
Sediment
47. Which of the following decrease(s) photosynthesis in bodies of water?
a.
disease-causing organisms
b.
inorganic plant nutrients
c.
sediment such as soil or silt
d.
heat
e.
organic chemicals
48. An oxygen sag curve occurs when
a.
Fish population numbers sag.
b.
Heavy metals that have entered a stream bind oxygen molecules and remove them from
the available oxygen supply.
c.
The breakdown of biodegradable wastes by bacteria lowers the available oxygen in the
water for organisms with high oxygen requirements.
d.
Carbon dioxide values exceed dissolved oxygen values.
e.
Oxygen content in the air around a particular body of water becomes slightly lower than
normal
49. Which of the following statements is false?
a.
Rivers are more vulnerable than lakes to contamination by plant nutrients, oil, toxins, and
pesticides.
b.
Lakes are more susceptible to pollution because of little water flow.
c.
Eutrophication is a natural process and can occur without the influence of humans.
d.
Human activities can induce cultural eutrophication.
e.
Eutrophication is caused by inputs of nutrients from the surrounding land basin.
50. Which of the following developments of cultural eutrophication would occur last?
a.
fish kills
b.
blooms of algae
c.
increase in aerobic bacteria
d.
increase of plants such as duckweed
e.
increase in anaerobic bacteria
51. About ____ of the 100,000 medium to large lakes in the U.S. suffer from cultural eutrophication.
a.
one-fifth
b.
one-fourth
c.
one-third
d.
one-half
e.
one-tenth
52. Assume you are vacationing by a small lake, where you intend to do some fishing. When you arrive at
this lake, you notice a slight sulfur smell. Which phase of cultural eutrophication does this sulfur smell
indicate?
a.
An algal bloom.
b.
Anaerobic bacteria are decomposing the aerobic organisms.
c.
Aerobic bacteria are decomposing the algae.
d.
Fish have died from lack of oxygen.
e.
Insect populations in the lake are dying off.
53. Groundwater
a.
has turbulent flows that dilute pollutants
b.
has large populations of decomposing bacteria that break down degradable wastes
c.
is cold, which slows down decomposition rates
d.
may take five to ten years to cleanse itself of wastes
e.
is quickly renewable
54. _______________________ is the only effective way to protect groundwater.
a.
pollution prevention
b.
community-based local clean up
c.
bioremediation
d.
sewage treatment
e.
stream restoration
55. The practice of suspending rust particles in contaminated water, and then drawing out the rust with
hand-held magnets, has been effective in dealing with
a.
DDT contaminated water
b.
arsenic contaminated water
c.
oil contaminated water
d.
heavy metal contaminated water
e.
acidified water secondary to acid rain