Water

The lake with the largest water volume is A. Lake Victoria B The lake with the largest water volume is A. Lake Victoria B. Lake Superior C. Lake Tanganyika D. Lake Baikal E. Lake Huron D

Levees do which of the following. I. prevent flooding II Levees do which of the following? I. prevent flooding II. cause flooding downstream III. prevent deposition of sediment on floodplains A. I only. B. II only. C. III only. D. II and III. E. I, II, and III. E

Dams are used for which of the following. I Dams are used for which of the following? I. Create reservoirs for drinking water. II. Power turbines that generate electricity. III. Better conditions for salmon migration. A. I only. B. II only. C. I and II. D. I and III. E. I, II, and III. C

Aqueducts present problems in the areas in which they are located Aqueducts present problems in the areas in which they are located. This may be due to the following: I. diversion from the natural river channel flow II. loss of water due to precipitation III. political problems due to of water location A. I only. B. II only. C. III only. D. I and III. E. I, II, and III. D

The problem with the distillation method of desalination is that A The problem with the distillation method of desalination is that A. the technology is not readily available. B. in the areas where it is needed, there is not enough salt water. C. it is energy intensive. D. it produces brine, unlike the reverse osmosis process. C

Reverse osmosis is preferable to distillation as a method of desalination because A. it produces less salty brine which is damaging to wildlife. B. the salt it produces can be deposited safely on land. C. the salt is safely returned to the ocean. D. the equipment is more efficient and often less costly. D

Water availability per capita throughout North Africa is approximately A. 15,000-70,000 m3 per capita per year. B. 6,000-15,000 m3 per capita per year. C. 1,700-2,500 m3 per capita per year. D. 1,000-1,700 m3 per capita per year. E. 0-1,000 m3 per capita per year. E

Furrow irrigation A. involves flooding an entire field. B Furrow irrigation A. involves flooding an entire field. B. involves dripping water near the roots of a plant. C. requires stripping old crops from a field. D. involves digging trenches and filling them with water. D

The greatest per capita water use in the world is seen in A. Canada B The greatest per capita water use in the world is seen in A. Canada B. United States C. South Africa D. Kenya E. China B

The oldest and least expensive type of irrigation is A The oldest and least expensive type of irrigation is A. spray irrigation. B. flood irrigation. C. furrow irrigation. D. drip irrigation. E. also the least water intensive type of irrigation. C

Hydroponic agriculture I. uses soil. II. uses a nutrient rich solution Hydroponic agriculture I. uses soil. II. uses a nutrient rich solution. III. uses little or no pesticides. A. I only. B. II only. C. I and II. D. II and III. E. I, II, and III. D

Household per capita use of water per day is greatest in A. Australia B. The United States C. Iraq D. India E. China A

You are selecting a new dishwasher. You do about 150 loads per year You are selecting a new dishwasher. You do about 150 loads per year. The less efficient model uses 9 gallons per load. The more efficient model uses 6 gallons per load. How many gallons of water will be saved over the course of one year? A. 45 B. 450 C. 4500 D. 45,000 E. 50 B

A method that has been implemented to reduce water use in dry climates such as Nevada is to A. prohibit people from planting grass on their lawns. B. pay people to plant native vegetation instead of grass on their lawns. C. prohibit use of washing machines during the day when energy use is at a peak. D. prohibit garden stores from selling vegetation that doesn’t naturally grow in dry climates. E. require watering lawns at night to reduce water loss from evaporation. B

In cultural eutrophication, game fish die from A. acid deposition. B In cultural eutrophication, game fish die from A. acid deposition. B. suffocation from lack of oxygen. C. toxic substances in the water. D. salt. E. loss of space. B

Human wastewater entering into bodies of water can be dangerous because I. It causes a drop in the biological oxygen demand II. It can lead to cultural eutrophication III. The wastewater can carry pathogens A. I only B. II only C. III only D. II and III only E. I, II, and III D

Which developed country only has imported cases of cholera. A Which developed country only has imported cases of cholera? A. country A B. country B C. country C D. country D E. country E E

Which country has no reported cases of cholera. A. country A B Which country has no reported cases of cholera? A. country A B. country B C. country C D. country D E. country E D

What is the first step of treating wastewater at a municipal sewage treatment plant? A. Use of bacteria to break down organic matter B. Solid waste material settles out C. Disinfection using chlorine or ozone D. Water is removed from sludge E. Water undergoes aeration to reduce offensive odors B

A country with approximately one sixth of the world’s population and reported incidences of cholera is A. country A B. country B C. country C D. country D E. country E D

Which of the following is a possible end result for sludge from a sewage treatment plant? I. Deposited in a landfill II. Incinerated III. Used as a fertilizer A. I only B. II only C. III only D. I and II only E. I, II, and III E

The SO2 emissions in 2009 are about half the amount of the emissions of A. 1980 B. 1990 C. 2000 D. 2006 E. 2008 C

The highest concentrations of mercury in 2008 are found A The highest concentrations of mercury in 2008 are found A. along the east coast B. along the west coast C. in the Midwest states D. in the desert southwest states E. along the Gulf of Mexico coast D

The term subsidence refers to A. failure of the groundwater supply. B The term subsidence refers to A. failure of the groundwater supply. B. accumulation of silt behind a dam. C. sinking of ground when water has been withdrawn. D. intrusion of salt water into a freshwater aquifer. E. loss of water due to evaporation. C

The state of Texas reports Hg concentrations between A The state of Texas reports Hg concentrations between A. 10 and 12 ng/L B. 10 and 14 ng/L C. 10 and 16 ng/L D. 9 and 16 ng/L E. 8 and 16 ng/L E

Which of the following is a nonpoint source of water pollution. A Which of the following is a nonpoint source of water pollution? A. sewage treatment plant B. electric power plant C. active and inactive coal mines D. logged forest E. factories D

The coastal area most likely to be affected by mercury in the ocean waters would be A. the northern Pacific B. the southern Pacific C. the Gulf of Mexico D. the northern Atlantic E. the southern Atlantic C

Which pollutant or pollutants are most likely to create eutrophic areas? A. nitrates and phosphates B. synthetic organic compounds C. heavy metals D. solid waste E. pharmaceuticals A

Methods used to remove spilled oil from the surface of the ocean include I. containment boom and oil vacuums II. chemical dispersants III. large screens A. I only B. II only C. I and II only D. I and III only E. I, II, and III C

when did the Acid Rain Program of the Clean Air Act go into effect. A when did the Acid Rain Program of the Clean Air Act go into effect? A. 1980 B. 1990 C. 1995 D. 2000 B

The material rotating in the North Pacific Gyre can best be described as A. solid waste composed of mostly plastics B. organic waste dumped from cruiseships C. medical waste dumped by the United States D. coal slag dumped by China E. solid waste from countries without landfills A

The Federal Water Pollution control Act of 1948 was the precursor legislation to the A. Endangered Species Act B. Clean Air Act C. Clean Water Act D. Cradle to Grave Legislation E. Superfund Act C

Throughout the world, the most water is used for A. irrigation. B Throughout the world, the most water is used for A. irrigation. B. industrial processes. C. needs of animals and humans. D. transportation. E. cooling towers of power plants. A

It can be interpreted from the graph that the greatest environmental threat due to acid deposition most likely occurred A. In the 1980s B. In the 1990s C. From 2000 to 2005 D. From 2005 to present A

The largest use of water in the western United States is A The largest use of water in the western United States is A. energy production. B. cooling. C. irrigation. D. hosing down livestock pens. E. manufacturing. C

Dams A. are relatively inexpensive to build. B Dams A. are relatively inexpensive to build. B. destroy agricultural land and scenic areas. C. facilitate migration of fish. D. provide downstream areas with nutrients. E. prevent flooding. B

Which lake has the least maximum depth. A. Lake Superior B Which lake has the least maximum depth? A. Lake Superior B. the Caspian Sea C. Lake Tanganyika D. Lake Baikal E. Lake Victoria E

One class of pollutants that can cause excessive growth of algae is A One class of pollutants that can cause excessive growth of algae is A. radioactive substances. B. oxygen-demanding wastes. C. inorganic plant nutrients. D. organic chemicals. E. sediment. C

The leading nonpoint source of water pollution is A The leading nonpoint source of water pollution is A. municipal landfills. B. runoff from city streets and storm sewers. C. agriculture. D. industrial wastes. E. leaks from offshore oil wells. C

The only effective way to protect groundwater is to A The only effective way to protect groundwater is to A. prevent contamination. B. use monitoring wells. C. cover all wells carefully. D. treat all water from underground sources. E. using advanced sewage treatment. A