APES Practice Test Midterm

Front

What is the goal of the second stage of a wastewater treatment plant?

Back

The goal is to lower the amount of organic material in the water.

Front

What type of plate boundary is characterized by seafloor spreading and rift valleys?

Back

The Antarctic–Pacific boundary.

Front

What substance, when added to a solution, would lead to an increase in pH?

Back

Limestone.

Front

What causes oxygen-depleted zones in oceans, such as at the mouth of the Mississippi River?

Back

Excessive fertilizers carried into the ocean, which cause algal blooms that lower the oxygen levels.

Front

What is the highest priority of the Clean Water Act?

Back

To attain fishable and swimmable waters in the United States.

Front

Define 'seafloor spreading'.

Back

Seafloor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and gradually moves away from the ridge.

Front

What are algal blooms and why are they problematic?

Back

Algal blooms are rapid increases in algae in water bodies, often due to nutrient pollution, leading to oxygen depletion and harm to aquatic life.

Front

What is the significance of the Clean Water Act?

Back

It establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into U.S. waters and aims to ensure water quality.

Front

Explain the term 'dead zone' in marine environments.

Back

A dead zone is an area in a body of water where oxygen levels are so low that marine life cannot survive.

Front

What role do fertilizers play in water pollution?

Back

Fertilizers can run off into water bodies, leading to nutrient pollution that causes algal blooms and oxygen depletion.