Environmental Science Air and Water Pollution Review

Which of the following processes is NOT part of the water cycle?

• evaporation

• condensation

• biomagnification

• precipitation

Most of the fresh water on Earth is

• located underground in aquifers.

• frozen in the polar icecaps.

• located in rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands.

• found in Earth's atmosphere.

Which of the following processes is NOT used in a conventional method of water treatment?

• filtration

• coagulation

• aeration

• percolation

Which of the following is NOT an example of point-source pollution?

• oil that is escaping from a damaged tanker

• heavy metals that are leaching out of an underground mine

• water runoff from residential lawns

• untreated sewage that is accidentally released from a wastewater treatment plant

Which of the following pollutants causes artificial eutrophication?

• heavy metals from unlined landfills

• inorganic plant nutrients from wastewater and fertilizer runoff

• toxic chemicals from factories

• radioactive waste from nuclear power plants

Pumping large amounts of water from an aquifer may cause the

• water table to rise.

• recharge zone to shrink.

• wells in an area to run dry.

• percolation of groundwater to stop.

Oil pollution in the ocean is mostly caused by

• major oil spills, such as the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.

• the cumulative effect of small oil spills and leaks on land.

• decomposed plastic materials.

• intentional dumping of excess oil.

Thermal pollution has a harmful effect on aquatic environments because

• water has been circulated around power-plant generators.

• it increases the number of disease-causing organisms in aquatic environments.

• it reduces the amount of dissolved oxygen in aquatic environments.

• it decreases the nutrient levels in aquatic environments.

Which of the following air pollutants is NOT a primary pollutant?

• particulate matter

• ozone

• sulfur dioxide

• volatile organic compounds

A device used to clean exhaust gases before they exit an automobile's tailpipe is called a(n)

• electrostatic precipitator

• catalytic converter

• scrubber

• sponge