Chapter 26: Aral Sea: Central Asia's Shrinking Water Source

Water stress is best defined as which of the following?

• a long-term shortage of water

• the excess use of water supplies

• the poisoning of water by pollution

• a flood of water due to heavy rainfall

What is the main cause of the shrinking of the Aral Sea?

• the decreased number of fish living in the sea

• the increased use of water from the sea by local towns

• the decreased precipitation in the region around the sea

• the increased use of rivers flowing into the sea for irrigation

What happens to water during salinization?

• It evaporates.

• It becomes salty.

• It soaks into the soil.

• It turns green with algae.

Which of these is most likely a result of environmental degradation?

• extreme weather conditions

• land use conflict

• loss of biodiversity

• spread of nuclear radiation

How did salinization affect fish in the Aral Sea?

• It had no effect on many species.

• Many species died out completely.

• Many species increased in number.

• New species replaced many old ones.

Which of these crops has contributed most to the creation of a new desert in the Aral Sea region?

• cotton

• rice

• sugarcane

• wheat

What can farmers living around the Aral Sea do to help repair the environmental degradation of the sea itself?

• build more dams

• irrigate more land

• plant less thirsty crops

• increase the use of fertilizer

In what order does each step in the salinization process occur?

a) The lake shrinks and becomes saltier.

b) Rivers are dammed to irrigate fields.

c) Runoff forms rivers.

d) Water flowing into the lake is reduced.

e) Rain falls and causes runoff.

f) Runoff picks up small amounts of salt from the soil.

• e, f, c, b, d, a

• a, d, b, c, f, e

• b, c, f, a, d, e

• f, b, a, e, c, d

Potable water is

• fit to drink.

• polluted.

• fast moving.

• stagnant.

True or False: The Soviet government dammed the Amu and Syr rivers and restricted 90% of the water from reaching the Aral Sea.

• True

• False.