Groundwater Quiz

What is groundwater?

• Water that is found only in lakes and rivers

• Water that has travelled down from the soil surface and collected in spaces between sediments and rock cracks

• Water that is artificially created

• Water that is found only in the atmosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

What is the saturated zone in the context of groundwater?

• The zone above the water table where spaces are filled with air

• The zone where groundwater is artificially discharged

• The zone where water fills all the empty spaces underground until it reaches an impenetrable layer of rock

• The zone where water is found only as soil moisture

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

What is an aquifer?

• A layer of rock that prevents water from passing through

• A body of rock and sediment that contains and allows the flow of groundwater

• A type of well used to artificially discharge groundwater

• A system used to purify groundwater

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

What is the residence time of groundwater in aquifers?

• Always less than a few days

• Exactly 10 thousand years

• It cannot be measured

• It can vary widely, from a few days or weeks to 10 thousand years or more

What is the purpose of an artesian well?

• To prevent groundwater from reaching the surface

• To store water for long periods without use

• To allow groundwater to be pushed upward through the well without the use of a pump

• To filter and purify groundwater

What percentage of the U.S. population relies on groundwater for drinking water?

• 25 percent

• 50 percent

• 75 percent

• 100 percent

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

What is the primary use of most groundwater?

• Domestic purposes

• Industrial purposes

• Commercial purposes

• Irrigation of farmland

What can happen if too much groundwater is pumped out at once?

• The water table can rise

• Wells can overflow

• Wells can dry up if water inputs from recharging cannot keep up

• Groundwater levels will remain stable

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

What has been a consequence of an extended drought in East Porterville, California?

• Increased groundwater levels

• Stabilization of groundwater

• People drilling deeper wells and decreased groundwater levels

• Improved water recharging

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

What is a threat to groundwater besides over-pumping?

• Air pollution

• Noise pollution

• Pollution by fertilizers, pesticides, and waste from septic tanks

• Electromagnetic radiation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4