7.11A: '24: Norman: 7th: Watersheds

What is a watershed?

• A land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, streams, and rivers

• A type of underground water storage

• A method of water purification

• A type of irrigation system

Answer explanation

A watershed is defined as a land area that collects and channels rainfall and snowmelt into creeks, streams, and rivers, making the first answer choice correct.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which of the following is considered a beneficial influence of human activity on water resources?

• Overuse

• Recycling

• Water pollution

• Fertilizer use

Answer explanation

Recycling is a beneficial influence on water resources as it reduces waste and conserves water by reusing materials, unlike overuse, pollution, or fertilizer use, which can harm water quality and availability.

What is a beneficial effect of human activity on surface water?

• Proper disposal of waste materials

• Letting water run

• Motor oil disposal

• Fertilizer use

Answer explanation

Proper disposal of waste materials helps prevent pollution and protects surface water quality, making it a beneficial human activity. Other options can lead to environmental harm.

Which of the following is a harmful effect of human activity on surface water?

• Minimize usage and consumption

• Runoff

• Xeriscaping

• Low flow toilets

Answer explanation

Runoff is a harmful effect of human activity on surface water as it carries pollutants from land into water bodies, degrading water quality. The other options, like minimizing usage and xeriscaping, are beneficial practices.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

What is an example of a recharge zone?

• A pond

• An aquifer

• A river

• A swamp

Answer explanation

An aquifer is a geological formation that can store and transmit water, making it a key recharge zone where water can infiltrate and replenish groundwater supplies. Other options do not serve this specific function.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

Which of the following is NOT a beneficial influence of human activity?

• Reduce usage

• Overuse

• Low flow toilets

• Repairing water leaks

Answer explanation

Overuse is detrimental as it leads to resource depletion and environmental harm, unlike the other options which promote conservation and efficiency.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

What is an example of a harmful influence of human activity on groundwater?

• Recycling

• Fertilizer use

• Rain barrels

• Low flow toilets

Answer explanation

Fertilizer use can lead to nutrient runoff, which contaminates groundwater with nitrates and phosphates, causing pollution and harming aquatic ecosystems. This makes it a harmful influence on groundwater compared to the other options.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Water that collects in cracks and pores in underground soil and rock layers.

• Groundwater

• Surface Water

• Permeable

• Impermeable

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

The top of the saturation zone, below which water fills all the open spaces between the rocks

• Water table

• Surface Water

• Watershed

• Drainage Divide

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

A layer of permeable rock that retains and filters water.

• Drainage Divide

• Surface Water

• Water Table

• Aquifer

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1