Modeling Watersheds

A student sets up the investigation shown below. The movement of colored water through the gravel best models —

• condensation of water vapor

• conservation of water

• surface runoff of precipitation

• pollution of groundwater

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

A student’s model of an area near a city depicts many activities that affect the quality of the water in the area. How does the agricultural activity most likely affect the surface water of the area?

• Crops absorb pure water from soil, causing the remaining water to contain more salt.

• Crops reduce erosion, increasing the amount of soil entering the river.

• Excess crop fertilizer is carried by runoff into the river, causing excess growth of water plants.

• Excess crop material accumulates on the riverbanks, slowing the movement of the river water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A student drew the model below to represent a part of a watershed and some human activities that affect the watershed. How do the industrial, agricultural, and residential activities of humans most likely affect the groundwater in the area?

• Pollutants from the activities percolate through the soil and enter the water table.

• The activities prevent most of the water from evaporating into the atmosphere.

• The activities replace the groundwater used.

• All of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

When runoff crosses the land, it picks up fertilizers that have been used on crops and lawns. These contaminants will eventually enter a lake, river or stream, which may lead to -

• the earth’s surface to sink.

• the water in an aquifer to drop.

• harmful rapid growth of algae.

• cleaner water for drinking and bathing.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

An area experiences a long period of drought forcing towns to pump out almost all of the water held in aquifers. What is the most likely result of this over pumping?

• Stability of underground rock layers will be weakened.

• Excessive growth of plants will occur in local lakes.

• Rainfall levels will increase and fill the aquifer.

• A dead zone will be created in the watershed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Which of the following human activities would most likely lead to subsidence, the sinking of the surface of the earth?

• Using toxic chemicals in the manufacturing of goods

• Excess removal of water from underground reservoirs

• Filtering out pollutants at a water treatment plant

• Storing drinking water in small above-ground basins

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Which of the following is the most reasonable explanation of why a well drilled into an aquifer would fail to produce water?

• Pollutants have seeped into the groundwater.

• Excessive growth of algae has killed local pond life.

• Over pumping has exceeded rain water replenishment.

• Runoff containing chemicals has caused a dead zone.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

A student builds a model to show how pollutants move through an ecosystem. In plastic tub, the student places a layer of small marbles, covers it with a thick cloth, and then adds a layer of sand. The student then sprinkles red powdered paint on top of the soil. When the student sprays water onto the model, red color appears in the cloth and in the water in the layer of marbles. Which part of the model represents pollutants introduced by humans?

• The marbles

• The thick cloth

• Red powdered paint

• Layer of sand

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Fertilizers added to crops on farms can collect in runoff and enter the watershed. This problem would be reduced in areas where -

• crops are grown for animals as well as humans.

• the growing season of the crops is longer.

• farms are situated on the sides of mountains.

• an extended drought leads to little or no rain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

When fertilizers enter surface water, they cause problems in the watershed by -

• causing rapid algal growth that decrease oxygen levels and choke aquatic life.

• clogging narrow streams and preventing water from flowing properly.

• increasing the amount of nutrients available to fish in lakes and streams.

• raising the water level in nearby rivers to levels leading to flooding.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5