Understanding Groundwater

What percentage of the Earth's water is found in oceans?

• 70%

• 97%

• 30%

• 50%

Which of the following is a common misconception about groundwater?

• It is found in glaciers.

• It is a river flowing underground.

• It is always clean and drinkable.

• It is only used for irrigation.

What is an aquifer?

• A type of soil that is always dry.

• A type of rock that holds water.

• A large underground reservoir of water.

• A river that flows underground.

How is groundwater typically accessed for use?

• By using buckets.

• By building dams.

• By drilling wells.

• By digging trenches.

What does the term 'water table' refer to?

• The top layer of a lake.

• The boundary between saturated and unsaturated soil.

• A table used for measuring water levels.

• The surface of a river.

What is porosity?

• The speed at which water flows underground.

• The amount of water a material can hold.

• The ability of a material to allow fluids to pass through.

• The presence of holes or gaps in a material.

What does permeability refer to?

• The ability of a material to allow fluids to pass through.

• The presence of holes in a material.

• The amount of water a material can hold.

• The speed at which water evaporates.

Why are basements uncommon in Houston?

• The climate is too humid.

• There is a lack of construction materials.

• The water table is too high.

• The soil is too hard to dig.

What is the main reason for oil fracking?

• To reduce groundwater levels.

• To create new aquifers.

• To increase the porosity of rocks.

• To extract oil from porous, non-permeable areas.

What is the difference between porous and permeable materials?

• Porous materials are solid; permeable materials are liquid.

• Porous materials are dry; permeable materials are wet.

• Porous materials are impermeable; permeable materials are porous.

• Porous materials have holes; permeable materials allow fluid flow.