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WorksheetsWater Pollution Review
Total questions: 54
Worksheet time: 28mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Mine site drainage can often cause this:
a)
Cultural eutrophication
b)
Acidic runoff
c)
Land subsidence
d)
Saltwater intrusion
2.
Which of the following is a non-point source of water pollution
a)
Effluent from a sewage treatment plant
b)
BP refiner in Indiana discharging ammonia in a river.
c)
Runoff of pesticides from regional farms into the Illinois River.
d)
Hot water discharges from a nuclear power plant.
3.
Increased use of inorganic (lab-made) fertilizers on crops contributes to:
a)
Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico
b)
Increase in storm severity in southeastern U.S.
c)
Water shortages in California
d)
Saltwater intrusion on the East Coast.
4.
What is the danger in eating some fish from lakes or ocean?
a)
They may be invasive species.
b)
If abundant, they may lead to a crash in other species.
c)
If they are high on the food chain they may contain high levels of mercury or POP's like PCB's
d)
They may contain too many nutrients from fertilizers.
5.
All of the following are ways to disinfect wastewater EXCEPT:
a)
Chloroform
b)
Chlorine
c)
UV rays
d)
Ozone
6.
This law sets standards on pollutants for community water supplies.
a)
Clean Water Act (CWA)
b)
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
c)
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
d)
Oil Pollution Act
7.
Which of the following is a persistent inorganic pollutant that can impair neurological functioning?
a)
Lead
b)
DDT
c)
PCB's
d)
Atrazine
8.
If a paper mill dumps a lot of paper wast into a nearby river all of the following are likely to happen EXCEPT:
a)
Increase in BOD
b)
Decrease in DO
c)
Algae growth
d)
Decrease in decomposers
9.
What is it called when a persistent pollutant (like mercury or PCBs) builds up in the tissues of an organism as they continue to eat something that contains the pollutant
a)
Subsidence
b)
Biomagnification
c)
Tragedy of the commons
d)
Bioaccumulation
10.
This law regulates the discharges of pollutants into all waters that have a significant connection with navigable waterways. Also, must have a permit to dump these pollutants. Also, requires certain steps in sewage treatment.
a)
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
b)
Clean Water Act (CWA)
c)
Oil Pollution Act
d)
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
11.
What is the main source of mercury in the Great Lakes?
a)
Leaky landfills
b)
Coal-burning power plants
c)
Sewage effluent
d)
Automobile emissions
12.
Strategies used to clean up oil spills include all of the following EXCEPT:
a)
Floating booms and boats to skim floating oil toward collectors
b)
Skimmers to absorb oil from the water
c)
Addition of limestone to neutralize the acidic water
d)
Chemical dispersants that break up the oil and help it to sink.
13.
Which of the following is an indicator species whose presence in a river or stream indicates excellent water quality?
a)
Crayfish
b)
Leech
c)
Left-handed snails
d)
Dobsonfly larva
14.
Which of the following is a known endocrine disruptor that is found in many of our waterways in the U.S.?
a)
Atrazine
b)
Mercury
c)
Nitrate
d)
BOD
15.
All of the following can happen to an adjacent river as a result of riparian deforestation EXCEPT:
a)
The water temperature will decrease.
b)
Dissolved oxygen in the water will decrease.
c)
Soil erosion will lead to increased turbidity.
d)
More pollutants such as animal waste and nutrients in soil or fertilizers will runoff into the water.
16.
Water pollution that comes from many sources is considered...
a)
point source pollution
b)
nonpoint source pollution
c)
thermal pollution
d)
ocean pollution
17.
Fertilizer, sewage, and animal feces can wash in to water, leading to...
a)
thermal pollution
b)
artificial eutrophication
c)
desalination
d)
biomagnification
18.
Water pollution that comes from a single source is considered...
a)
point source pollution
b)
nonpoint source pollution
c)
thermal pollution
d)
ocean pollution
19.
97% of the water on earth is _________, making it undrinkable for humans.
a)
fresh water
b)
ground water
c)
salt water
d)
surface water
20.
Which of the following is a way to save water?
a)
Water the lawn at high noon
b)
washing half loads of dishes
c)
taking shorter showers
d)
running the water while brushing your teeth
21.
This type of pollution contaminates lakes, oceans, river, etc.
a)
air
b)
land
c)
water
22.
The difference between a point source and a nonpoint source of water pollution is...
a)
a nonpoint source is easily identifiable
b)
point sources can be targeted for reduction
c)
nonpoint sources tend to be factory outputs
d)
point sources tend to be agricultural in nature
23.
Bacteria are beneficial to wastewater treatment because
a)
they naturally break down organic matter
b)
they help solid material to settle out of the wastewater
c)
the nutrients produced are beneficial to the treated water
d)
they aren't beneficial
24.
What is the % of fresh water in the world
a)
50%
b)
30%
c)
5%
d)
3%
25.
Human wastewater entering into bodies of water can be dangerous becauseI. It causes a drop in the biological oxygen demand II. It can lead to cultural eutrophicationIII. The wastewater can carry pathogens
a)
II and III only
b)
I only
c)
II only
d)
III only
26.
Dead zones, such as the one in the Gulf of Mexico that exists off the coast of Louisiana, are characterized by all of the following EXCEPT
a)
a reduced number of shellfish
b)
fish die-off events
c)
low nitrogen concentrations
d)
low oxygen concentrations in the water
27.
The WHO estimates that approximately 1.1 billion people worldwide do not have access to sufficient safe-water supplies. This number represents about ____ of the world population.
a)
1/29
b)
1/3
c)
1/4
d)
1/6
28.
Tests on water can be used to indicate the likelihood of human wastewater contamination by testing for indicator species such as
a)
Cryptosporidium
b)
fecal coliform bacteria
c)
Vibrio Cholerae bacteria
d)
Influenza
29.
What pollutant is often released during the manufacturing of cement?
a)
arsenic
b)
mercury
c)
sulfates
d)
phosphates
30.
Which pollutant is most likely to be naturally released into groundwater supplies, without human intervention?
a)
phosphates
b)
lead
c)
arsenic
d)
mercury
31.
A class of carcinogens formerly used in the production of plastics are
a)
DDT
b)
PBDEs
c)
PCBs
d)
Perchlorates
32.
What substance is believed to be responsible for the development of eggs in the testes of some male fish?
a)
DDT
b)
PBDEs
c)
PCBs
d)
Reproductive hormones
33.
The pollution of waterways creating conditions in which productivity is decreased and gills of bottom dwelling organisms are clogged is due to
a)
erosion and sedimentation
b)
runoff and flooding
c)
urbanization
d)
mining dams
34.
Noise pollution in water is a significant problem for
a)
schooling fish
b)
sea turtles
c)
whales
d)
phytoplankton
35.
Problems with the class of synthetic organic compounds called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) include all of the following EXCEPT
a)
the presence of the compounds in human breast milk
b)
the effect of the compounds on invertebrates
c)
the common use of the compounds on children’s clothing
d)
exposure of some types of the compounds can lead to brain damage
36.
The Clean Water Act I. Protects surface watersII. Protects groundwaterIII. Protects the diversity of aquatic species
a)
I only
b)
II only
c)
III only
d)
I and III only
37.
The material rotating in the North Pacific Gyre can best be described as
a)
solid waste composed of mostly plastics
b)
organic waste dumped from cruiseships
c)
medical waste dumped by the United States
d)
coal slag dumped by China
38.
The United States legislation that empowers the EPA to establish maximum contaminant levels in drinking water is
a)
The Clean Water Act
b)
The Safe Drinking Water Act
c)
The Clean Air Act
d)
The Superfund Act
39.
Acid mine drainage results from acidic water formed below ground that makes its way to the surface; the acidic water is formed as a result f the flooding of abandoned mines where the underground water
a)
reacts with a type of rock, pyrite, which releases iron and hydrogen ions
b)
reacts with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide to form sulfuric and nitric acids
c)
flushes out the chemicals used in the mining process
d)
permeates a limestone layer that lowers the pH
40.
All of the following are problems that result from the use of pesticides except
a)
most pesticides are not target-specific and kill other related and non-related species
b)
pesticide runoff enters surface waters and increases the solubility of heavy metals
c)
pesticides affect nontarget organisms by changing community relationships
d)
pesticides target specific physiological functions, but alsodisrupt other functions
41.
All of the following are the result of the Exxon Valdez Oil tanker running aground off the coast of Alaska in 1989 except
a)
millions of gallons of crude oil spread over the ocean and shoreline
b)
thousands of animals were killed; some species have recovered, others have not
c)
the oil that contaminated the shoreline is now completely broken down
d)
Exxon paid $500 million in damages and changed the name of the ship
42.
All of the following are nonchemical forms of water pollution except
a)
industrial waste
b)
solid waste or garbage
c)
sediments
d)
noise
43.
Which of the following statements about non-point source (NPS) pollution is not correct?
a)
NPS results from rain or snowmelt moving over or permeating through the ground
b)
NPS is a form of water pollution that is more difficult t o control, measure and regulate
c)
NPS includes sediment from improperly managed construction sites as a pollutant
d)
NPS is water pollution that originates froma distinct source such as a pipe or tank
44.
Which of the following would be an indication that a body of water was contaminated by human wastewater?
a)
low BOD and a fecal coliform bacteria count of zero
b)
high levels of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and high BOD
c)
low BOD and low levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus
d)
low levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and a fecal coliform bacteria count of zero
45.
Both septic systems and sewage treatment plants utilize bacteria to break down organic material. Where in each system does this process occur?
a)
septic tank and leach field; primary treatment and secondary treatment
b)
septic tank only; primary treatment and chlorination
c)
leach field only; secondary treatment only
d)
septic tank and leach field; secondary treatment only
46.
Under which of the following circumstances is a sewage treatment plant legally permitted to bypass normal treatment protocol and discharge large amounts of sewage directly into a lake or river?
a)
when the receiving surface water is designed for swimming only
b)
when the population of the surrounding community surpasses the plant's capacity
c)
when combined volumes of storm water and wastewater exceed the capacity of an older plant
d)
when a permit to modernize the plant is denied by the EPA
47.
Which of the following inorganic substances is naturally occurring in rocks, soluble in groundwater, and toxic at low concentrations?
a)
mercury
b)
lead
c)
PCBs
d)
arsenic
48.
Which of the following provisions is defined in the Safe Drinking Water Act?
a)
support the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and recreation in and on the water
b)
maintain and restore the chemical, physical, and biological properties of natural waters
c)
protect the abundance and diversity of various species in and on the water
d)
establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLS) for specific substances in both surface water and groundwater
49.
The passage of water-pollution legislation is most likely to occur when
a)
a developing country is still in the process of industrialization and rapid population growth
b)
a developed country has experienced industrialization and can afford the control measures demanded by its citizens
c)
a developing country has not yet industrialized and water quality is still good
d)
contaminating industries relocated in a developing country and begin to abuse the less-restrictive environmental laws
50.
Which of the following would be the best indication that a lake was primarily contaminated by human sewage?
a)
a low BOD and no detectable arsenic
b)
a high BOD and a fecal coli-form count of 5 colonies/mL of sample
c)
lack of hypoxia zones
d)
high levels of nitrates and arsenic and high BOD
51.
Which of the following is not a non-point source pollutant?
a)
storm water runoff from a residential area
b)
fertilizer runoff from golf courses
c)
animal waste from feedlots
d)
a sewage treatment plant effluent discharged into the local river
52.
In a municipal water treatment plant, the secondary treatment methods consist of:
a)
aeration basins, which increase microbial action
b)
allowing sewage to sit in settling tanks so that suspended solids will settle out
c)
removing the sludge for the final incineration process
d)
chlorinating the sewage as it leaves the effluent pipes
53.
Which of the following has most contributed to global aquifer contamination?
a)
methane and carbon monoxide gasses dissolving into aquifers
b)
septic systems leaching into aquifers
c)
hazardous waste disposal from pumping waste underground
d)
saltwater intrusion from depleted aquifers
54.
Eutrophication and hypoxia in the Chesapeake Bay is in part attributed to:
a)
loss of otters to maintain the kelp forests
b)
loss of kelp to take up nutrients
c)
over harvesting oysters that previously would have filtered nutrients
d)
over fishing cod that previously would have filtered nutrients
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