NEW
Font size
WorksheetsChapter 20 Water Pollution
Total questions: 45
Worksheet time: 23mins
Of the following organisms, what is the group that is least likely to cause disease?
bacteria
protozoa
algae
parasitic worms
viruses
A good indicator of water quality is the number of ____.
ducks
fish
turtles
coliform bacteria
protozoa
A body of water can be depleted of its oxygen by ____.
viruses and parasitic worms
organic wastes
sediments and suspended matter
organic compounds such as oil, plastics, solvents, and detergents
inorganic wastes
Which of the following is a point source of water pollution?
offshore oil wells
livestock feedlots
urban lands
croplands
parking lots
Which of the following is a nonpoint source of water pollution?
a sewage treatment plant
an electric power plant
an active or inactive coal mine
a logged forest
a factory
Oxygen sag curves occur when ____.
water levels are high
bacteria break down biodegradable wastes
when water flows quickly
when water is cool or cold
salt and fresh water mix
In most developed countries, large fish kills and contamination of drinking water are not caused by ____.
malfunctioning sewage treatment plants
accidental release of toxic industrial chemicals
deliberate release of toxic industrial chemicals
accidental release of predatory exotic species
pesticides and plant nutrients from agricultural sources
In cities of less-developed countries, stream pollution is largely ____.
not a problem because there are fewer industries
caused by washing clothes in rivers
caused by dumping 80-90% raw sewage directly into rivers
less severe compared to more-developed countries
unaffected by cultural eutrophication
Which statement about lakes is true?
Stratified layers of lakes are characterized by vertical mixing.
Stratification increases levels of dissolved oxygen, especially in the bottom layer.
Lakes are more vulnerable than streams to contamination by plant nutrients, and toxic substances
Lakes have more flushing than streams.
Changing of water in lakes takes days to weeks.
The natural nutrient enrichment of a shallow lake, estuary, or slow moving stream is called ____.
oligotrophy
spring/fall overturn
upwellings
red tides
eutrophication
In cultural eutrophication, fish die from ____.
acid deposition
depletion of oxygen
toxic substances in the water
increased sediment reducing habitats
loss of space
Cultural eutrophication can not be prevented by ____.
banning the use of phosphate detergents
stopping the runoff of fertilizer from agricultural fields
advanced waste treatment
harvesting excess weeds
soil conservation and land-use controls
Which statement about the Gulf of Mexico’s “Dead Zone” is false?
The dead zone dissipates in fall with the arrival of storms and cooler weather.
The Gulf of Mexico is stratified, with warmer, oxygen-rich water on top and cooler, low-oxygen water on bottom.
Most oxygen in the bottom layer is consumed by bacteria decomposing algae.
Engineering and wetland degradation contribute to dead zone formation.
Negative effects from the dead zone are short-term and confined to the immediate area.
The biggest threat to water quality in the Great Lakes is from ____.
industrial pollution
increased runoff caused by urban sprawl
the introduction of invasive species
poor air quality
the presence of toxic hot spots
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the U.S. and Canada improved water quality by ____.
increasing nitrogen inputs
upgrading sewage treatment plants
banning invasive species
closing beaches
banning commercial fishing
Contaminated groundwater cannot cleanse itself. Why?
Groundwater does not move at all and contaminants are not dispersed effectively.
Groundwater does not move at all and lower concentrations of dissolved oxygen exist for decomposition.
Contaminants are not dispersed effectively and lower concentrations of dissolved oxygen exist for decomposition.
Groundwater does not move at all and cold temperatures usually slow down reactions.
Contaminants are diluted easily, but not dispersed effectively.
Groundwater is primarily stored in underground ____.
aquifers
water tables
wells
rivers
basins
During this century, scientists expect to find many millions of ____ to become a major global health problem.
people
carcinogens
solar panels
leaking underground storage tanks
leaking solid waste landfills
Natural and anthropogenic sources of ____ contaminated groundwater are a global problem that results in hundreds of thousands of premature deaths.
arsenic
cadmium
lead
magnesium
manganese
The most effective way to protect groundwater is to ____.
prevent contamination
use monitoring wells
cover all wells carefully
treat all water from underground sources
use advanced sewage treatment
What is an ineffective method of purifying water for drinking?
protecting watersheds from pollution
exposing water in a clear plastic bottle to intense sunlight
LifeStraws
PUR
centrifugation
Storing drinking water in a reservoir is beneficial because it ____.
reduces the dissolved oxygen level.
makes water treatment unnecessary.
allows suspended matter to settle.
allows the water to be ionized by the atmosphere.
increases populations of healthy coliform bacteria
What percentage of expensive bottled water is actually bottled tap water?
5%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Which statement about the disadvantages of bottled water is false?
Plastic bottles have a lifespan of 100 years in a landfill.
Most plastic bottles are recycled.
Enough plastic bottles are discarded annually to circle the Earth 149 times.
The withdrawal of water to make bottled water is depleting some aquifers.
The manufacture and transportation of bottles releases toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases.
In the U.S., drinking water quality is primarily regulated under the ____.
Safe Drinking Water Act
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Clean Water Act
Groundwater Purification Act
Water Quality Act
Wetlands, estuaries, mangrove swamps, and coral reefs are examples of ____.
coastal environments
ocean habitats
groundwater reservoirs
deltaic deposits.
pelagic zones
Algal blooms created from excessive agricultural and sewage runoffs is least likely to cause _____.
a release of waterborne and airborne toxins
the poisoning of seafood
a decrease in agricultural yields
the death of some fish-eating birds
a reduction in tourism
The majority of the oil pollution of the ocean comes from ____.
blowouts (rupture of a borehole of an oil rig in the ocean)
tanker accidents
environmental terrorism
runoff from land
normal operation of offshore wells
The most common problem encountered by seabirds coated with oil is ____.
immediate death
vulnerability to predators
loss of buoyancy and insulation, causing deaths from exposure
poisoning by taking in the oil internally
starvation
The oil company responsible for the oil spill of the Valdez was ____.
Alaska
Gulf
Exxon
Sunoco
Texaco
The primary cause of BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was ____.
faulty equipment and poor decision-making
an explosion on the oil rig
a lack of federal oversight
the oil rig crashing into a underwater reef
leakage from old, rusty pipes
Agricultural runoff would be increased if farmers ____.
used slow-release fertilizers
kept cropland covered with vegetation
planted buffer zones between cultivated lands and water
used no fertilizer on steeply sloped land
switched from row crops to animal feedlots
The Clean Water Act could be strengthened by ____.
requiring septic tank permits
focusing on end-of-pipe pollution removal
allowing citizens to bring lawsuits to ensure that water pollution laws are enforced
establishing national pollutant standards
giving responsibility of monitoring and enforcing water pollution laws to private companies
In a septic tank system, which of the following is false?
Wastewater is pumped into a settling tank.
Grease and oil rise to the top in the tank.
Solids are decomposed by bacteria.
Bacteria-treated waste is discharged in an absorption field.
After leaving the absorption field, wastewater is cleaned and can be used again for human consumption.
Which type of sewage treatment is properly matched with its process?
primary – biological process
secondary – mechanical process
advanced – physical and chemical processes
secondary – chemical process
primary – chemical process
In the sewage treatment process, the purpose of chlorination involves ____.
adding essential nutrients to drinking water
removing discoloration and kill bacteria
reacting with organic materials to form chlorinated hydrocarbons
preserving pipes in the sewage facility
helping large particles settle
The primary drawback of waterless, odorless composting toilet systems is that they ____.
convert human fecal material to soil-like fertilizer supplement
become clogged very easily
save large amounts of water
are not feasible for large-scale projects
involve expensive upfront installation costs
The individual matters in terms of what can be done to help reduce water pollution. Pollution will not, however, be reduced if we ____.
fertilize gardens and lawns with manure or compost instead of fertilizers
minimize use of pesticides
prevent yard wastes from entering storm drains
do not flush unwanted medicines down the toilet
buy commercially produced foods
The Gulf of Mexico’s “Dead Zone” is caused by high levels of ____ in the Mississippi River.
coliform bacteria
phytoplankton
plant fertilizers
algae
cyanobacteria
Dead zones are characterized by a lack of ____.
phosphorus
nitrogen
oxygen
chlorine
fecal material
Dead zones have a detrimental impact on
fish and shellfish populations
agricultural farms
ethanol fuel production
sewage treatment
phytoplankton
What is by far the leading cause of water pollution?
mining
factories
sewage treatment plants
agriculture activities
ocean-going shipping
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates how many people on the earth do not have access to clean drinking water?
1 out of 100
1 out of 50
1 out of 20
1 out of 10
1 out of 7
Agricultural activities are by far the leading cause of water pollution.
True
False
Parking lots are a major source of point source pollution for rivers and lakes.
True
False
