WorksheetsWatersheds TEST
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 38mins
What is the BEST definition of a watershed?
An area where water infiltrates the soil.
An area where aquatic plants and animals thrive.
An area where snow melts and changes into liquid water.
An area that collects precipitation and drains it to the lowest point.
The city of Elmhurst was having problems with people dumping pollutants into their local water supply. To help with this problem, the mayor sent out pamphlets in 2016 that explained the dangers of water pollutants in our watersheds and how to safely dispose of common household waste materials. The graph below shows the changes in the number of pollution incidences before and after the pamphlets were mailed. What conclusions can you make based on this evidence?
The pamphlets had no effect on the amount of pollution dumped into the river.
The pamphlets caused people to dump more pollution into the river.
The pamphlets caused people to dump less pollution into the river.
The pamphlets did not include information about watersheds.
A paper company wants to build a paper mill in the watershed where a village exists. In order to minimize potential pollution to the village, which of the following locations is the best to build the mill?
At the highest point of the watershed.
Downstream from the village.
Closest to a freshwater stream or river.
Nearest to the main street of the village.
Look closely at the map of the watershed below. If water enters the watershed at the top of the mountain where the arrow is pointing, at which point will it stop draining?
Point A
Point B
Point C
Point D
Runoff from agricultural land carries chemicals and fertilizers that collect in a lake. The buildup of chemicals can eventually cause -
aquatic life, such as fish and turtles, to die from a lack of oxygen.
excess water to fill the aquifer, resulting in pore shrinkage and subsidence.
river tributaries to reroute, changing the flow of natural waterways.
rainfall levels to drop causing drought and a shorter growing season.
The boundaries of a watershed are determined by ________.
Elevation
Soil type
The amount of water that flows
The kinds of organisms found in the area
Overflowing during a heavy rainstorm from a wastewater treatment plant would result in -
polluted runoff into nearby ponds.
flooding in the local aquifer.
weakened housing foundations.
over-treated drinking water.
Subsidence, or the sinking of the ground because of weakened underground rock layers, is often the result of humans -
fertilizing crops with strong chemicals.
building dams to change the direction rivers flow.
excessively pumping water from aquifers.
constructing highways through natural habitats.
The use of pesticides and fertilizers is carefully monitored because of the effect they can have on the environment. Which of the following is a possible negative effect of the use of these chemical on the environment?
These chemicals are expensive to produce.
Runoff carries these chemicals into lakes and streams.
Storage space for these chemicals is limited.
These chemicals cannot be purchased in large bulk.
What is the underground layer of rock or sediments that holds groundwater?
water table
watershed
aquifer
well
The illustration provided shows a river and four cities on that river. When the water from the river was sampled at location X, it was determined to be polluted with various chemicals. What would be the most likely source for this pollution?
City 1 & City 2
City 2 & City 3
City 3 & City 4
City 1 & City 4
City officials are able to locate the exact source of the pollution. This is an example of _________.
natural source pollution
point source pollution
nonpoint source pollution
fertilizer contamination
Which of the following human activities is LEAST likely to affect watersheds?
Flying in an airplane
Cutting down trees
Fertilizing lawns
Reading a book
Which statement about water pollution is TRUE?
Pollution only effects surface water.
Pollution cannot be dissolved in water.
Pollution effects both surface and groundwater.
Pollution cannot travel through soil to groundwater.
Which of the following models BEST represents how water flows in a watershed?
How are all watersheds similar to the Mississippi River Basin?
They all support the same habitat.
They all drain water to the lowest point.
They all carry the same amount of water.
They all drain water across the surface of land only.
All of the following are ways to conserve water EXCEPT...
Take shorter showers.
Lowering the cost of water.
Turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth.
Only wash laundry when loads are full, not half full.
Residents were unable to identify the exact sources of pollution in the runoff. This type of pollution is considered to be ________.
fertilizer contamination
oil contamination
point source pollution
nonpoint source pollution
Where are you most likely to find a watershed?
In a lake
On a mountain top
At the bottom of a valley
Everywhere
This word means that liquids and gases are allowed to pass through. Because the soil is _________, water seeps into the ground in aquifers.
runoff
permeable
impermeable
water table
