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Watersheds and Human Impact Vocabulary and Questions

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 25mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How do the industrial, agricultural, and residential activities of humans most likely affect the groundwater in the area

a)

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

b)

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

c)

The activities replace the groundwater used.

d)

All of the above

2.

What is a watershed?

a)

Water in an area

b)

Water that flows into a river or stream

c)

Land that water flows over and through

d)

Water that is salty

3.

Wastes produced by agriculture, households, industry, mining, and other human activities can end up in ______________.

a)

groundwater

b)

streams and rivers

c)

oceans

d)

All of these choices

4.

What definition BEST describes a watershed?

a)

An area where water infiltrates the soil

b)

An area where aquatic plants and animals thrive

c)

An area where snow melts and changes into liquid water

d)

An area that collects precipitation and drains it to the lowest point

5.

An area of land where all the water flows to one location, like a funnel. 

a)

Superfund Site

b)

Watershed

c)

Succession

d)

River

6.

What is the primary effect of urbanization on watersheds?

a)

Increased water absorption by soil

b)

Decreased wildlife diversity

c)

Increased surface runoff

d)

Enhanced natural water filtration

7.

Why is it important to maintain healthy watersheds?

a)

They can generate electricity

b)

They support biodiversity

c)

They are a primary source of mineral resources

d)

They increase land value for real estate

8.

A watershed is affected by human activity in a number of ways. When it rains the pollution ​ (a)  

Choose from the below words

runoffs into lakes/rivers

increases the fertilizers for crops

9.

Which of the following activities can negatively impact a watershed?

a)

Planting native vegetation

b)

Building dams

c)

Implementing soil conservation measures

d)

Reducing pesticide use

10.

Fertilizer can seep through the ground to reach groundwater, what effect can it have?

a)

Fertilizer can cause groundwater to reverse flow

b)

Fertilizer can cause groundwater to freeze

c)

Fertilizer can cause groundwater to become undrinkable

d)

It will seep into the school

11.

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?

a)

Runoff carries these chemicals into lakes and streams.

b)

Theses chemicals cannot be purchased in large bulk.

c)


These chemicals are expensive to produce.

d)

Storage space for these chemicals is limited.

12.

If a homeowner dumps paint into the yard, the paint will ________________________.

a)

stay on the surface and cause no problems

b)

sink into the ground a cause no problems

c)

contaminate groundwater and surface water

d)

contaminate the air when it evaporates

13.

Water from precipitation that drains into a gully  that slows into a stream, which in turn flows into a river lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, or the ocean.

a)

surface water

b)

ground water

c)

runoff 

d)

drainage

14.

Runoff from agricultural land carries chemicals from fertilizers that collect in a lake. The buildup of chemicals can eventually cause--

a)

aquatic life, such as fish and turtles, to die from lack of oxygen

b)

excess water to fill the aquifer

c)

river tributaries to reroute, changing the flow of waterways

d)

rainfall levels to drop

15.

Overflow during a heavy rainstorm from a wastewater treatment plant would result in –

a)

polluted runoff into nearby ponds.

b)

flooding in the local aquifer.

c)

weakened housing foundations.

d)

over-treated drinking water.

16.

The movement of colored water through the gravel best models —

a)

condensation of water vapor

b)

surface runoff of precipitation

c)

conservation of water

d)

pollution of groundwater

17.

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

a)

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

b)


clogging narrow streams and preventing water from flowing properly.

c)

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

d)

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

18.

Pollutants from a highway enter a stream or creek and travel to a river. River water tested with the pollutant found is called  

a)

point source pollution
Available space for crops

b)

nonpoint source pollution.

c)

eutrophic pollution

d)

riparian pollution

19.

What is a watershed?

a)

A) A natural or artificial reservoir

b)

B) An area of land that drains into a common waterway

c)

C) A type of water filtration system

d)

D) A method of water conservation

20.

Which human activity is most likely to increase sediment in a watershed?

a)

A) Planting trees

b)

B) Urban development

c)

C) Installing solar panels

d)

D) Using drip irrigation

21.

How does deforestation affect watersheds?

a)

A) Increases water absorption

b)

B) Reduces surface runoff

c)

C) Increases soil erosion

d)

D) Enhances biodiversity

22.

What is the role of wetlands in a watershed?

a)

A) They increase the speed of water flow

b)

B) They filter pollutants and sediments

c)

C) They reduce the amount of groundwater

d)

D) They prevent evaporation

23.

Which of the following is a consequence of excessive nutrient runoff into watersheds?

a)

A) Increased fish population

b)

B) Algal blooms

c)

C) Enhanced water clarity

d)

D) Decreased water temperature

24.

What is the impact of impervious surfaces on watersheds?

a)

A) They increase groundwater recharge

b)

B) They decrease surface runoff

c)

C) They increase surface runoff

d)

D) They enhance water quality

25.

Why is it important to manage stormwater in urban areas?

a)

A) To increase water supply

b)

B) To prevent flooding and water pollution

c)

C) To enhance recreational water activities

d)

D) To reduce water evaporation