Question 1

Which one of the following statements is true regarding the Earth's supply of fresh water?

Accepted Answer

A)  The largest volume exists in lakes and reservoirs. 
B)  There is more in the form of water vapor in the atmosphere than there is as liquid groundwater. 
C)  There is more freshwater in glaciers and ice sheets than exists as groundwater. 
D)  There is more water in rivers than exists as soil moisture and groundwater. 
A)  The largest volume exists in lakes and reservoirs. 
B)  There is more in the form of water vapor in the atmosphere than there is as liquid groundwater. 
C)  There is more freshwater in glaciers and ice sheets than exists as groundwater. 
D)  There is more water in rivers than exists as soil moisture and groundwater.

Question 2

Which of the following is a common setting for a spring?

Accepted Answer

A)  a limestone aquifer that intersects the surface 
B)  a permeable upper layer with a water table deep below the surface 
C)  a nonpermeable upper layer with a water table deep below the surface 
D)  an unconfined aquifer with a water table deep below the surface 
A)  a limestone aquifer that intersects the surface 
B)  a permeable upper layer with a water table deep below the surface 
C)  a nonpermeable upper layer with a water table deep below the surface 
D)  an unconfined aquifer with a water table deep below the surface

Question 3

Which of the following aquifers require a low permeability zone above it or below it?

Accepted Answer

A)  artesian aquifer 
B)  perched aquifer 
C)  confined aquifer 
D)  All of these 
A)  artesian aquifer 
B)  perched aquifer 
C)  confined aquifer 
D)  All of these

Question 4

According to this graph, which shows water balance for the Ogallala aquifer, which of the following statements are true?

Accepted Answer

A)  More water is taken out of the aquifer than is gained from recharge. 
B)  Less water is taken out of the aquifer than is gained from recharge. 
C)  Springs and rivers take out more water than does pumping. 
D)  As the aquifer dewaters, it expands, increasing the amount of pore space in which to store water. 
A)  More water is taken out of the aquifer than is gained from recharge. 
B)  Less water is taken out of the aquifer than is gained from recharge. 
C)  Springs and rivers take out more water than does pumping. 
D)  As the aquifer dewaters, it expands, increasing the amount of pore space in which to store water.

Question 5

Which two uses consume most freshwater in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  drinking water and showering 
B)  mining and raising livestock 
C)  irrigation and drinking water 
D)  mining and industrial use 
E)  irrigation and thermoelectric power 
A)  drinking water and showering 
B)  mining and raising livestock 
C)  irrigation and drinking water 
D)  mining and industrial use 
E)  irrigation and thermoelectric power

Question 6

Most of Earth's fresh water is in

Accepted Answer

A)  ice caps, glaciers, and groundwater. 
B)  groundwater and rivers. 
C)  lakes and swamps. 
D)  rivers and streams. 
E)  oceans. 
A)  ice caps, glaciers, and groundwater. 
B)  groundwater and rivers. 
C)  lakes and swamps. 
D)  rivers and streams. 
E)  oceans.

Question 7

Why does a plume of contamination spread out (become wider)away from the source of contamination?

Accepted Answer

A)  because the water flows faster and faster 
B)  because of diffusion of the contamination and mixing of contaminated and uncontaminated water 
C)  it does not spread out away from the source 
D)  it will only spread out if it is close to a cone of depression 
A)  because the water flows faster and faster 
B)  because of diffusion of the contamination and mixing of contaminated and uncontaminated water 
C)  it does not spread out away from the source 
D)  it will only spread out if it is close to a cone of depression

Question 8

Which of the following is a common setting for a spring?

Accepted Answer

A)  the water table intersects the surface 
B)  a permeable rock overlies a less permeable one 
C)  sedimentary rocks overlie crystalline rocks along an unconformity 
D)  All of these. 
E)  None of these. 
A)  the water table intersects the surface 
B)  a permeable rock overlies a less permeable one 
C)  sedimentary rocks overlie crystalline rocks along an unconformity 
D)  All of these. 
E)  None of these.

Question 9

Where on this cross section would water at the surface become groundwater?

Accepted Answer

A)  1, 2, and 3 
B)  1 and 3 
C)  2 and 4 
D)  2 only 
E)  4 only 
A)  1, 2, and 3 
B)  1 and 3 
C)  2 and 4 
D)  2 only 
E)  4 only

Question 10

Which of the following is true about the water table?

Accepted Answer

A)  The water table has a similar shape to topography but is more subdued. 
B)  The water table is highest in elevation beneath lakes. 
C)  In any area, the water table slopes a consistent amount and direction. 
D)  All of these. 
E)  None of these. 
A)  The water table has a similar shape to topography but is more subdued. 
B)  The water table is highest in elevation beneath lakes. 
C)  In any area, the water table slopes a consistent amount and direction. 
D)  All of these. 
E)  None of these.

Question 11

This figure shows a new well that will pump out groundwater faster than it can be replaced.What will the water table look like after pumping?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D

Question 12

Of the following, which has the greatest total volume of water?

Accepted Answer

A)  the atmosphere 
B)  groundwater 
C)  ice caps and glaciers 
D)  rivers and lakes 
A)  the atmosphere 
B)  groundwater 
C)  ice caps and glaciers 
D)  rivers and lakes

Question 13

The short residence time of water in the atmosphere allows a water molecule to have a stronger ability to do which of the following, compared to a situation if the residence time in the atmosphere were larger?

Accepted Answer

A)  acquire potential energy and convert it to kinetic energy 
B)  participate in the hydrologic cycle 
C)  erode the surface 
D)  store and release latent heat 
E)  All of these. 
A)  acquire potential energy and convert it to kinetic energy 
B)  participate in the hydrologic cycle 
C)  erode the surface 
D)  store and release latent heat 
E)  All of these.

Question 14

Which of the following is a correctly described statement about part of the hydrologic cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  Raindrops form through the process of evaporation. 
B)  Precipitation refers to minerals coating sand grains with natural cement. 
C)  Most groundwater forms when water on the surface infiltrates into the ground. 
D)  Movement of water is restricted to rainfall and rivers. 
E)  None of these. 
A)  Raindrops form through the process of evaporation. 
B)  Precipitation refers to minerals coating sand grains with natural cement. 
C)  Most groundwater forms when water on the surface infiltrates into the ground. 
D)  Movement of water is restricted to rainfall and rivers. 
E)  None of these.

Question 15

Which of these numbered features contains the least amount of Earth's water?

Accepted Answer

A)  1-ocean 
B)  2-atmosphere 
C)  3-glaciers and ice sheet 
D)  4-groundwater 
E)  5-lakes 
A)  1-ocean 
B)  2-atmosphere 
C)  3-glaciers and ice sheet 
D)  4-groundwater 
E)  5-lakes

Question 16

How would this stream interact with groundwater?

Accepted Answer

A)  Groundwater would flow into the stream, adding water. 
B)  The stream would lose water as water in the stream flows sideways and up. 
C)  The groundwater and stream water would not interact. 
D)  The stream will only contain water if it is raining at that time. 
A)  Groundwater would flow into the stream, adding water. 
B)  The stream would lose water as water in the stream flows sideways and up. 
C)  The groundwater and stream water would not interact. 
D)  The stream will only contain water if it is raining at that time.

Question 17

This map shows contours of the water table, the location of four factories (labeled A, B, C, and D), and contaminated and uncontaminated wells.Which way will the contamination flow?

Accepted Answer

A)  northeast, up the contours 
B)  southwest, down the contours 
C)  northwest and southeast, parallel to the contours 
D)  impossible to tell because the movement of contamination is independent of groundwater 
A)  northeast, up the contours 
B)  southwest, down the contours 
C)  northwest and southeast, parallel to the contours 
D)  impossible to tell because the movement of contamination is independent of groundwater

Question 18

Which of these numbered features contains most of Earth's freshwater?

Accepted Answer

A)  1-ocean 
B)  2-atmosphere 
C)  3-glaciers and ice sheets 
D)  4-groundwater 
E)  5-lakes 
A)  1-ocean 
B)  2-atmosphere 
C)  3-glaciers and ice sheets 
D)  4-groundwater 
E)  5-lakes

Question 19

The water balance diagram below suggests that

Accepted Answer

A)  summers are very dry. 
B)  winters are snowy. 
C)  long periods of drought are common. 
D)  All of these. 
A)  summers are very dry. 
B)  winters are snowy. 
C)  long periods of drought are common. 
D)  All of these.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a possible source of water contamination?

Accepted Answer

A)  dry cleaners 
B)  farms 
C)  rocks that have been mineralized by natural processes but not mined 
D)  houses 
E)  All of these are possible sources of contamination. 
A)  dry cleaners 
B)  farms 
C)  rocks that have been mineralized by natural processes but not mined 
D)  houses 
E)  All of these are possible sources of contamination.

Which one of the following statements is true regarding the Earth's supply of fresh water?

Which of the following is a common setting for a spring?

Which of the following aquifers require a low permeability zone above it or below it?

According to this graph, which shows water balance for the Ogallala aquifer, which of the following statements are true?

Which two uses consume most freshwater in the United States?

Most of Earth's fresh water is in

Why does a plume of contamination spread out (become wider)away from the source of contamination?

Which of the following is a common setting for a spring?

Where on this cross section would water at the surface become groundwater?

Which of the following is true about the water table?

This figure shows a new well that will pump out groundwater faster than it can be replaced.What will the water table look like after pumping?

Of the following, which has the greatest total volume of water?

The short residence time of water in the atmosphere allows a water molecule to have a stronger ability to do which of the following, compared to a situation if the residence time in the atmosphere were larger?

Which of the following is a correctly described statement about part of the hydrologic cycle?

Which of these numbered features contains the least amount of Earth's water?

How would this stream interact with groundwater?

This map shows contours of the water table, the location of four factories (labeled A, B, C, and D), and contaminated and uncontaminated wells.Which way will the contamination flow?

Which of these numbered features contains most of Earth's freshwater?

The water balance diagram below suggests that

Which of the following is NOT a possible source of water contamination?

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Exam 8: Water Resources

Which one of the following statements is true regarding the Earth's supply of fresh water?

Which of the following is a common setting for a spring?

Which of the following aquifers require a low permeability zone above it or below it?

According to this graph, which shows water balance for the Ogallala aquifer, which of the following statements are true?

Which two uses consume most freshwater in the United States?

Most of Earth's fresh water is in

Why does a plume of contamination spread out (become wider)away from the source of contamination?

Which of the following is a common setting for a spring?

Where on this cross section would water at the surface become groundwater?

Which of the following is true about the water table?

This figure shows a new well that will pump out groundwater faster than it can be replaced.What will the water table look like after pumping?

Of the following, which has the greatest total volume of water?

The short residence time of water in the atmosphere allows a water molecule to have a stronger ability to do which of the following, compared to a situation if the residence time in the atmosphere were larger?

Which of the following is a correctly described statement about part of the hydrologic cycle?

Which of these numbered features contains the least amount of Earth's water?

How would this stream interact with groundwater?

This map shows contours of the water table, the location of four factories (labeled A, B, C, and D), and contaminated and uncontaminated wells.Which way will the contamination flow?

Which of these numbered features contains most of Earth's freshwater?

The water balance diagram below suggests that

Which of the following is NOT a possible source of water contamination?

The Nature of Physical Geography

Energy and Matter in the Atmosphere

Atmospheric Motion

Atmospheric Moisture

Weather Systems and Severe Weather

Atmosphere - Ocean - Crysophere Interactions

Climates Around the World

Understanding Landscapes

Plate Tectonics and Regional Features

Volcanoes, Deformation, and Earthquakes

Weathering and Mass Wasting

Streams and Flooding

Glaciers and Glacial Landforms

Coasts and Changing Sea Levels

Soils

Ecosystems and Biogeochemical Cycles

Biomes

Filters