Question 1

What is the basic difference between modern water wells and older hand dug wells?

Accepted Answer

A)  older wells are much larger in diameter 
B)  older wells capture a greater amount of rainfall 
C)  modern wells can be used in deserts 
D)  modern wells do not dry up 
E)  older wells do not dry up 
A)  older wells are much larger in diameter 
B)  older wells capture a greater amount of rainfall 
C)  modern wells can be used in deserts 
D)  modern wells do not dry up 
E)  older wells do not dry up A

Question 2

Which of the following are common water desalinization techniques?

Accepted Answer

A)  distillation and reverse osmosis 
B)  ionization and precipitation 
C)  distillation and precipitation 
D)  ionization and reverse osmosis 
E)  evaporation and ionization 
A)  distillation and reverse osmosis 
B)  ionization and precipitation 
C)  distillation and precipitation 
D)  ionization and reverse osmosis 
E)  evaporation and ionization A

Question 3

What best explains why confined aquifers make for a safer water supply compared to unconfined aquifers?

Accepted Answer

A)  unconfined aquifers are open to the surface environment. 
B)  the water in confined aquifers is naturally filtered. 
C)  confined aquifers do not have an overlying aquitard for protection. 
D)  confined aquifers have greater water pressure. 
E)  unconfined aquifers have greater water pressure. 
A)  unconfined aquifers are open to the surface environment. 
B)  the water in confined aquifers is naturally filtered. 
C)  confined aquifers do not have an overlying aquitard for protection. 
D)  confined aquifers have greater water pressure. 
E)  unconfined aquifers have greater water pressure. A

Question 4

Which of the following statements regarding streams and groundwater is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  when a stream goes dry it means the adjoining aquifer will also go dry. 
B)  when the water table is higher than a stream channel, groundwater flows into the stream. 
C)  groundwater baseflow is what allows streams to keep flowing during dry periods. 
D)  infiltrating water contributes to the supply of groundwater. 
E)  when the water table becomes lower than a stream channel, the stream can run dry. 
A)  when a stream goes dry it means the adjoining aquifer will also go dry. 
B)  when the water table is higher than a stream channel, groundwater flows into the stream. 
C)  groundwater baseflow is what allows streams to keep flowing during dry periods. 
D)  infiltrating water contributes to the supply of groundwater. 
E)  when the water table becomes lower than a stream channel, the stream can run dry.

Question 5

Xeriscaping is a water conservation technique commonly used in landscaping. What best describes xeriscaping?

Accepted Answer

A)  use of native vegetation 
B)  use of low-evaporation soils 
C)  use of high-water content soils 
D)  replacing porous surface materials with solid surfaces 
E)  use of x-rays to reduce evaporation 
A)  use of native vegetation 
B)  use of low-evaporation soils 
C)  use of high-water content soils 
D)  replacing porous surface materials with solid surfaces 
E)  use of x-rays to reduce evaporation

Question 6

Due to geology, some regions have to rely entirely on surface water. Which of the following is a common technique used to expand surface water supplies?

Accepted Answer

A)  water diversions 
B)  drilling wells 
C)  cloud seeding 
D)  desalinization 
E)  enhanced evaporation 
A)  water diversions 
B)  drilling wells 
C)  cloud seeding 
D)  desalinization 
E)  enhanced evaporation

Question 7

Which of the following describes the problem known as groundwater mining?

Accepted Answer

A)  falling groundwater levels due to excessive pumping 
B)  removal of aquifer material that reduces the supply of groundwater 
C)  aquifer become too saline in areas of heavy irrigation 
D)  pumping groundwater from one area and transporting it to another 
E)  using groundwater to process large ore deposits 
A)  falling groundwater levels due to excessive pumping 
B)  removal of aquifer material that reduces the supply of groundwater 
C)  aquifer become too saline in areas of heavy irrigation 
D)  pumping groundwater from one area and transporting it to another 
E)  using groundwater to process large ore deposits

Question 8

Which of the following earth materials would NOT make for a good aquifer?

Accepted Answer

A)  shale 
B)  sandstone 
C)  fractured granite 
D)  soluble limestone 
E)  sandy sediment 
A)  shale 
B)  sandstone 
C)  fractured granite 
D)  soluble limestone 
E)  sandy sediment

Question 9

What best describes the problem known as saltwater intrusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  heavy pumping allows saline water to migrate into freshwater aquifers 
B)  disruption of marine ecosystems when freshwater discharges into the ocean 
C)  disposing wastewater from desalinization plants causes hypersaline seawater 
D)  injecting seawater into freshwater aquifers for treatment and storage 
E)  injecting freshwater into saline aquifers for treatment and storage 
A)  heavy pumping allows saline water to migrate into freshwater aquifers 
B)  disruption of marine ecosystems when freshwater discharges into the ocean 
C)  disposing wastewater from desalinization plants causes hypersaline seawater 
D)  injecting seawater into freshwater aquifers for treatment and storage 
E)  injecting freshwater into saline aquifers for treatment and storage

Question 10

What is the basic mechanism that naturally creates freshwater within the hydrologic cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  evaporation 
B)  reverse osmosis 
C)  precipitation 
D)  runoff 
E)  infiltration 
A)  evaporation 
B)  reverse osmosis 
C)  precipitation 
D)  runoff 
E)  infiltration

Question 11

In terms of supplying sufficient quantities of drinking water, which of the following is the most important property of an aquifer?

Accepted Answer

A)  high permeability (conductivity) 
B)  high ion exchange capacity 
C)  low compressibility 
D)  low shrink-swell 
E)  low evaporation 
A)  high permeability (conductivity) 
B)  high ion exchange capacity 
C)  low compressibility 
D)  low shrink-swell 
E)  low evaporation

Question 12

Groundwater recharge occurs every time it rains.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following activities use the greatest amount of water in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  irrigation and electrical generation 
B)  industrial and municipal supply 
C)  industrial and irrigation 
D)  irrigation and municipal supply 
E)  electrical generation and industrial 
A)  irrigation and electrical generation 
B)  industrial and municipal supply 
C)  industrial and irrigation 
D)  irrigation and municipal supply 
E)  electrical generation and industrial

Question 14

When groundwater recharge is less than discharge it can cause land subsidence to occur.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the environmental problem associated with desalinization?

Accepted Answer

A)  disposing of the concentrated saltwater 
B)  increased water temperatures 
C)  finding an appropriate source of seawater 
D)  finding an appropriate source of freshwater 
E)  acid rain downwind of the plants 
A)  disposing of the concentrated saltwater 
B)  increased water temperatures 
C)  finding an appropriate source of seawater 
D)  finding an appropriate source of freshwater 
E)  acid rain downwind of the plants

Question 16

What best describes the direction that groundwater flows in the subsurface?

Accepted Answer

A)  from areas of high hydraulic head to low hydraulic head 
B)  from areas of infiltration to areas of evaporation 
C)  away from streams and lakes 
D)  from unconfined to confined aquifers 
E)  from saturated to unsaturated aquifers 
A)  from areas of high hydraulic head to low hydraulic head 
B)  from areas of infiltration to areas of evaporation 
C)  away from streams and lakes 
D)  from unconfined to confined aquifers 
E)  from saturated to unsaturated aquifers

Question 17

Where is the majority of Earth's freshwater being stored?

Accepted Answer

A)  glacial ice 
B)  atmosphere 
C)  lakes 
D)  groundwater 
E)  rivers 
A)  glacial ice 
B)  atmosphere 
C)  lakes 
D)  groundwater 
E)  rivers

Question 18

Desalinization is desirable because it is an energy-efficient process.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

When water is pumped from a well it creates a cone-of-depression. What is the basic reason this sometimes causes problems?

Accepted Answer

A)  it reverses the natural direction of groundwater flow 
B)  it causes increased pressure within the aquifer 
C)  it causes the water table to become flat 
D)  it slows the natural rate of groundwater flow 
E)  it causes the potentiometric surface to merge with the water table 
A)  it reverses the natural direction of groundwater flow 
B)  it causes increased pressure within the aquifer 
C)  it causes the water table to become flat 
D)  it slows the natural rate of groundwater flow 
E)  it causes the potentiometric surface to merge with the water table

Question 20

Solar energy drives the hydrologic cycle.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

What is the basic difference between modern water wells and older hand dug wells?

Which of the following are common water desalinization techniques?

What best explains why confined aquifers make for a safer water supply compared to unconfined aquifers?

Which of the following statements regarding streams and groundwater is NOT true?

Xeriscaping is a water conservation technique commonly used in landscaping. What best describes xeriscaping?

Due to geology, some regions have to rely entirely on surface water. Which of the following is a common technique used to expand surface water supplies?

Which of the following describes the problem known as groundwater mining?

Which of the following earth materials would NOT make for a good aquifer?

What best describes the problem known as saltwater intrusion?

What is the basic mechanism that naturally creates freshwater within the hydrologic cycle?

In terms of supplying sufficient quantities of drinking water, which of the following is the most important property of an aquifer?

Groundwater recharge occurs every time it rains.

Which of the following activities use the greatest amount of water in the United States?

When groundwater recharge is less than discharge it can cause land subsidence to occur.

Which of the following best describes the environmental problem associated with desalinization?

What best describes the direction that groundwater flows in the subsurface?

Where is the majority of Earth's freshwater being stored?

Desalinization is desirable because it is an energy-efficient process.

When water is pumped from a well it creates a cone-of-depression. What is the basic reason this sometimes causes problems?

Solar energy drives the hydrologic cycle.

Humans and the Geologic Environment

Earth From a Larger Perspective

Earth Materials

Earths Structure and Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes and Related Hazards

Volcanoes and Related Hazards

Mass Wasting and Related Hazards

Streams and Flooding

Coastal Hazards

Soil Resources

Mineral and Rock Resources

Conventional Fossil Fuel Resources

Alternative Energy Resources

Pollution and Waste Disposal

Global Climate Change

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Exam 11: Water Resources

What is the basic difference between modern water wells and older hand dug wells?

Which of the following are common water desalinization techniques?

What best explains why confined aquifers make for a safer water supply compared to unconfined aquifers?

Which of the following statements regarding streams and groundwater is NOT true?

Xeriscaping is a water conservation technique commonly used in landscaping. What best describes xeriscaping?

Due to geology, some regions have to rely entirely on surface water. Which of the following is a common technique used to expand surface water supplies?

Which of the following describes the problem known as groundwater mining?

Which of the following earth materials would NOT make for a good aquifer?

What best describes the problem known as saltwater intrusion?

What is the basic mechanism that naturally creates freshwater within the hydrologic cycle?

In terms of supplying sufficient quantities of drinking water, which of the following is the most important property of an aquifer?

Groundwater recharge occurs every time it rains.

Which of the following activities use the greatest amount of water in the United States?

When groundwater recharge is less than discharge it can cause land subsidence to occur.

Which of the following best describes the environmental problem associated with desalinization?

What best describes the direction that groundwater flows in the subsurface?

Where is the majority of Earth's freshwater being stored?

Desalinization is desirable because it is an energy-efficient process.

When water is pumped from a well it creates a cone-of-depression. What is the basic reason this sometimes causes problems?

Solar energy drives the hydrologic cycle.

Humans and the Geologic Environment

Earth From a Larger Perspective

Earth Materials

Earths Structure and Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes and Related Hazards

Volcanoes and Related Hazards

Mass Wasting and Related Hazards

Streams and Flooding

Coastal Hazards

Soil Resources

Mineral and Rock Resources

Conventional Fossil Fuel Resources

Alternative Energy Resources

Pollution and Waste Disposal

Global Climate Change

Filters