Deck 13: Water: a Limited Resource

Question 1

Hydrogen bonds describe the way:

A) two hydrogen atoms in a single water molecule are attracted to one another.
B) a hydrogen atom in a single molecule is attracted to the oxygen atom in that same molecule.
C) a hydrogen atom in one molecule is attracted to a hydrogen atom in an adjacent molecule.
D) a hydrogen atom in one molecule is attracted to an oxygen atom in an adjacent molecule.
E) an oxygen atom in a single molecule is attracted to the oxygen atom in an adjacent molecule.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The greatest use of fresh water is for:

A) irrigation.
B) industry.
C) small businesses.
D) homes.
E) mining.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following best describes groundwater?

A) water flowing through permeable rocks and sediments
B) water found in lakes and rivers
C) water moving from precipitation over the ground to rivers and lakes
D) water that is completely independent of surface water
E) water found above the water table

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Excessive removal of groundwater can result in:

A) rising water tables.
B) sinkhole formation.
C) groundwater desalinization.
D) increased discharge to streams.
E) all of these choices are correct

Question 5

Flooding of the Mississippi River basin in 2008 was caused, or exacerbated, by all of the following EXCEPT:

A) faulty dams upstream of major flooding areas.
B) several months of unusually heavy precipitation.
C) levees that failed to hold back floodwaters.
D) draining wetlands.
E) building on flood plains.

Question 6

The effects of flooding are more destructive today than in the past because:

A) the use of levees has been determined to be an unsound engineering practice.
B) retaining walls are too expensive to build in all of the appropriate locations.
C) buildings are constructed on flood plains.
D) soil with plant cover is ineffective in absorbing excess water.
E) roads and buildings effectively absorb and slow water flow.

Question 7

Which of the following human actions or features does NOT significantly contribute to flooding?

A) deforestation
B) draining of wetlands
C) paving surfaces for roads and parking
D) zoning restrictions
E) all of these significantly contribute to flooding

Question 8

A flood plain describes the area bordering a river channel __________.

A) where no building construction is allowed
B) that is likely to flood
C) that is flooded after a dam is constructed
D) where periodic floods remove nutrients from the soil
E) where plant cover should be removed to reduce flooding

Question 9

Saltwater intrusion can occur in coastal areas due to:

A) excessive groundwater pumping.
B) larger or more frequent hurricanes.
C) sinkhole formation.
D) wetland degradation.
E) subsidence.

Question 10

An area of land that is drained by a single river is called a/an:

A) wetland.
B) aquifer.
C) watershed.
D) drainage basin.
E) both watershed and drainage basin

Question 11

A 2008 study by researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography predicts climate change over the next 50 years will result in:

A) flow in the Colorado River decreasing by 10-30%.
B) flow in the Colorado River increasing due to warmer and wetter air masses.
C) Lake Mead being unable to supply water to San Francisco.
D) Hoover Dam producing 10% more electricity.
E) greater saltwater intrusion along the Pacific Coast.

Question 12

Water:

A) is a nonpolar molecule.
B) is composed of helium and oxygen atoms.
C) is a poor solvent.
D) expands when it cools.
E) freezes from the top down.

Question 13

Which of the following is an accurate representation of a water molecule?

Question 14

The basis for most of water's physical properties is/are:

A) its non-polar structure.
B) the hydrogen bonds between adjacent molecules.
C) ionic bonds.
D) its status as a positive ion.
E) All of these choices are correct

Question 15

Water:

A) is composed only of hydrogen atoms.
B) is composed only of oxygen atoms.
C) is composed of two atoms of oxygen and one atom of hydrogen.
D) is composed of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen.
E) is composed of two atoms of helium and one atom of oxygen.

Question 16

A flood plain has the potential to flood. Why is this a problem?

A) floods are caused by drought cycles in the weather
B) floods are unnatural events caused by human activity
C) flood damage is permanent, causing major changes in the course of the bordering river channel
D) flood damage is extremely costly due to homes and businesses being built on the flood plain
E) when flood waters recede, the flood plain is left infertile for growing crops

Question 17

The upper limit of an unconfined underground reservoir of water is termed the:

A) aquifer.
B) water table.
C) watershed.
D) wetland.
E) groundwater.

Question 18

When the Mississippi River flooded in 2008,

A) it was the first time such floods affected Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Iowa.
B) sandbags and levees prevented major damage.
C) it was only the latest in a series of major floods along that particular river.
D) wetlands prevented the water from receding quickly.
E) it affected relatively few people.

Question 19

Which of the following is the most effective way to reduce flood-related damage?

A) creating exposed, barren hillsides by clear cutting woodlands
B) constructing new buildings
C) building expensive levees
D) restricting development on flood plains
E) paving new roads

Question 20

Removing too much fresh water from a river or lake can:

A) result in increasing salinity for associated estuaries.
B) cause a local increase in bird populations due to an increase in available habitat.
C) have little effect on associated wetland areas.
D) increase the productivity of associated wetlands.
E) reduce an area's precipitation.

Question 21

Which of the following does NOT describe Mono Lake, CA?

A) the lake is naturally fed by rivers and streams originating the Sierra Nevada mountains
B) evaporation is the only natural outflow from the lake
C) water diversions to Los Angeles resulted in increasing lake salinity
D) an agreement was reached to allow Mono Lake to return to its original volume
E) the number of migratory birds on the lake's shores is expected to increase over the next decade

Question 22

Artificial lakes in which water is stored for later use are called:

A) reservoirs.
B) cisterns.
C) lakes.
D) ponds.
E) estuaries.

Question 23

The largest groundwater deposit in the world is the:

A) Great Lakes Aquifer.
B) Great Basin Aquifer.
C) Rocky Mountain Aquifer.
D) Ogallala Aquifer.
E) Hell Creek Aquifer.

Question 24

In many developing countries, individuals:

A) utilize excessive amounts of water for irrigation.
B) consume about 200 gallons of fresh water per day.
C) have insufficient water to meet basic drinking and household needs.
D) use the most current technology to increase their water use efficiency.
E) rely on desalinization to provide the majority of their water needs.

Question 25

Cities are encouraging individual water conservation by:

A) including water charges in the rent.
B) providing economic incentives for installing water saving household fixtures.
C) repairing city water mains and pipes to improve "water accountability".
D) collecting and storing rain water for redistribution to individuals.
E) decreasing the price of water.

Question 26

Water problems are particularly severe in the:

A) Pacific Northwest.
B) American Southwest (Colorado River basin).
C) High Plains.
D) Gulf Coast states.
E) Upper Midwest.

Question 27

Nonpotable water that has already been used once, but is reused for toilets or car washing is called:

A) reclaimed water.
B) household water.
C) gray water.
D) secondhand water.
E) xeriscaped water.

Question 28

Complete the following analogy:
Dam is to ____________as levee is to ___________.

A) xeriscaping / hydroponics
B) electricity / natural gas
C) reservoir / flood plain
D) stable runoff / reclaimed water
E) aquifer / drainage basin

Question 29

Approximately ______ of the Earth's water is freshwater that can be readily used by humans and other terrestrial organisms.

A) 0.1%
B) 2.5%
C) 10%
D) 25%
E) 50%

Question 30

One way to make agricultural water more sustainable is through:

A) water diversion.
B) microirrigation.
C) "use it or lose it" water allotments for farmers.
D) international water swaps.
E) plot flooding.

Question 31

Around the world, about ____ people lack access to safe drinking water.

A) 1.5 million
B) 100 million
C) 750 million
D) 1.1 billion
E) 5.2 billion

Question 32

The process of forcing salt water through a permeable membrane in order to remove the salt from the water is termed:

A) chlorination.
B) distillation.
C) reverse osmosis.
D) saltwater intrusion.
E) salinization.

Question 33

The more than 100 dam impoundments along the Columbia River:

A) generate electricity.
B) control floods.
C) adversely affect fish populations.
D) supply municipal and industrial water to several major urban areas.
E) all of these choices are correct

Question 34

Future climate change will likely:

A) have no effect on precipitation.
B) cause an increase in precipitation.
C) cause a decrease in precipitation.
D) cause an increase in precipitation in some areas and a decrease in others.
E) cause extreme droughts throughout all of North America.

Question 35

Desalinization is a particularly large industry in:

A) Arizona
B) France
C) Russia
D) Saudi Arabia
E) Denmark

Question 36

Saltwater and saline groundwater can be made drinkable by a process called:

A) trickle irrigation.
B) reverse osmosis.
C) boiling.
D) salinization.
E) osmosis.

Question 37

Which of the following have a vested interest in resolving the water rights controversy along the Missouri River?

A) farmers
B) Native Americans
C) recreational and tourism groups
D) hydroelectric producers
E) all of these groups have a vested interest

Question 38

Which of the following does NOT contribute to water shortages in the American Southwest?

A) aqueducts transporting water from distant sources
B) climate change leading to reduced snowfall in the Rocky Mountains
C) growing demand for municipal, commercial, and industrial uses
D) arid or semiarid climate with limited precipitation
E) growing populations in cities such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City

Question 39

Most freshwater is present in the form of:

A) water in lakes.
B) ice caps and glaciers.
C) water in rivers.
D) groundwater.
E) atmospheric water vapor.

Question 40

Which of the following countries does NOT face significant water supply challenges?

A) United States
B) Iraq
C) China
D) Mexico
E) None; all of these countries face water supply challenges.

Question 41

Discuss the role of individuals in water conservation. What actions can you take to conserve water? What are the obstacle(s) to these actions, and how might they be overcome?

Question 42

What is aquifer depletion and what are some of its potential environmental effects.

Question 43

Many developing countries have insufficient water to meet the most basic drinking and household needs. Discuss some potential solutions to the problem and some of the drawbacks associated with those solutions.

Question 44

Describe how climate change is expected to play an important role in future freshwater availability.

Question 45

Describe the relative distribution of water on earth and how water moves through the hydrologic cycle.

Question 46

Describe the benefits of dams along the Columbia River and strategies being implemented to minimize the impacts of the dams on salmon.

Question 47

All of the following are successful motivators for consumers to conserve water EXCEPT:

A) water rationing.
B) increased water prices.
C) All these choices are true
C) improved technology.
D) effective education

Question 48

The average U.S. citizen can conserve water by:

A) not allowing the faucet to run while shaving.
B) not allowing the faucet to run while brushing teeth.
C) reducing showers to less than 10 minutes.
D) washing only full loads of clothes.
E) all of these choices can help conserve water

Question 49

Do you think desalinization is the solution to our freshwater supply problems? Thoroughly justify your answer by examining both your position and the opposing viewpoint.

Question 50

Identify three water conservation measures that can be implemented in agriculture. Provide an explanation of how each measure leads to the conservation of water resources.