Deck 15: Water Pollution- Into the Gulf: the Makings of a Dead Zone, Far Upstream- Food Resources

Question 1

Air pollution can cause water pollution.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

If you find pollution at a certain point in the river, would you look at the watershed upstream or downstream to determine its origin?

A) upstream
B) downstream
C) neither

Answer 2

upstream

Question 3

Is eutrophication typically a point source or nonpoint source pollution type?

A) point source
B) nonpoint source
C) It is neither.

Answer 3

nonpoint source

Question 4

Where can pollutants from a watershed end up?

A) in surface water
B) in groundwater
C) in both A and B

Question 5

Why should we care about water pollution?

Question 6

Point source pollution describes pollution sources that are always located immediately next to the contaminated water, thus making them easy to identify.

Question 7

Which characteristic is true of all water pollution?

A) chemical contaminants cause all water pollution.
B) there are no organic substances that cause water pollution.
C) all water pollution degrades the quality of water.
D) water pollution is always caused by humans.
E) water pollution is always caused by a local source.

Question 8

The end result of eutrophication is:

A) increased nitrogen content of the water.
B) decreased nitrogen content of the water.
C) increased oxygen content of the water.
D) decreased oxygen content of the water.
E) None of the above are correct.

Question 9

Discuss some ways that human alteration of watersheds has affected the quality of surface water and the quantity of groundwater.

Question 10

What plant nutrients are found in animal waste and fertilizer that can cause eutrophication?

A) nitrogen
B) phosphorous
C) oxygen
D) carbon dioxide
E) both A and B

Question 11

What is hypoxia?

A) when your body temperature drops below 98.6°F
B) where there is too much dissolved oxygen in water
C) where there is not enough dissolved oxygen in the water to support local organisms
D) when your veins and arteries constrict to prevent heat loss
E) a disease affecting fish, often caused by pollution

Question 12

If eutrophication leads to the abundance of nutrients plants need to grow and survive, why is it considered a bad thing?

Question 13

A watershed is:

A) a storage facility for groundwater.
B) an area of land over which rain and other sources of water flow to drain into a body of water.
C) the area in which people dig drinking water wells.
D) where a river meets the ocean.
E) the evaporation of river water.

Question 14

The difference between point source and nonpoint source pollution is that:

A) point source pollution sources can be identified while nonpoint source pollution sources are more obscure.
B) point source pollution sources can always be remedied.
C) nonpoint source pollution is due to improper chemical storage.
D) nonpoint source pollution is located next to the body of contaminated water.
E) None of the above are correct.

Question 15

A watershed area covered by concrete will do what to the quantity of groundwater?

A) It will increase it.
B) It will decrease it.
C) It will not affect the quantity of the groundwater, but it will affect the quality.

Question 16

Why are point source pollution sources considered easier to "fix" than nonpoint source pollution sources?

Question 17

Which is an example of a point source pollution source?

A) farm water runoff
B) a ruptured sewer pipe
C) acid rain
D) sediment pollution
E) none of the above

Question 18

If water flows more slowly through watershed areas, will this increase or decrease the amount of pathogens found in the water that eventually flows into the ending river or lake?

Question 19

Which causes of water pollution are due to human activity?

A) thermal pollution
B) stormwater runoff
C) raw sewage
D) underground chemical storage
E) all of the above

Question 20

In which scenario would it be easier to identify a source of the eutrophication: a river with a large watershed or a river with a small watershed?

A) river with a large watershed
B) river with a small watershed

Question 21

Which is NOT an aspect of the Clean Water Act?

A) regulating municipal point source pollution
B) setting pollution standards
C) allowing a small percentage of pathogens in recreational water
D) regulating industrial point source pollution
E) allowing a small percentage of pathogens in drinking water

Question 22

In their efforts to address hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Task Force's recommendations consider:

A) social impacts.
B) economic realities.
C) environmental needs.
D) all of the above.
E) none of the above.

Question 23

According to this graph showing nitrogen losses under two different farming methods, farmers should only use alternative methods to reduce nitrogen loss during _______ rainfall years.

A) low
B) normal
C) high
D) all levels of
E) none of the above.

Question 24

Let's say you become interested in studying the amount of water pollution in a stream that runs through your backyard. Without special equipment, how could you perform a biological assessment on the stream?

Question 25

In drought years, the size of the hypoxic zone in the Gulf and Mexico is:

A) larger.
B) smaller.
C) unchanging.

Question 26

Discuss the pros and cons of using drainage pipes for agricultural fields.

Question 27

How can you explain to your neighbor that her perfectly manicured, monocultural, heavily fertilized lawn may be contributing to the destruction of ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico?

Question 28

Infographic 15.4,

In Infographic 15.4, the relationship between the amount of nitrogen fertilizer used and the size of the Gulf hypoxic zone is shown. In 2000 there is a decrease in the size of the hypoxic zone. What caused this decrease, and why would it have an effect on the size of the hypoxic zone?

Question 29

What do healthy riparian areas provide?

A) a quick path for water to enter the river or lake
B) filtration of runoff water before it enters the river or lake
C) excellent surfing conditions
D) optimal areas for industrial construction
E) increased hypoxic conditions

Question 30

Infographic 15.7.

Choose three strategies from the Gulf of Mexico Regional Ecosystem Restoration plan in Infographic 15.7. Explain what the goals of those strategies are and, if implemented, how the strategies will help reach those goals.

Question 31

Which is likely the easiest problem to address concerning increased nitrogen pollution?

A) the growth of nitrogen leaky crops
B) the use of synthetic fertilizers
C) the use of drainage pipes
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 32

What is one method to determine how healthy an ecosystem is?

A) determining the point source pollutant
B) carrying out watershed management
C) conducting biological assessment
D) using controlled drainage pipes
E) counting the number of organisms present

Question 33

What do drainage pipes drain off farms?

A) water
B) phosphorus
C) nitrogen
D) both A and C
E) A, B, and C

Question 34

The switch to growing foods that leak nitrogen into the soil has resulted in:

A) a higher level of nitrogen in the watershed runoff.
B) better nutrient content of the food.
C) easier growing seasons for the farmers.
D) poorer sales of produce.
E) the increased use of synthetic nitrogen.

Question 35

In many scientists' opinions, what is the key to saving the ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico?

A) organic farming
B) watershed management
C) tighter control of point source pollution
D) harsher punishments and fines for noncompliance with the Clean Water Act
E) purification of the water entering the Gulf

Question 36

Which crop releases the most nitrogen into the soil?

A) oats
B) corn
C) alfalfa
D) rye
E) Plants do not release nitrogen into the soil.

Question 37

Increased nutrient pollution, when compared to previous years' levels, is due to a single factor.

Question 38

Why is the prevention of soil erosion one of the best management practices to reduce the amount of pollution being delivered to the Mississippi River?