Question 1

Most of the water in Texas is for

Accepted Answer

A)  national defense purposes. 
B)  home consumption by households. 
C)  irrigation. 
D)  additional water supplies for neighboring states.

Question 2

Texas has four "flagship" institutions that have helped define education policy in the state.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Groundwater and surface water are regulated by the same laws.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

In 2018, the Trump administration announced a "zero tolerance" policy designed to deter people from crossing the southern border illegally. Which of the following was a consequence of this policy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Portions of the Texas National Guard were permanently "federalized" to implement the policy. 
B)  Vacant schools have been leased by the federal government as temporary detention centers. 
C)  the separation of minor children from their parents for extended periods of time 
D)  A new division of the U.S. Border Patrol has been created to implement this policy.

Question 5

The 2012 State Water Plan discussed strategies to address both the short- and long-term water needs in Texas including

Accepted Answer

A)  raising the tax on water to encourage conservation efforts and statewide water restrictions. 
B)  importing more water from surrounding states where water is more plentiful and encouraging more citizens to dig their own wells. 
C)  a focus on conservation and expanding and developing available surface water. 
D)  requesting federal funding to develop massive desalinization plants along the Gulf Coast and laws restricting the construction of in-ground pools.

Question 6

In order to become a naturalized citizen, you must

Accepted Answer

A)  have entered the United States legally, been a resident of the United States for at least 5 years, and be able to demonstrate good moral character, knowledge of American government, and a basic command of English. 
B)  have at least one immediate family member who is already a U.S. citizen, been a resident of the United States for at least 10 years, and have working knowledge of both English and American government. 
C)  be able to demonstrate that you have a marketable skill, be sponsored by an employer, have entered the United States legally, been a resident for at least 5 years, and be able to speak English. 
D)  be able to demonstrate that you are employed, have been a resident of the United States for 10 years, have knowledge of U.S. government and history, and be fluent in English.

Question 7

Texas has _____ university systems.

Accepted Answer

A)  three 
B)  six 
C)  five 
D)  four

Question 8

The law of capture, as it pertains to water policy in Texas, essentially means that

Accepted Answer

A)  the state owns the water rights because it is sovereign over Texas residents. 
B)  the federal government has the right to capture water in Texas because of the supremacy clause in the federal Constitution. 
C)  the first person to capture the water by pumping it out of the ground owns it. 
D)  the state can capture and tax any business that uses state water without reporting usage statistics to the state water board.

Question 9

The proposed bullet train between Dallas and Houston would use French train (TGV) technology.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

In 2013, voters in Texas approved a constitutional amendment that dealt with water policy. What was included in this amendment?

Accepted Answer

A)  The voters approved the creation of a dedicated water fund, known as the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT), through a transfer of $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund. 
B)  The voters formalized the "Law of Capture" as part of the Texas Constitution. 
C)  The voters approved the addition of a new article to the Texas Constitution dedicated to water policy, similar to the sections of the Constitution that deal with education and public lands. 
D)  The voters formalized access to clean water as a basic right that is included in the Texas Bill of Rights.

Question 11

Conservation plays a key role in the groundwater initiatives since some of the state's aquifers are being overused.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The Texas Groundwater Act is responsible for

Accepted Answer

A)  creating the system of water districts that manage the groundwater supply in Texas. 
B)  managing water control and improvement districts in Texas. 
C)  regulating access to and management of all sources of water in Texas. 
D)  the creation of drainage, conservation, and reclamation districts in Texas.

Question 13

The Constitution of 1876 created a Permanent University Fund (PUF) from the sale of what?

Accepted Answer

A)  livestock and other agricultural products 
B)  certain public lands 
C)  oil and natural gas exports 
D)  exports of furniture and other manufactured goods

Question 14

Normal schools were established in order to

Accepted Answer

A)  train teachers. 
B)  provide free K-12 education to all children under the age of 18 in Texas. 
C)  help students with behavioral challenges continue to get an education. 
D)  provide technical and vocational skills courses.

Question 15

When taking into consideration taxes on both gasoline and diesel, which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Texans pay the lowest fuel taxes out of the ten largest states. 
B)  Texans pay higher fuel taxes to make up for having no personal income tax. 
C)  Texans pay lower fuel taxes because there is widespread public transportation system that needs to be subsidized. 
D)  The amount of fuel taxes paid by Texans is at the national average.

Question 16

One of the primary duties of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is to coordinate policy and decisions related to funding for colleges and universities in Texas.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Unless the Texas government starts allocating more money to higher education, it is going to be difficult to meet the goals of the 60x30TX plan.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Why did Texas build reservoirs through the state?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are more cost effective than drilling into aquifers for general water use. 
B)  They are the best tools available for effective water treatment. 
C)  They are used help control flooding and to better distribute water during droughts. 
D)  They are used primarily to recharge aquifers.

Question 19

According to the Federal Highway Administration, 19 percent of the 53,000 bridges in Texas are rated as

Accepted Answer

A)  being "structurally deficient" or "functionally obsolete." 
B)  being in "fair" or "poor" condition. 
C)  having advanced safety features. 
D)  being overused by too much traffic.

Question 20

Which argument is made by supporters of a physical wall separating the United States and Mexico?

Accepted Answer

A)  Immigration reform cannot be successful without a secure border, and the wall is the best way to secure the border. 
B)  The United States is one of the only countries in the world that does not have a physical barrier separating itself from its neighbors. 
C)  Physical barriers serve as a deterrent, and deterrence is the most successful long-term strategy to secure the border. 
D)  Physical barriers are a cost-effective security measure, and will end up saving significant amounts of money over the lifetime of the barrier.

Exam 14: Building the Future: Public Policies for a Changing Texas

Most of the water in Texas is for

Texas has four "flagship" institutions that have helped define education policy in the state.

Groundwater and surface water are regulated by the same laws.

In 2018, the Trump administration announced a "zero tolerance" policy designed to deter people from crossing the southern border illegally. Which of the following was a consequence of this policy?

The 2012 State Water Plan discussed strategies to address both the short- and long-term water needs in Texas including

In order to become a naturalized citizen, you must

Texas has _____ university systems.

The law of capture, as it pertains to water policy in Texas, essentially means that

The proposed bullet train between Dallas and Houston would use French train (TGV) technology.

In 2013, voters in Texas approved a constitutional amendment that dealt with water policy. What was included in this amendment?

Conservation plays a key role in the groundwater initiatives since some of the state's aquifers are being overused.

The Texas Groundwater Act is responsible for

The Constitution of 1876 created a Permanent University Fund (PUF) from the sale of what?

Normal schools were established in order to

When taking into consideration taxes on both gasoline and diesel, which of the following is true?

One of the primary duties of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is to coordinate policy and decisions related to funding for colleges and universities in Texas.

Unless the Texas government starts allocating more money to higher education, it is going to be difficult to meet the goals of the 60x30TX plan.

Why did Texas build reservoirs through the state?

According to the Federal Highway Administration, 19 percent of the 53,000 bridges in Texas are rated as

Which argument is made by supporters of a physical wall separating the United States and Mexico?