Environmental Science - Chapter 15

Question 1

True or False. The energy needed to drive the hydrologic cycle is provided by the sun.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

True or False. Water is a nonrenewable resource because once it is polluted, it is no longer potable.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

True or False. Shortages of potable water can be attributed chiefly to natural, physical processes.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

True or False. Water supplies are distributed evenly around the world.

Answer 4

False

Question 5

True or False. Parts of the U.S. are currently facing a “water crisis”.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

True or False. Thermal pollution occurs when industry returns heated water to its source.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

True or False. Groundwater mining accounts for nearly half of the drinking water in the United States.

Answer 7

True

Question 8

True or False. The largest consumptive use of water is for municipal drinking water.

Answer 8

False

Question 9

True or False. Water the infiltrates the soil and is stored underground is called runoff.

Answer 9

False

Question 10

True or False. Temperature change in water can alter the kinds and number of plants and animals.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

The two activities that use the most water for a typical North American family of four are…

Answer 11

lawns and toilets

Question 12

Worldwide, does industry or domestic uses use the least amount of water?

Answer 12

domestic uses (drinking, cooking, toilets, etc.)

Question 13

The majority of freshwater in the world is present as…

Answer 13

ice and glaciers

Question 14

Ways humans alter the natural hydrologic cycle…

Answer 14

• evaporation as a result of irrigation
• runoff from city streets
• pumping water from aquifers

Question 15

Processes of the hydrologic cycle…

Answer 15

• evapotranspiration
• flow of water to the oceans
• precipitation

Question 16

Stages in the hydrologic cycle…

Answer 16

• transpiration moves water from plant surfaces to the atmosphere
• precipitation is the movement of water from the atmosphere to earth
• evaporation moves water from the land and water surfaces to the atmosphere

Question 17

Groundwater

Answer 17

accumulates from water that falls on the land’s surface

Question 18

The porous layer where water accumulates in the ground is called an

Answer 18

aquifer

Question 19

The upper surface of an unconfined aquifer is called a

Answer 19

water table

Question 20

Water is a renewable resource that circulates continually between the atmosphere and

Answer 20

The Earth’s surface

Question 21

Bottled water…

Answer 21

costs more than water from a municipal water system.

Question 22

Common problems associated with irrigation are…

Answer 22

• evaporation causes salt to accumulate in the soil
• the water that flows from irrigated fields is contaminated
• pumping water for irrigation lowers water tables

Question 23

Thermal pollution of water is primarily from…

Answer 23

release of heated water from industry

Question 24

Water enters the atmosphere because of…

Answer 24

• plants releasing water from their surfaces
• evaporation from lakes, rivers, and oceans
• evaporation from the soil surface

Question 25

Examples of water pollution are...

Answer 25

- soil that erodes from a hillside into a local stream reducing the ability of aquatic plants to photosynthesize - increase in water temperature from a factory dumping clean but warm water back in that reduces some of the species - high levels of bacteria that would make people sick - oil that leaks into ground water that prevents drinking the water

Question 26

Aquifer that is bound on the top and bottom by impermeable layers

Answer 26

Confined aquifer

Question 27

Strategically placed openings deliver water directly to the roots of plants

Answer 27

Trickle

Question 28

A source of pollution readily located and identified

Answer 28

Point source

Question 29

More difficult pollutants to identify and control. Diffuse pollutants from agricultural land and urban paved surfaces

Answer 29

Non-point source

Question 30

When industry withdraws water from a source, uses it for cooling purposes, and returns heated water to its original source

Answer 30

Thermal pollution