Deck 10: Water: Hydrologic Cycle and Human Use

Question 1

Which of the following contributes the most as a greenhouse gas?

A)oxygen levels in the air
B)water vapor levels in the air
C)nitrogen levels in the air
D)the amount of pollutants in ocean water

Answer 1

water vapor levels in the air

Question 2

Most of the water on Earth is found in

A)lakes and rivers.
B)polar ice caps.
C)glaciers.
D)oceans.

Answer 2

oceans.

Question 3

We expect the highest relative humidity on a soccer field during the summer on a

A)hot afternoon during a drought.
B)cool evening during a drought.
C)hot afternoon following a heavy rain.
D)cool evening after a heavy rain.

Answer 3

cool evening after a heavy rain.

Question 4

Which of the following involves blue water?

A)percolation of water through soil
B)transpiration of water from leaves on a bright sunny day
C)evaporation of water from a lake on a windy day
D)the formation of a dense layer of fog on a cold fall day

Question 5

Humidity is highest when relative humidity is

A)high at low temperatures.
B)high at high temperatures.
C)low at high temperatures.
D)low at low temperatures.

Question 6

China's current need to increase its water supply is rooted in

A)the need to grow more crops to support its growing population.
B)providing drinking water for southern urban areas.
C)developing mining industries in the arid northwest.
D)using water as a trading item to get preferential treatment for its exports.

Question 7

If a cold front moves into a moist region,

A)humidity will likely decrease.
B)the chances of precipitation will increase.
C)evaporation will increase.
D)photosynthesis will increase.

Question 8

Water in the oceans may become fresh water available to humans through the processes of

A)evaporation,condensation,and precipitation.
B)transpiration,purification,and precipitation.
C)precipitation and infiltration.
D)condensation and infiltration.

Question 9

The largest reserves of fresh water on Earth are found in

A)lakes and wetlands.
B)rivers and groundwater.
C)aquifers.
D)polar ice caps and glaciers.

Question 10

In the figure,blue water is represented by

A)rain.
B)clouds.
C)water vapor.
D)clouds and water vapor.

Question 11

Which of the following is more related to water quality than water quantity?

A)construction of dams
B)sewage treatment facilities
C)crop irrigation
D)depletion of aquifers

Question 12

The kinetic energy of water is at its greatest when

A)water evaporates.
B)ice forms.
C)water flows down a river.
D)snow falls.

Question 13

The decline of the polar ice caps because of increasing temperatures at the poles will

A)increase the amount of fresh water available for human use.
B)decrease the largest reserve of fresh water on Earth.
C)increase the amount of fresh water available in aquifers.
D)decrease global sea levels.

Question 14

Which of the following are processes that generally reverse each other?

A)evaporation and precipitation
B)transpiration and evaporation
C)precipitation and infiltration
D)condensation and infiltration

Question 15

Increasing the kinetic energy of liquid water enough to permit water molecules to break completely away from each other occurs as

A)steam forms.
B)ice freezes.
C)water flows in a stream.
D)rain forms.

Question 16

Fog is more likely to form when air temperatures are

A)colder than the surrounding land.
B)warmer than the surrounding land.
C)the same as the surrounding land.
D)rising.

Question 17

The kinetic energy of water is at its lowest when

A)rain forms.
B)water evaporates.
C)ice forms.
D)water percolates through soil.

Question 18

China's current rush to construct dams and transport water over long distances is a response to

A)the national need to create more water-intensive industries such as mining.
B)draining areas that can be put into crop cultivation.
C)reducing the amount of water used in crop irrigation.
D)producing more water for crop irrigation,urban use and for hydroelectric projects.

Question 19

One of China's current strategies to deal with its water shortage is to

A)illegally tap water resources of neighboring nations.
B)import more water intensive crops from the U.S. ,which has more water.
C)develop the technology for seeding clouds to produce more rain.
D)ask rural farmers to exploit and decontaminate deep underground aquifers.

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of condensation?

A)the loss of water from leaves of a tree
B)the absorption of water by the roots of a plant
C)the formation of clouds
D)the formation of snow

Question 21

Wetlands store and release water most like which component of the water cycle?

A)clouds forming in the sky
B)groundwater reservoirs
C)evapotranspiration from dense vegetation
D)glaciers and polar ice caps

Question 22

Which of the following promotes atmospheric condensation and the formation of clouds?

A)aerosols
B)increasing temperatures
C)decreasing humidity
D)a reduction in transpiration

Question 23

Gutters and storm sewers in a city are most concerned with the

A)evapotranspiration loop.
B)surface runoff loop.
C)precipitation loop.
D)groundwater loop.

Question 24

Distilling salt water to make fresh water relies upon the processes of

A)precipitation and infiltration.
B)transpiration and evaporation.
C)evaporation and condensation.
D)condensation and transpiration.

Question 25

As a cold front moves into an area of warm,moist air,we would expect to see cloud formation as

A)the warm air rises and condenses.
B)the cold air rises and condenses.
C)evaporation and transpiration increase.
D)high altitude air masses fall and condense.

Question 26

Rainwater flows quickly over a grassland,filling lazy streams and soaking deeply into the ground.Days later,vegetation near seeps grows quickly and the grassland seems to come to life.This scene best represents which of the following two loops?

A)precipitation loop and evapotranspiration loop
B)surface runoff loop and groundwater loop
C)precipitation loop and groundwater loop
D)surface runoff loop and evapotranspiration loop

Question 27

In the western United States,we expect that rain shadows most frequently occur on

A)the leeward,east side of mountain ranges.
B)the windward ,west side of mountain ranges.
C)the northern slopes of mountains,which receive less sunlight.
D)the southern slopes of mountains,which receive more sunlight.

Question 28

A rural farmer most likely obtains drinking water by drilling a deep well to use

A)gravitational water that has percolated through soil and accumulated as groundwater.
B)gravitational water that is retained by the soil and accumulated just above the water table.
C)capillary water found in surface waters,located above the water table.
D)capillary water that has percolated through soil and accumulated below the groundwater.

Question 29

How has converting forests to mostly paved urban areas changed the streams and rivers in the affected watersheds?

A)Flooding has decreased.
B)Infiltration shifts to runoff.
C)Evaporation has increased.
D)Levels of water flow and pollution have decreased.

Question 30

Some lakes have river and stream tributaries but no outlet,losing water mainly through evaporation.Over time,we expect that such lakes will

A)increase their fishing productivity.
B)become deeper.
C)become saltier.
D)be good sources of drinking water.

Question 31

Which one of the following is fed by groundwater and often drained by seeps or springs?

A)lakes
B)aquifers
C)rivers
D)watersheds

Question 32

About 99% of all liquid fresh water on Earth is found in

A)lakes,including the Great Lakes of North America.
B)rivers such as the Amazon,Nile,and Mississippi watersheds.
C)underground aquifers.
D)the upper few meters of topsoil.

Question 33

Which one of the following loops is least susceptible to pollution?

A)evapotranspiration loop.
B)surface runoff loop.
C)precipitation loop.
D)groundwater loop.

Question 34

In Costa Rica,a heavy downpour provides water that quickly evaporates or is absorbed and released by the dense vegetation of the tropical rain forest.This is an example of a cycle using

A)condensation,evaporation,transpiration,and green water.
B)condensation,precipitation,and gravitational water.
C)evaporation,gravitational flow,and adiabatic cooling.
D)precipitation,gravitational flow,and convection.

Question 35

If a plowed farm field was restored to natural prairie,we would expect that

A)flooding would be more common in the related watershed.
B)more pollutants would flow into the watershed.
C)erosion of the soil would decrease.
D)less water would be retained in the groundwater reservoir.

Question 36

Water is naturally purified by

A)evaporation and condensation.
B)transpiration and evaporation.
C)precipitation and infiltration.
D)condensation and transpiration.

Question 37

Compared to the windward side,the leeward side of this mountain range will most likely have

A)lower levels of transpiration and precipitation.
B)higher levels of precipitation and lower levels of transpiration.
C)higher levels of humidity.
D)lower levels of sunshine.

Question 38

Which of the following would we expect on the leeward sides of high mountain ranges?

A)rainforests
B)deserts
C)wetlands
D)deciduous forests

Question 39

Hadley cells at the equator consist of

A)rising,moist air that produces precipitation and rain forests,and falling dry air associated with deserts.
B)rising,dry air associated with deserts and falling moist air that produces precipitation and rain forests.
C)warm,moist air rising up the sides of mountains and cool,dry air descending on the leeward sides.
D)cool,dry air rising up the sides of mountains and warm,moist air descending on the leeward sides.

Question 40

Which of the following situations is most likely to have the lowest infiltration-runoff ratio?

A)a paved parking lot
B)a mowed soccer field
C)a beach
D)a grassland

Question 41

The removal of existing dams is motivated by

A)the need for more urban drinking water.
B)the need for more irrigation water.
C)restoration of scenic beauty of rivers and fisheries.
D)the need for more hydroelectric power stations.

Question 42

The major factor determining whether the thermohaline currents flow near the surface or on the bottom of oceans is

A)pH.
B)pollutants.
C)Hadley cells.
D)water temperature and density.

Question 43

Which of the following is accurate about bottled water?

A)It is often harvested from an area that needs water and is sold elsewhere.
B)It requires less energy than providing water from a local aquifer or stream.
C)It should not be used for emergencies,but is a practical solution for augmenting drinking water on a large scale.
D)Michigan has approved commercial production in all areas of the state.

Question 44

Oceanographers are studying the thermohaline currents to determine

A)whether they are becoming more acidic.
B)whether global climate change may slow or alter their path.
C)whether they could be replaced with artificial currents if damaged by changing temperatures.
D)if warm water from polar and glacial melt is affecting the chemistry of the currents.

Question 45

Regions where humans produce high levels of aerosols and dust will most likely experience

A)less rainfall,reduced solar radiation to the Earth's surface,and cooler temperatures.
B)less rainfall,increased solar radiation to the Earth's surface,and higher temperatures.
C)more rainfall,increased soil nutrients,and reduced solar radiation to the Earth's surface.
D)more rainfall,decreased soil nutrients,and increased solar radiation to the Earth's surface.

Question 46

Some city water treatment facilities combine storm water and sanitary sewage systems.During heavy storms,these treatment facilities may be overwhelmed with water,and untreated storm water mixes with sewage and flows directly back into the streams and rivers where treated water usually returns.What might be the best way to address this problem?

A)do not collect rainwater in storm sewers and let it just accumulate on the roads
B)collect and treat storm sewer and sanitary sewage systems separately
C)drain the sewage system onto a field near the stream or river
D)use the excess sewer water as a source of water for the city

Question 47

Floods are becoming more common primarily because

A)precipitation has increased worldwide.
B)populations are more concentrated in vulnerable watersheds.
C)land use has changed,altering runoff,erosion and infiltration patterns.
D)the "sponge effect" of forests releases large and unpredictable amounts of water.

Question 48

In developing countries,contaminated water is responsible for the deaths of more than 1.6 million people.Contributing to this problem is the use of

A)groundwater for consumption and the disposal of human sewage.
B)groundwater for consumption and the disposal of human sewage in surface waters.
C)surface waters for consumption and the disposal of human sewage.
D)surface waters for consumption and the disposal of human sewage in groundwater.

Question 49

Groundwater as a water source may be better than surface water because

A)groundwater may be naturally purified by percolation through soil.
B)groundwater is a self-replenishing resource that cannot be exhausted.
C)surface water is not naturally self-replenishing.
D)groundwater is more easily located than surface water.

Question 50

Air descending,leaward from the top of a mountain is most likely to

A)decrease in temperature and evaporate water from the soil.
B)increase in temperature and evaporate water from the soil.
C)decrease in temperature and result in precipitation.
D)increase in temperature and result in precipitation.

Question 51

The impact of global warming on the water cycle is expected to produce

A)more precipitation.
B)fewer droughts.
C)fewer and less severe hurricanes.
D)greater agricultural productivity in currently water-stressed regions.

Question 52

If water is depleted from an aquifer faster than the recharge rate,

A)the water table will rise.
B)surface water will stop percolating downward.
C)wetlands will flood.
D)sinkholes may form.

Question 53

Which of the following would cause a rising water table?

A)increased precipitation
B)increased runoff
C)decreasing infiltration
D)groundwater depletion exceeding the recharge rate

Question 54

Which of the following slows the global hydrologic cycle?

A)increased atmospheric pollution with aerosol particles
B)increased use of pesticides
C)increased evaporation from land surfaces
D)global warming

Question 55

Which one of the following is likely to result from damming a river?

A)access to buried resources in flooded land is greatly increased
B)wetland habitats are expanded
C)the frequency and severity of floods decreases
D)water cools and contains more oxygen

Question 56

The thermohaline currents of the oceans

A)are major contributors to global climate change.
B)carry nutrients upward and also transport heat that warms Europe and North America.
C)are growing stronger and warmer.
D)are warmest in the deepest parts of the ocean.

Question 57

The greatest worldwide use of water is for

A)irrigation.
B)industry.
C)human consumption.
D)washing and flushing toilets.

Question 58

When freshwater inflows into estuaries are reduced,

A)salt water intrudes into the system.
B)exotic species of plants and invertebrates may invade the estuary.
C)populations of native species decline.
D)All of the above.

Question 59

Saltwater intrusion occurs

A)in coastal regions where the water table remains high.
B)in coastal regions where the water table is falling.
C)when surface water seeps into groundwater.
D)when flooding occurs in large areas of surface water.

Question 60

A zookeeper arrives at work and begins her day by filling up the coffeemaker with tap water.Washing some vegetables off in a sink,she prepares meals for the monkeys.Later in the day,she washes down the animals enclosures into the zoos sewage system and sprinkles the plants growing in a nearby garden.What did the zookeeper do that represents a consumptive use of water?

A)using tap water for coffee
B)using water to wash food
C)using water for the garden
D)using water to clean out a cage

Question 61

Hydroelectric power

A)generally requires the construction of dams.
B)does not contribute to global warming.
C)is a renewable source of energy.
D)All of the above.

Question 62

Any area protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968

A)limits dams to more than 5 miles apart.
B)permits limited mining and logging only more than 100 feet from the water's edge.
C)protects these regions like national parks.
D)is no longer protected because the act has been repealed to build more hydroelectric dams.

Question 63

All of the following are typically used in developing countries to address water shortages,except

A)tilling the soil thoroughly and frequently before planting crops.
B)importing food products from regions that have excess fresh water.
C)controlling soil erosion.
D)building small check dams to recharge aquifers.

Question 64

Desalination plants,such as the one just completed in Tampa Bay,

A)produce water as inexpensively as groundwater supplies.
B)are unfortunately not a sustainable source of water.
C)produce enough water for local agricultural crops such as corn.
D)None of the above.

Question 65

Which of the following currently is the most sustainable and affordable source of water in the face of global warming?

A)using rotary displacement pumps to desalinate seawater
B)using hydroelectric dams to generate electricity to pump aquifers for irrigation
C)using coal generated electricity to desalinate seawater
D)using natural gas to generate electricity to melt glaciers

Question 66

Agricultural fields that must be irrigated to sustain a crop will eventually

A)produce sinkholes.
B)lose most of their minerals and salts.
C)accumulate toxic levels of salts from evaporation.
D)produce soils that will not hold water,leading to desertification.

Question 67

Drip irrigation systems are

A)less efficient than traditional flood or center-pivot systems.
B)cheaper,compared to traditional flood or center-pivot systems.
C)producing greater crop yields.
D)used for most irrigation of crops in the United States.

Question 68

As cities in the United States grow,they are finding that the increased water demands are best addressed by addressing the water footprint,including especially

A)building more reservoirs.
B)drilling more wells.
C)building desalination plants.
D)conservation measures.

Question 69

The greatest threats to ground water supplies are

A)groundwater pollution and depletion.
B)global warming and the construction of dams.
C)increased evaporation and increased precipitation.
D)evapotranspiration and runoff.

Question 70

The Three Gorges Dam

A)will allow China to have a large surplus of fresh water.
B)will not require the relocation of people.
C)is the largest hydroelectric project in the world.
D)will be coupled with several desalinization plants.

Question 71

In the United States,over the past 30 years,the population has

A)increased,and the amount of water each person consumes has increased.
B)increased,but the amount of water each person consumes has leveled off.
C)decreased,but the amount of water each person consumes has increased.
D)decreased,and the amount of water each person consumes has decreased.

Question 72

As world populations increase

A)the greatest increases in water demands will occur in the developing world.
B)water demands will remain unchanged in the developing world.
C)irrigation demands for water will stabilize at current levels.
D)there will have to be a major increase in bottled water use.

Question 73

The single greatest threat to irrigated agriculture is

A)groundwater depletion.
B)global warming.
C)flooding.
D)None of the above.

Question 74

Treadle pumps

A)work like a step exercise machine.
B)pump groundwater from just a few feet below the surface to a field.
C)are in use in eastern Asia and parts of Africa.
D)All of the above.

Question 75

As global populations increase demands for water and global warming continues,the most sustainable source of water for poor developing countries will be

A)groundwater aquifers.
B)dams to capture runoff water.
C)estuaries.
D)desalination plants.

Question 76

Which of the following is true?

A)Waste in water use and food production cancel each other out.
B)Bottled water is cheaper than trying to move water by pumping it long distances.
C)Conservation of water resources,energy and food production and distribution are linked.
D)The water needed to grow vegetables and grains is much greater than to produce beef.

Question 77

A lawn based on the principle of xeriscaping

A)uses at least twice as much water as necessary.
B)uses species that require no water other than natural precipitation.
C)gets its water from redirected urban runoff.
D)includes agricultural crop species.

Question 78

Which of the following is true of the Blue Revolution?

A)less dependence on capturing runoff water
B)restricting access to aquifers
C)moving away from desalination toward increased use of bottled water
D)making harder efforts to conserve,especially in food production

Question 79

Which of the following is not an example of gray water?

A)water from a sink
B)water from a toilet
C)water from a clothes washer
D)water from a shower

Question 80

Dams typically

A)eliminate flooding both upstream and downstream.
B)create important water reservoirs.
C)contribute to global warming and increase aerosol levels.
D)help stabilize estuarine ecosystems.