Question 1

A manufacturer finds that his wastewater has twice the regulated concentration of mercury allowed to discharge into the nearby river. The manufacturer finds that simply mixing his wastewater with an equal volume of clean water from the river will enable him attain the regulated concentration of mercury and is far less expensive than removing mercury from the waste stream. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

Mixing wastewater with clean water to meet regulatory standards reflects the belief that dilution can solve pollution issues, rather than addressing the root cause by removing the pollutant.

Question 2

Which of the following is not an example of how surface water functions to serve humans?

Accepted Answer

Pollution disrupting the natural balance of aquatic ecosystems is a negative impact on surface water, not a function that serves humans.

Question 3

The adult human body is approximately _______% water.

Accepted Answer

The adult human body is approximately 60% water, which is essential for various bodily functions including temperature regulation, nutrient transport, and waste removal.

Question 4

Amphibians are particularly sensitive to water pollution because

Accepted Answer

Amphibians often have aquatic larval stages and permeable skin, making them highly sensitive to water pollution.

Question 5

Among the uses of water listed below, select the one that represents the least amount of water consumed on a daily basis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Among the uses of water listed below,...

Question 6

The greatest quantity of fresh water is held in

Accepted Answer

Glaciers and ice caps hold the largest amount of the Earth's fresh water, significantly more than rivers, lakes, or groundwater.

Question 7

The greatest quantity of accessible drinking water is held in

Accepted Answer

Groundwater holds the greatest quantity of accessible drinking water compared to other sources like rivers and lakes.

Question 8

What fraction of people in the world has access to safe drinking water?

Accepted Answer

According to the World Health Organization, about 75% of the global population has access to safe drinking water.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about the water cycle is true?

Accepted Answer

The water cycle involves processes like evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, which help filter and clean water naturally.

Question 10

Which of the following is not one of the ways that humans alter the water cycle?

Accepted Answer

All the options listed are ways in which humans alter the natural water cycle, including harnessing water for energy, desalination, redirecting water, and storing water in scarce areas.

Question 11

The largest dam or diversion structure in the world is located in

Accepted Answer

The largest dam in the world by structural volume is the Three Gorges Dam, located on the Yangtze River in Hubei province, China.

Question 12

The Kissimmee River project is an example of

Accepted Answer

The Kissimmee River project initially aimed to control flooding by channelizing the river, but it led to unintended ecological consequences, such as habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity, prompting efforts to restore the river's natural flow.

Question 13

A _______ is a chemical that is toxic to some or all forms of life but it is not of biological origin.

Accepted Answer

A toxicant is a chemical substance that is toxic to living organisms and is not of biological origin, unlike toxins which are produced by living organisms.

Question 14

Ricin is a protein that comes from the castor oil plant. It is toxic to humans and other mammals at low doses. Ricin can be categorized as a

Accepted Answer

Ricin is a toxic protein that can cause harm to humans and other mammals even at low doses. It is therefore classified as a toxin.

Question 15

Dumping waste cyanide from a manufacturing facility would be considered _______, whereas dumping waste salt (sodium chloride) into a lake would be _______.

Accepted Answer

Dumping waste cyanide is considered pollution because it introduces harmful substances into the environment. Dumping waste salt is considered contamination as it may not be inherently toxic but can disrupt the ecosystem.

Question 16

When contaminating/polluting substances are discharged directly into a body of water, it is called _______ pollution.

Accepted Answer

Point source pollution refers to contaminants that enter a water body from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe or a ditch.

Question 17

When contaminating/polluting substances originate from many diffuse sources and enter a body of water indirectly, it is called _______ pollution.

Accepted Answer

Nonpoint source pollution refers to pollution that comes from many diffuse sources, rather than a single, identifiable source, and often enters water bodies indirectly through runoff.

Question 18

An emerging pollution problem is from personal care products (antibiotics, medicines, birth control pills, etc.) that are flushed down the toilet or disposed as municipal soil waste. This kind of water pollution would be best called

Accepted Answer

Nonpoint source pollution refers to diffuse contamination that does not originate from a single discrete source, such as runoff from agricultural fields or urban areas, which includes personal care products entering water systems.

Question 19

Which of the following is an inorganic pollutant?

Accepted Answer

Copper is a metal and considered an inorganic pollutant, whereas the other options are organic compounds.

Question 20

Inorganic pollutants would not include

Accepted Answer

DDT is an organic pollutant, while the others listed are inorganic pollutants.

Quiz 10: Water Resources