Question 1

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act helps prevent groundwater contamination by regulating the:

Accepted Answer

A)  amount of fertilizer used on commercial farms. 
B)  design and construction of septic systems. 
C)  storage and disposal of hazardous wastes. 
D)  tertiary treatment facilities at municipal wastewater treatment plants. 
E)  all of these choices are correct 
A)  amount of fertilizer used on commercial farms. 
B)  design and construction of septic systems. 
C)  storage and disposal of hazardous wastes. 
D)  tertiary treatment facilities at municipal wastewater treatment plants. 
E)  all of these choices are correct

Question 2

What potential health problems may result from the release of synthetic organic compounds into the environment?

Accepted Answer

A)  cancer 
B)  high blood pressure 
C)  neurological problems 
D)  hormonal effects 
E)  gastrointestinal disorders 
A)  cancer 
B)  high blood pressure 
C)  neurological problems 
D)  hormonal effects 
E)  gastrointestinal disorders

Question 3

A unique source of water pollution contributing to water quality problems in the Ganges River is:

Accepted Answer

A)  raw sewage. 
B)  disease-causing organisms. 
C)  zebra mussels. 
D)  PCBs. 
E)  ash from human cremations. 
A)  raw sewage. 
B)  disease-causing organisms. 
C)  zebra mussels. 
D)  PCBs. 
E)  ash from human cremations.

Question 4

All of the following represent categories of water pollution EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  thermal pollution. 
B)  organic compounds. 
C)  disease-causing agents. 
D)  sediment pollution. 
E)  oligotrophic pollution. 
A)  thermal pollution. 
B)  organic compounds. 
C)  disease-causing agents. 
D)  sediment pollution. 
E)  oligotrophic pollution.

Question 5

Which of the following is a basic goal of the Clean Water Act?

Accepted Answer

A)  to eliminate the discharge of pollutants 
B)  to attain water quality levels that are safe for fishing and swimming 
C)  to punish heavy waterway polluters 
D)  both to eliminate the discharge of pollutants and to attain water quality levels that are safe for fishing and swimming 
E)  set uniform federal standards for drinking water 
A)  to eliminate the discharge of pollutants 
B)  to attain water quality levels that are safe for fishing and swimming 
C)  to punish heavy waterway polluters 
D)  both to eliminate the discharge of pollutants and to attain water quality levels that are safe for fishing and swimming 
E)  set uniform federal standards for drinking water

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT an example of nonpoint source pollution?

Accepted Answer

A)  agricultural runoff 
B)  erosion from logging operations 
C)  acid mine drainage 
D)  sewage treatment plant effluent 
E)  construction sediment 
A)  agricultural runoff 
B)  erosion from logging operations 
C)  acid mine drainage 
D)  sewage treatment plant effluent 
E)  construction sediment

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT an example of an inorganic chemical found in polluted water?

Accepted Answer

A)  acids 
B)  salts 
C)  heavy metals 
D)  antibiotics 
E)  all of these are examples of inorganic chemicals 
A)  acids 
B)  salts 
C)  heavy metals 
D)  antibiotics 
E)  all of these are examples of inorganic chemicals

Question 8

Arsenic contamination of groundwater in the U.S., China, and many other countries comes from:

Accepted Answer

A)  agricultural runoff. 
B)  municipal wastewater. 
C)  weathering of bedrock and sediments 
D)  nuclear power plants. 
E)  septic systems. 
A)  agricultural runoff. 
B)  municipal wastewater. 
C)  weathering of bedrock and sediments 
D)  nuclear power plants. 
E)  septic systems.

Question 9

72% of the water pollution in rivers is attributed to:

Accepted Answer

A)  industries. 
B)  household wastes. 
C)  agriculture. 
D)  mining. 
E)  logging. 
A)  industries. 
B)  household wastes. 
C)  agriculture. 
D)  mining. 
E)  logging.

Question 10

All of the following conditions can be transmitted through contaminated food and water except:

Accepted Answer

A)  infectious hepatitis. 
B)  cholera. 
C)  bacterial dysentery. 
D)  AIDS. 
E)  typhoid. 
A)  infectious hepatitis. 
B)  cholera. 
C)  bacterial dysentery. 
D)  AIDS. 
E)  typhoid.

Question 11

Coastal hypoxia can be reversed through:

Accepted Answer

A)  eliminating pesticide use. 
B)  building dams to create reservoirs. 
C)  controlling the mercury emission from power plants. 
D)  regulating the disposal of medical wastes. 
E)  restoring former wetlands in the watershed to reduce the nitrate and phosphate load from fertilizers. 
A)  eliminating pesticide use. 
B)  building dams to create reservoirs. 
C)  controlling the mercury emission from power plants. 
D)  regulating the disposal of medical wastes. 
E)  restoring former wetlands in the watershed to reduce the nitrate and phosphate load from fertilizers.

Question 12

The Safe Drinking Water Act:

Accepted Answer

A)  was passed in 1965. 
B)  allowed states to set their own standards for drinking water. 
C)  required the EPA to determine the maximum contaminant levels for drinking water. 
D)  established the Environmental Protection Agency. 
E)  established national emission limitations for water pollutants. 
A)  was passed in 1965. 
B)  allowed states to set their own standards for drinking water. 
C)  required the EPA to determine the maximum contaminant levels for drinking water. 
D)  established the Environmental Protection Agency. 
E)  established national emission limitations for water pollutants.

Question 13

Turbidity:

Accepted Answer

A)  is caused by toxic chemicals. 
B)  impairs the ability of producers to photosynthesize. 
C)  is directly correlated with bacterial contamination. 
D)  lowers the water temperature. 
E)  increases light penetration. 
A)  is caused by toxic chemicals. 
B)  impairs the ability of producers to photosynthesize. 
C)  is directly correlated with bacterial contamination. 
D)  lowers the water temperature. 
E)  increases light penetration.

Question 14

Sewage is degraded by the process of:

Accepted Answer

A)  cellular respiration. 
B)  photosynthesis. 
C)  enrichment. 
D)  eutrophication. 
E)  primary treatment. 
A)  cellular respiration. 
B)  photosynthesis. 
C)  enrichment. 
D)  eutrophication. 
E)  primary treatment.

Question 15

Which of the following associations correctly pairs the current law with its goal controlling water pollution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Refuse Act (1899) - eliminates the discharge of pollutants into sanitary landfills 
B)  Clean Water Act (1987) - sets the amount of tax to charge polluters to pay for the cleanup 
C)  Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) - sets uniform federal standards for public drinking water supplies 
D)  Great Lakes Toxic Substance Control Agreement (1960) - regulates underground injection of wastes 
E)  All of these are correctly paired 
A)  Refuse Act (1899) - eliminates the discharge of pollutants into sanitary landfills 
B)  Clean Water Act (1987) - sets the amount of tax to charge polluters to pay for the cleanup 
C)  Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) - sets uniform federal standards for public drinking water supplies 
D)  Great Lakes Toxic Substance Control Agreement (1960) - regulates underground injection of wastes 
E)  All of these are correctly paired

Question 16

Compare and contrast point source and nonpoint source pollution. Include the following components in your comparison: sources, impact, prevention, and regulation of each type of pollution.

Accepted Answer

Point source pollution is discharge of w

Question 17

Which of the following is okay to dispose of in a toilet?

Accepted Answer

A)  Household cleaners 
B)  Paint thinners 
C)  Pet waste 
D)  Unused medications 
E)  All of these can be disposed of in a toilet 
A)  Household cleaners 
B)  Paint thinners 
C)  Pet waste 
D)  Unused medications 
E)  All of these can be disposed of in a toilet

Question 18

The EPA is required to monitor national emission limitations under the provisions of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Clean Water Act. 
B)  Healthy Forests Initiative. 
C)  Safe Drinking Water Act. 
D)  Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. 
E)  None of these choices is correct 
A)  Clean Water Act. 
B)  Healthy Forests Initiative. 
C)  Safe Drinking Water Act. 
D)  Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. 
E)  None of these choices is correct

Question 19

Which form of water treatment reduces phosphorus and nitrogen, and purifies wastewater for reuse in communities where water is scarce?

Accepted Answer

A)  primary treatment 
B)  secondary treatment 
C)  tertiary treatment 
D)  quaternary treatment 
E)  it is impossible to reuse wastewater 
A)  primary treatment 
B)  secondary treatment 
C)  tertiary treatment 
D)  quaternary treatment 
E)  it is impossible to reuse wastewater

Question 20

Mercury and lead:

Accepted Answer

A)  are components of acid precipitation. 
B)  affect only small organisms. 
C)  do not cause serious problems in the United States. 
D)  can cause mental impairment. 
E)  are radioactive. 
A)  are components of acid precipitation. 
B)  affect only small organisms. 
C)  do not cause serious problems in the United States. 
D)  can cause mental impairment. 
E)  are radioactive.

Exam 21: Water Pollution

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act helps prevent groundwater contamination by regulating the:

What potential health problems may result from the release of synthetic organic compounds into the environment?

A unique source of water pollution contributing to water quality problems in the Ganges River is:

All of the following represent categories of water pollution EXCEPT:

Which of the following is a basic goal of the Clean Water Act?

Which of the following is NOT an example of nonpoint source pollution?

Which of the following is NOT an example of an inorganic chemical found in polluted water?

Arsenic contamination of groundwater in the U.S., China, and many other countries comes from:

72% of the water pollution in rivers is attributed to:

All of the following conditions can be transmitted through contaminated food and water except:

Coastal hypoxia can be reversed through:

The Safe Drinking Water Act:

Turbidity:

Sewage is degraded by the process of:

Which of the following associations correctly pairs the current law with its goal controlling water pollution?

Compare and contrast point source and nonpoint source pollution. Include the following components in your comparison: sources, impact, prevention, and regulation of each type of pollution.

Which of the following is okay to dispose of in a toilet?

The EPA is required to monitor national emission limitations under the provisions of the:

Which form of water treatment reduces phosphorus and nitrogen, and purifies wastewater for reuse in communities where water is scarce?

Mercury and lead:

Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

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Ecosystems and Energy

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Major Ecosystems of the World

Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

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Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

Water: a Limited Resource

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