Question 1

Which of the following heavy metals contaminates water and can accumulate in human muscle tissue?

Accepted Answer

A)  manganese 
B)  aluminum 
C)  mercury 
D)  iron 
E)  none of these heavy metals can accumulate in human tissues 
A)  manganese 
B)  aluminum 
C)  mercury 
D)  iron 
E)  none of these heavy metals can accumulate in human tissues

Question 2

What is the difference between an oligotrophic lake and eutrophic lake?

Accepted Answer

A)  An oligotrophic lake is enriched; a eutrophic lake is unenriched. 
B)  Oligotropic lakes are found only in northern latitudes; eutrophic lakes are found only in southern latitudes. 
C)  An oligotropic lake is defined as less than 40 meters deep; a eutrophic lake is defined as over 40 meters deep. 
D)  An oligotropic lake has a low level of nutrients; a eutrophic lake has a high level of nutrients. 
E)  An oligotropic lake has a high level of nutrients; a eutrophic lake has a low level of nutrients. 
A)  An oligotrophic lake is enriched; a eutrophic lake is unenriched. 
B)  Oligotropic lakes are found only in northern latitudes; eutrophic lakes are found only in southern latitudes. 
C)  An oligotropic lake is defined as less than 40 meters deep; a eutrophic lake is defined as over 40 meters deep. 
D)  An oligotropic lake has a low level of nutrients; a eutrophic lake has a high level of nutrients. 
E)  An oligotropic lake has a high level of nutrients; a eutrophic lake has a low level of nutrients.

Question 3

Fluoridation:

Accepted Answer

A)  helps to keep drinking water free of disease-causing organisms. 
B)  is more common in the western United States than on the east coast. 
C)  may eventually be replaced by ultraviolet disinfection or filtration through activated carbon granules. 
D)  is the main reason for the increase in tooth decay observed in children over the past few decades. 
E)  has not been linked to any serious medical conditions or side effects. 
A)  helps to keep drinking water free of disease-causing organisms. 
B)  is more common in the western United States than on the east coast. 
C)  may eventually be replaced by ultraviolet disinfection or filtration through activated carbon granules. 
D)  is the main reason for the increase in tooth decay observed in children over the past few decades. 
E)  has not been linked to any serious medical conditions or side effects.

Question 4

Pollution that is discharged into the environment through pipes, sewers, or ditches is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  polluted runoff. 
B)  point source pollution. 
C)  nonpoint source pollution. 
D)  specific discharge. 
E)  effluent runoff. 
A)  polluted runoff. 
B)  point source pollution. 
C)  nonpoint source pollution. 
D)  specific discharge. 
E)  effluent runoff.

Question 5

Which statement is NOT true about organic compounds?

Accepted Answer

A)  They contain carbon. 
B)  They can be pesticides, solvents, or plastics. 
C)  They come from industries, homes, and farms. 
D)  The human body makes some organic compounds. 
E)  None of these, all are true statements about organic compounds. 
A)  They contain carbon. 
B)  They can be pesticides, solvents, or plastics. 
C)  They come from industries, homes, and farms. 
D)  The human body makes some organic compounds. 
E)  None of these, all are true statements about organic compounds.

Question 6

A large amount of sewage:

Accepted Answer

A)  generates a high BOD, which raises the level of dissolved oxygen in the water. 
B)  generates a high BOD, which lowers the level of dissolved oxygen in the water. 
C)  generates a low BOD, which raises the level of dissolved oxygen in the water. 
D)  generates a low BOD, which lowers the level of dissolved oxygen in the water. 
E)  does not affect the BOD. 
A)  generates a high BOD, which raises the level of dissolved oxygen in the water. 
B)  generates a high BOD, which lowers the level of dissolved oxygen in the water. 
C)  generates a low BOD, which raises the level of dissolved oxygen in the water. 
D)  generates a low BOD, which lowers the level of dissolved oxygen in the water. 
E)  does not affect the BOD.

Question 7

Describe how most drinking water is purified in the U.S. What are the benefits and potential hazards of chlorinating the water? Is there an alternative method for the purification of drinking water?

Accepted Answer

In the U.S. municipal water supplies are

Question 8

Thermal pollution:

Accepted Answer

A)  only impacts the respiration of fishes and other aquatic animals. 
B)  decreases the amount of dissolved oxygen. 
C)  has little effect on smaller aquatic organisms. 
D)  greatly increases turbidity. 
E)  is linked to agricultural run-off. 
A)  only impacts the respiration of fishes and other aquatic animals. 
B)  decreases the amount of dissolved oxygen. 
C)  has little effect on smaller aquatic organisms. 
D)  greatly increases turbidity. 
E)  is linked to agricultural run-off.

Question 9

The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act required the EPA to determine which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  national emission limitations 
B)  maximum contaminant level 
C)  artificial contaminant governance 
D)  discharge regulation standards 
E)  none of these choices is correct 
A)  national emission limitations 
B)  maximum contaminant level 
C)  artificial contaminant governance 
D)  discharge regulation standards 
E)  none of these choices is correct

Question 10

Radon:

Accepted Answer

A)  is produced by industry in large quantities. 
B)  is a component of acid precipitation. 
C)  causes mental impairment. 
D)  causes nutrient enrichment of water. 
E)  is a radioactive gas. 
A)  is produced by industry in large quantities. 
B)  is a component of acid precipitation. 
C)  causes mental impairment. 
D)  causes nutrient enrichment of water. 
E)  is a radioactive gas.

Question 11

Soil erosion forces about 200 acres of sediment disposition into the Adriatic Sea from which region every year?

Accepted Answer

A)  Po River, Italy 
B)  Ganges River, India 
C)  Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela 
D)  Kwale River, Bangladesh 
E)  None of these choices are correct 
A)  Po River, Italy 
B)  Ganges River, India 
C)  Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela 
D)  Kwale River, Bangladesh 
E)  None of these choices are correct

Question 12

Secondary water treatment:

Accepted Answer

A)  uses aerobic microorganisms to decompose organic wastes. 
B)  removes phosphorus and nitrogen. 
C)  involves the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes. 
D)  removes heavy metals and pesticides. 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  uses aerobic microorganisms to decompose organic wastes. 
B)  removes phosphorus and nitrogen. 
C)  involves the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes. 
D)  removes heavy metals and pesticides. 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 13

Compare the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act. Briefly discuss the effectiveness of each act and highlight any areas in which pollution is still "escaping" regulation.

Accepted Answer

The Safe Drinking Water Act sets uniform

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of a synthetic organic compound found in polluted water?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide 
B)  caffeine 
C)  chlorine 
D)  salt 
E)  heavy metals 
A)  carbon dioxide 
B)  caffeine 
C)  chlorine 
D)  salt 
E)  heavy metals

Question 15

Lead and mercury poisoning are serious health threats. What are the sources of lead in the drinking water supply? Where does lead accumulate in the body and what medical conditions can result from lead exposure? Are the sources, bodily accumulations and medical conditions the same for mercury poisoning? If not, what are the differences?

Accepted Answer

Because lead accumulates in the bones, b

Question 16

Eutrophication:

Accepted Answer

A)  lessens biodiversity. 
B)  lowers the dissolved oxygen content of the water. 
C)  is caused by nutrient enrichment. 
D)  results in increased photosynthetic productivity. 
E)  All of these statements are correct 
A)  lessens biodiversity. 
B)  lowers the dissolved oxygen content of the water. 
C)  is caused by nutrient enrichment. 
D)  results in increased photosynthetic productivity. 
E)  All of these statements are correct

Question 17

Which of the following occurs in sewage treatment plants when excessive rainfall causes sewage water to flow into waterways without being treated?

Accepted Answer

A)  combined sewer overflow 
B)  isolated sewer overflow 
C)  point source pollution 
D)  industrial wastewater 
E)  none of these choices is correct 
A)  combined sewer overflow 
B)  isolated sewer overflow 
C)  point source pollution 
D)  industrial wastewater 
E)  none of these choices is correct

Question 18

Which of the following is the maximum amount of water pollutant that can be discharged from a certain source?

Accepted Answer

A)  national emission limitations 
B)  maximum contaminant level 
C)  artificial contaminant governance 
D)  discharge regulation standards 
E)  none of these statements is correct 
A)  national emission limitations 
B)  maximum contaminant level 
C)  artificial contaminant governance 
D)  discharge regulation standards 
E)  none of these statements is correct

Question 19

Which of the following industries does NOT contribute to high BOD in water?

Accepted Answer

A)  food processing 
B)  nuclear power 
C)  agriculture 
D)  pulp and paper mills 
E)  all of these choices are correct 
A)  food processing 
B)  nuclear power 
C)  agriculture 
D)  pulp and paper mills 
E)  all of these choices are correct

Question 20

The water that comes out of my tap at home is fluoridated. Why does the city do that to the public water supply? I want to go before the city council to complain. Would my complaint have a basis for support?

Accepted Answer

Small amounts of fluoride have been adde

Exam 21: Water Pollution

Which of the following heavy metals contaminates water and can accumulate in human muscle tissue?

What is the difference between an oligotrophic lake and eutrophic lake?

Fluoridation:

Pollution that is discharged into the environment through pipes, sewers, or ditches is called:

Which statement is NOT true about organic compounds?

A large amount of sewage:

Describe how most drinking water is purified in the U.S. What are the benefits and potential hazards of chlorinating the water? Is there an alternative method for the purification of drinking water?

Thermal pollution:

The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act required the EPA to determine which of the following?

Radon:

Soil erosion forces about 200 acres of sediment disposition into the Adriatic Sea from which region every year?

Secondary water treatment:

Compare the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act. Briefly discuss the effectiveness of each act and highlight any areas in which pollution is still "escaping" regulation.

Which of the following is an example of a synthetic organic compound found in polluted water?

Eutrophication:

Which of the following occurs in sewage treatment plants when excessive rainfall causes sewage water to flow into waterways without being treated?

Which of the following is the maximum amount of water pollutant that can be discharged from a certain source?

Which of the following industries does NOT contribute to high BOD in water?

The water that comes out of my tap at home is fluoridated. Why does the city do that to the public water supply? I want to go before the city council to complain. Would my complaint have a basis for support?

Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

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Water: a Limited Resource

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