Question 1

Which of the following human actions or features does NOT significantly contribute to flooding?

Accepted Answer

A)  deforestation 
B)  draining of wetlands 
C)  paving surfaces for roads and parking 
D)  zoning restrictions 
E)  all of these significantly contribute to flooding 
A)  deforestation 
B)  draining of wetlands 
C)  paving surfaces for roads and parking 
D)  zoning restrictions 
E)  all of these significantly contribute to flooding

Question 2

Which of the following have a vested interest in resolving the water rights controversy along the Missouri River?

Accepted Answer

A)  farmers 
B)  Native Americans 
C)  recreational and tourism groups 
D)  hydroelectric producers 
E)  all of these groups have a vested interest 
A)  farmers 
B)  Native Americans 
C)  recreational and tourism groups 
D)  hydroelectric producers 
E)  all of these groups have a vested interest

Question 3

An area of land that is drained by a single river is called a/an:

Accepted Answer

A)  wetland. 
B)  aquifer. 
C)  watershed. 
D)  drainage basin. 
E)  both watershed and drainage basin 
A)  wetland. 
B)  aquifer. 
C)  watershed. 
D)  drainage basin. 
E)  both watershed and drainage basin

Question 4

The effects of flooding are more destructive today than in the past because:

Accepted Answer

A)  the use of levees has been determined to be an unsound engineering practice. 
B)  retaining walls are too expensive to build in all of the appropriate locations. 
C)  buildings are constructed on flood plains. 
D)  soil with plant cover is ineffective in absorbing excess water. 
E)  roads and buildings effectively absorb and slow water flow. 
A)  the use of levees has been determined to be an unsound engineering practice. 
B)  retaining walls are too expensive to build in all of the appropriate locations. 
C)  buildings are constructed on flood plains. 
D)  soil with plant cover is ineffective in absorbing excess water. 
E)  roads and buildings effectively absorb and slow water flow.

Question 5

The upper limit of an unconfined underground reservoir of water is termed the:

Accepted Answer

A)  aquifer. 
B)  water table. 
C)  watershed. 
D)  wetland. 
E)  groundwater. 
A)  aquifer. 
B)  water table. 
C)  watershed. 
D)  wetland. 
E)  groundwater.

Question 6

Which of the following countries does NOT face significant water supply challenges?

Accepted Answer

A)  United States 
B)  Iraq 
C)  China 
D)  Mexico 
E)  None; all of these countries face water supply challenges. 
A)  United States 
B)  Iraq 
C)  China 
D)  Mexico 
E)  None; all of these countries face water supply challenges.

Question 7

Flooding of the Mississippi River basin in 2008 was caused, or exacerbated, by all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  faulty dams upstream of major flooding areas. 
B)  several months of unusually heavy precipitation. 
C)  levees that failed to hold back floodwaters. 
D)  draining wetlands. 
E)  building on flood plains. 
A)  faulty dams upstream of major flooding areas. 
B)  several months of unusually heavy precipitation. 
C)  levees that failed to hold back floodwaters. 
D)  draining wetlands. 
E)  building on flood plains.

Question 8

Saltwater intrusion can occur in coastal areas due to:

Accepted Answer

A)  excessive groundwater pumping. 
B)  larger or more frequent hurricanes. 
C)  sinkhole formation. 
D)  wetland degradation. 
E)  subsidence. 
A)  excessive groundwater pumping. 
B)  larger or more frequent hurricanes. 
C)  sinkhole formation. 
D)  wetland degradation. 
E)  subsidence.

Question 9

Describe how climate change is expected to play an important role in future freshwater availability.

Accepted Answer

Climate change will affect the amount, t

Question 10

Most freshwater is present in the form of:

Accepted Answer

A)  water in lakes. 
B)  ice caps and glaciers. 
C)  water in rivers. 
D)  groundwater. 
E)  atmospheric water vapor. 
A)  water in lakes. 
B)  ice caps and glaciers. 
C)  water in rivers. 
D)  groundwater. 
E)  atmospheric water vapor.

Question 11

What is aquifer depletion and what are some of its potential environmental effects.

Accepted Answer

Aquifer depletion occurs when groundwate

Question 12

Describe the benefits of dams along the Columbia River and strategies being implemented to minimize the impacts of the dams on salmon.

Accepted Answer

The Columbia River has more than 100 dam

Question 13

Which of the following does NOT contribute to water shortages in the American Southwest?

Accepted Answer

A)  aqueducts transporting water from distant sources 
B)  climate change leading to reduced snowfall in the Rocky Mountains 
C)  growing demand for municipal, commercial, and industrial uses 
D)  arid or semiarid climate with limited precipitation 
E)  growing populations in cities such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City 
A)  aqueducts transporting water from distant sources 
B)  climate change leading to reduced snowfall in the Rocky Mountains 
C)  growing demand for municipal, commercial, and industrial uses 
D)  arid or semiarid climate with limited precipitation 
E)  growing populations in cities such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City

Question 14

Which of the following is the most effective way to reduce flood-related damage?

Accepted Answer

A)  creating exposed, barren hillsides by clear cutting woodlands 
B)  constructing new buildings 
C)  building expensive levees 
D)  restricting development on flood plains 
E)  paving new roads 
A)  creating exposed, barren hillsides by clear cutting woodlands 
B)  constructing new buildings 
C)  building expensive levees 
D)  restricting development on flood plains 
E)  paving new roads

Question 15

Do you think desalinization is the solution to our freshwater supply problems? Thoroughly justify your answer by examining both your position and the opposing viewpoint.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary, but one such answer f

Question 16

All of the following are successful motivators for consumers to conserve water EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  water rationing. 
B)  increased water prices. 
C)  improved technology. 
D)  effective education 
E)  All these choices are true 
A)  water rationing. 
B)  increased water prices. 
C)  improved technology. 
D)  effective education 
E)  All these choices are true

Question 17

When the Mississippi River flooded in 2008,

Accepted Answer

A)  it was the first time such floods affected Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Iowa. 
B)  sandbags and levees prevented major damage. 
C)  it was only the latest in a series of major floods along that particular river. 
D)  wetlands prevented the water from receding quickly. 
E)  it affected relatively few people. 
A)  it was the first time such floods affected Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Iowa. 
B)  sandbags and levees prevented major damage. 
C)  it was only the latest in a series of major floods along that particular river. 
D)  wetlands prevented the water from receding quickly. 
E)  it affected relatively few people.

Question 18

Water problems are particularly severe in the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Pacific Northwest. 
B)  American Southwest (Colorado River basin). 
C)  High Plains. 
D)  Gulf Coast states. 
E)  Upper Midwest. 
A)  Pacific Northwest. 
B)  American Southwest (Colorado River basin). 
C)  High Plains. 
D)  Gulf Coast states. 
E)  Upper Midwest.

Question 19

A flood plain describes the area bordering a river channel __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  where no building construction is allowed 
B)  that is likely to flood 
C)  that is flooded after a dam is constructed 
D)  where periodic floods remove nutrients from the soil 
E)  where plant cover should be removed to reduce flooding 
A)  where no building construction is allowed 
B)  that is likely to flood 
C)  that is flooded after a dam is constructed 
D)  where periodic floods remove nutrients from the soil 
E)  where plant cover should be removed to reduce flooding

Question 20

A 2008 study by researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography predicts climate change over the next 50 years will result in:

Accepted Answer

A)  flow in the Colorado River decreasing by 10-30%. 
B)  flow in the Colorado River increasing due to warmer and wetter air masses. 
C)  Lake Mead being unable to supply water to San Francisco. 
D)  Hoover Dam producing 10% more electricity. 
E)  greater saltwater intrusion along the Pacific Coast. 
A)  flow in the Colorado River decreasing by 10-30%. 
B)  flow in the Colorado River increasing due to warmer and wetter air masses. 
C)  Lake Mead being unable to supply water to San Francisco. 
D)  Hoover Dam producing 10% more electricity. 
E)  greater saltwater intrusion along the Pacific Coast.

Exam 13: Water: a Limited Resource

Which of the following human actions or features does NOT significantly contribute to flooding?

Which of the following have a vested interest in resolving the water rights controversy along the Missouri River?

An area of land that is drained by a single river is called a/an:

The effects of flooding are more destructive today than in the past because:

The upper limit of an unconfined underground reservoir of water is termed the:

Which of the following countries does NOT face significant water supply challenges?

Flooding of the Mississippi River basin in 2008 was caused, or exacerbated, by all of the following EXCEPT:

Saltwater intrusion can occur in coastal areas due to:

Describe how climate change is expected to play an important role in future freshwater availability.

Most freshwater is present in the form of:

What is aquifer depletion and what are some of its potential environmental effects.

Describe the benefits of dams along the Columbia River and strategies being implemented to minimize the impacts of the dams on salmon.

Which of the following does NOT contribute to water shortages in the American Southwest?

Which of the following is the most effective way to reduce flood-related damage?

Do you think desalinization is the solution to our freshwater supply problems? Thoroughly justify your answer by examining both your position and the opposing viewpoint.

All of the following are successful motivators for consumers to conserve water EXCEPT:

When the Mississippi River flooded in 2008,

Water problems are particularly severe in the:

A flood plain describes the area bordering a river channel __________.

A 2008 study by researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography predicts climate change over the next 50 years will result in:

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