Question 1

Groundwater would flow the fastest between two points if:

Accepted Answer

A)  the hydraulic gradient is high and the hydraulic conductivity is low. 
B)  the hydraulic gradient and the hydraulic conductivity are both low. 
C)  the hydraulic gradient and the hydraulic conductivity are both high. 
D)  the hydraulic gradient is low and the hydraulic conductivity is high. 
A)  the hydraulic gradient is high and the hydraulic conductivity is low. 
B)  the hydraulic gradient and the hydraulic conductivity are both low. 
C)  the hydraulic gradient and the hydraulic conductivity are both high. 
D)  the hydraulic gradient is low and the hydraulic conductivity is high. C

Question 2

When water is withdrawn from a well, a cone of depression is created in which:

Accepted Answer

A)  the water table in the vicinity of the well is temporarily lowered. 
B)  the groundwater potential in the vicinity of the well is lowered. 
C)  the soil within the aquifer presses inward toward the well. 
D)  the land surface in the vicinity of the well subsides. 
A)  the water table in the vicinity of the well is temporarily lowered. 
B)  the groundwater potential in the vicinity of the well is lowered. 
C)  the soil within the aquifer presses inward toward the well. 
D)  the land surface in the vicinity of the well subsides. A

Question 3

The rate at which groundwater flows over a long distance can be measured with which of the following radioactive isotopes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Potassium. 
B)  Carbon- 14. 
C)  Uranium. 
D)  Rubidium. 
A)  Potassium. 
B)  Carbon- 14. 
C)  Uranium. 
D)  Rubidium. B

Question 4

The capillary fringe is located:

Accepted Answer

A)  below the water table and is part of the zone of saturation. 
B)  just below the surface of the ground and is part of the zone of aeration. 
C)  between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation. 
D)  just above the water table and is part of the zone of aeration. 
A)  below the water table and is part of the zone of saturation. 
B)  just below the surface of the ground and is part of the zone of aeration. 
C)  between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation. 
D)  just above the water table and is part of the zone of aeration.

Question 5

Groundwater can clean itself of all of the following contaminants EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  sewage bacteria. 
B)  dissolved chemical pollutants. 
C)  larger viruses. 
D)  suspended solids. 
A)  sewage bacteria. 
B)  dissolved chemical pollutants. 
C)  larger viruses. 
D)  suspended solids.

Question 6

It is especially important to protect groundwater within cave systems from contamination because:

Accepted Answer

A)  water is not filtered, and there is not enough time for microorganisms to consume contaminants. 
B)  karst groundwater often seeps upward into the soil and contaminates agricultural crops. 
C)  the chemical constituents of limestone tend to enhance contaminants rather than degrade them. 
D)  pollutants accumulate so rapidly that natural cleaning mechanisms are overloaded. 
A)  water is not filtered, and there is not enough time for microorganisms to consume contaminants. 
B)  karst groundwater often seeps upward into the soil and contaminates agricultural crops. 
C)  the chemical constituents of limestone tend to enhance contaminants rather than degrade them. 
D)  pollutants accumulate so rapidly that natural cleaning mechanisms are overloaded.

Question 7

A water table's configuration is usually:

Accepted Answer

A)  random and unpredictable. 
B)  parallel to the topography, with highs under hills and lows in valleys. 
C)  opposite to the topography, with highs in valleys and lows under hills. 
D)  flat, because water seeks its own level. 
A)  random and unpredictable. 
B)  parallel to the topography, with highs under hills and lows in valleys. 
C)  opposite to the topography, with highs in valleys and lows under hills. 
D)  flat, because water seeks its own level.

Question 8

A prominent surface feature of karst land would be:

Accepted Answer

A)  braided streams. 
B)  disappearing streams. 
C)  meandering streams. 
D)  rectangular drainage patterns. 
A)  braided streams. 
B)  disappearing streams. 
C)  meandering streams. 
D)  rectangular drainage patterns.

Question 9

What causes the dissolution of limestone?

Accepted Answer

Insoluble in pure water, limestone does

Question 10

Open- air spaces within the cave cause downward percolating groundwater to do all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  lose carbon dioxide, causing carbonic acid to convert to water and carbon dioxide. 
B)  carbon dioxide loss causes calcium carbonate to precipitate from solution. 
C)  evaporate, saturating the remaining water with calcium bicarbonate. 
D)  dissolve more of the limestone present. 
A)  lose carbon dioxide, causing carbonic acid to convert to water and carbon dioxide. 
B)  carbon dioxide loss causes calcium carbonate to precipitate from solution. 
C)  evaporate, saturating the remaining water with calcium bicarbonate. 
D)  dissolve more of the limestone present.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about stalactites is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  In mature stages, they resemble large icicles and grow when water drips along the outside. 
B)  They are composed of the rock travertine and are hollow inside. 
C)  In their early stages, they are tube- like and grow when water drips through the inside and deposits calcium carbonate at the end. 
D)  They form as groundwater seeps into the roof of a cave and evaporates or releases carbon dioxide. 
A)  In mature stages, they resemble large icicles and grow when water drips along the outside. 
B)  They are composed of the rock travertine and are hollow inside. 
C)  In their early stages, they are tube- like and grow when water drips through the inside and deposits calcium carbonate at the end. 
D)  They form as groundwater seeps into the roof of a cave and evaporates or releases carbon dioxide.

Question 12

Banded draperies form when:

Accepted Answer

A)  the partition between two adjacent caves erodes to a thin, curtain- like structure. 
B)  a series of columns becomes connected. 
C)  water from the cave ceiling washes over a section of a cave wall. 
D)  speleothm is deposited below a joint or crack in the cave ceiling. 
A)  the partition between two adjacent caves erodes to a thin, curtain- like structure. 
B)  a series of columns becomes connected. 
C)  water from the cave ceiling washes over a section of a cave wall. 
D)  speleothm is deposited below a joint or crack in the cave ceiling.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about limestone is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Calcium bicarbonate is produced as a result of the dissolution of limestone by carbonic acid. 
B)  The most soluble component of limestone is the mineral calcite. 
C)  Limestone dissolves most readily in pure water. 
D)  Limestone may contain as little as 50% calcite. 
A)  Calcium bicarbonate is produced as a result of the dissolution of limestone by carbonic acid. 
B)  The most soluble component of limestone is the mineral calcite. 
C)  Limestone dissolves most readily in pure water. 
D)  Limestone may contain as little as 50% calcite.

Question 14

Groundwater represents what percentage of the world's water?

Accepted Answer

A)  6%. 
B)  60%. 
C)  16%. 
D)  0.6%. 
A)  6%. 
B)  60%. 
C)  16%. 
D)  0.6%.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about thermal springs is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most are heated either by contact with hot igneous rocks or by water circulating within regions heated by the Earth's geothermal heat flow. 
B)  Mineral deposits called sinter form where thermal spring water reaches the surface and evaporates. 
C)  A thermal spring may also be an artesian spring. 
D)  A thermal spring is one in which the water temperature is within a few degrees of the boiling point. 
A)  Most are heated either by contact with hot igneous rocks or by water circulating within regions heated by the Earth's geothermal heat flow. 
B)  Mineral deposits called sinter form where thermal spring water reaches the surface and evaporates. 
C)  A thermal spring may also be an artesian spring. 
D)  A thermal spring is one in which the water temperature is within a few degrees of the boiling point.

Question 16

An unconfined aquifer is one that:

Accepted Answer

A)  has no impermeable layer beneath it. 
B)  is unbounded laterally by geological obstacles. 
C)  has no impermeable layer either above or beneath it. 
D)  has no overlying impermeable layer. 
A)  has no impermeable layer beneath it. 
B)  is unbounded laterally by geological obstacles. 
C)  has no impermeable layer either above or beneath it. 
D)  has no overlying impermeable layer.

Question 17

Natural bridges form from:

Accepted Answer

A)  accumulations of sediment across sinkhole lakes. 
B)  spans of insoluble rock that connect sinkholes. 
C)  uncollapsed material between expanded and coalesced sinkholes. 
D)  interconnections of large speleothems. 
A)  accumulations of sediment across sinkhole lakes. 
B)  spans of insoluble rock that connect sinkholes. 
C)  uncollapsed material between expanded and coalesced sinkholes. 
D)  interconnections of large speleothems.

Question 18

The radioactive wastes at Yucca Mountain would be stored:

Accepted Answer

A)  240 meters above the surface, in a limestone vault. 
B)  300 meters beneath the surface, in welded tuffs. 
C)  40 meters beneath the surface, in welded tuffs. 
D)  at the surface in a limestone vault. 
A)  240 meters above the surface, in a limestone vault. 
B)  300 meters beneath the surface, in welded tuffs. 
C)  40 meters beneath the surface, in welded tuffs. 
D)  at the surface in a limestone vault.

Question 19

The potentiometric surface of an artesian aquifer is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the boundary between the artesian aquifer and an overlying confining layer. 
B)  the difference in elevation between the area of recharge and the area of discharge. 
C)  the level to which the water in the area of discharge would rise in the absence of friction. 
D)  the difference in groundwater potential between water in the area of discharge and water in the area of recharge. 
A)  the boundary between the artesian aquifer and an overlying confining layer. 
B)  the difference in elevation between the area of recharge and the area of discharge. 
C)  the level to which the water in the area of discharge would rise in the absence of friction. 
D)  the difference in groundwater potential between water in the area of discharge and water in the area of recharge.

Question 20

What methods are used to estimate the rate of limestone dissolution?

Accepted Answer

On a very small scale, the rate of limes

Groundwater would flow the fastest between two points if:

When water is withdrawn from a well, a cone of depression is created in which:

The rate at which groundwater flows over a long distance can be measured with which of the following radioactive isotopes?

The capillary fringe is located:

Groundwater can clean itself of all of the following contaminants EXCEPT:

It is especially important to protect groundwater within cave systems from contamination because:

A water table's configuration is usually:

A prominent surface feature of karst land would be:

What causes the dissolution of limestone?

Open- air spaces within the cave cause downward percolating groundwater to do all of the following EXCEPT:

Which of the following statements about stalactites is NOT true?

Banded draperies form when:

Which of the following statements about limestone is NOT true?

Groundwater represents what percentage of the world's water?

Which of the following statements about thermal springs is NOT true?

An unconfined aquifer is one that:

Natural bridges form from:

The radioactive wastes at Yucca Mountain would be stored:

The potentiometric surface of an artesian aquifer is:

What methods are used to estimate the rate of limestone dissolution?

A First Look at Planet Earth - Its Origins, Systems, and Tectonic Plates

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Weathering - the Breakdown of Rocks

Sedimentary Processes, Environments, and Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Telling Time Geologically

Earth Structures - Folds, Faults, and Fabrics

Earthquakes

The Earths Interior - Whats Going on Down There

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Oceans

Continental Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Continents

Mass Movement

Streams and Floods

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and the Work of Winds

Shores and Coastal Processes

Human Use of the Earths Resources Appendices Glossary

Filters

Exam 16: Groundwater

Groundwater would flow the fastest between two points if:

When water is withdrawn from a well, a cone of depression is created in which:

The rate at which groundwater flows over a long distance can be measured with which of the following radioactive isotopes?

The capillary fringe is located:

Groundwater can clean itself of all of the following contaminants EXCEPT:

It is especially important to protect groundwater within cave systems from contamination because:

A water table's configuration is usually:

A prominent surface feature of karst land would be:

What causes the dissolution of limestone?

Open- air spaces within the cave cause downward percolating groundwater to do all of the following EXCEPT:

Which of the following statements about stalactites is NOT true?

Banded draperies form when:

Which of the following statements about limestone is NOT true?

Groundwater represents what percentage of the world's water?

Which of the following statements about thermal springs is NOT true?

An unconfined aquifer is one that:

Natural bridges form from:

The radioactive wastes at Yucca Mountain would be stored:

The potentiometric surface of an artesian aquifer is:

What methods are used to estimate the rate of limestone dissolution?

A First Look at Planet Earth - Its Origins, Systems, and Tectonic Plates

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Weathering - the Breakdown of Rocks

Sedimentary Processes, Environments, and Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Telling Time Geologically

Earth Structures - Folds, Faults, and Fabrics

Earthquakes

The Earths Interior - Whats Going on Down There

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Oceans

Continental Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Continents

Mass Movement

Streams and Floods

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and the Work of Winds

Shores and Coastal Processes

Human Use of the Earths Resources Appendices Glossary

Filters