Question 1

Which of the following best describes how geysers erupt?

Accepted Answer

A)  Expansion from heating forces some warm water out the top of the geyser system; with this reduction in pressure, superheated water in a saturated, natural conduit suddenly boils, sending a plume of steam and hot water into the air above the vent. 
B)  Water below the water table slowly boils causing a plume of condensed water vapour in a vertical crack or natural conduit to rise above the vent. 
C)  Water suddenly boils in disconnected voids and cracks above the water table, causing the aquifer to explosively fragment. 
D)  All of the water in the geyser chamber slowly heats until it reaches the boiling point, whereupon it starts erupting until it boils dry. 
A)  Expansion from heating forces some warm water out the top of the geyser system; with this reduction in pressure, superheated water in a saturated, natural conduit suddenly boils, sending a plume of steam and hot water into the air above the vent. 
B)  Water below the water table slowly boils causing a plume of condensed water vapour in a vertical crack or natural conduit to rise above the vent. 
C)  Water suddenly boils in disconnected voids and cracks above the water table, causing the aquifer to explosively fragment. 
D)  All of the water in the geyser chamber slowly heats until it reaches the boiling point, whereupon it starts erupting until it boils dry. A

Question 2

What is the relationship between drawdown and the cone of depression associated with a pumping well?

Accepted Answer

A)  Drawdown is dealing from the bottom of the deck in a crooked poker game. 
B)  The drawdown is the diameter of the cone of depression measured at the elevation of the original water table. 
C)  The drawdown is the percentage of available water in the aquifer that has already been used. 
D)  Drawdown is the distance between the original water table and the water level in the well. 
A)  Drawdown is dealing from the bottom of the deck in a crooked poker game. 
B)  The drawdown is the diameter of the cone of depression measured at the elevation of the original water table. 
C)  The drawdown is the percentage of available water in the aquifer that has already been used. 
D)  Drawdown is the distance between the original water table and the water level in the well. D

Question 3

is the volume of voids or open space in a rock or unconsolidated material.

Accepted Answer

A)  Saturation index 
B)  Porosity 
C)  Capillarity 
D)  Permeability 
A)  Saturation index 
B)  Porosity 
C)  Capillarity 
D)  Permeability B

Question 4

An area exhibiting tower karst features would likely have .

Accepted Answer

A)  isolated steep sided hills that are riddled with cave passages 
B)  cave formations stacked up throughout a series of different limestone beds 
C)  caves with open bullet shaped rooms reaching up several stories 
D)  intricate three dimensional lacework of interlocking soda straws reaching up from the cave floor 
A)  isolated steep sided hills that are riddled with cave passages 
B)  cave formations stacked up throughout a series of different limestone beds 
C)  caves with open bullet shaped rooms reaching up several stories 
D)  intricate three dimensional lacework of interlocking soda straws reaching up from the cave floor

Question 5

Suppose a well has become contaminated by harmful bacteria such as E. coli. How can this be removed from an aquifer by natural subsurface processes?

Accepted Answer

A)  dissolution, diagenesis, and fossilization 
B)  mechanical filtration, chemical oxidation, or assimilation by other organisms 
C)  overpumping for a few days until the well tests clean 
D)  asymptotic expansion 
A)  dissolution, diagenesis, and fossilization 
B)  mechanical filtration, chemical oxidation, or assimilation by other organisms 
C)  overpumping for a few days until the well tests clean 
D)  asymptotic expansion

Question 6

Two ways that sink holes can form are by and .

Accepted Answer

dissolution from the

Question 7

For unconfined aquifers, what hydrologic factor is approximated by the slope of the water table?

Accepted Answer

A)  porosity head 
B)  hydraulic competency 
C)  hydraulic gradient 
D)  affluent decline 
A)  porosity head 
B)  hydraulic competency 
C)  hydraulic gradient 
D)  affluent decline

Question 8

What is the belt of soil moisture?

Accepted Answer

A)  at shallow depth, a surface film of water retained on soil, sediment, or organic particles 
B)  where permafrost has melted leaving completely saturated soils 
C)  the layer in the ground with the largest roots, just beneath the zone of saturation 
D)  a viable farming region across southern Alberta and Saskatchewan without rain 
A)  at shallow depth, a surface film of water retained on soil, sediment, or organic particles 
B)  where permafrost has melted leaving completely saturated soils 
C)  the layer in the ground with the largest roots, just beneath the zone of saturation 
D)  a viable farming region across southern Alberta and Saskatchewan without rain

Question 9

In general, how do we know where the water table is located?

Accepted Answer

A)  Just look at a regional map; it is the same elevation everywhere. 
B)  By drilling wells, measuring the water levels, and contouring those elevations. 
C)  It is always at the base of the soil zone; just measure the soil thickness. 
D)  Look at the regional streams and measure their depths; that's where the water table is. 
A)  Just look at a regional map; it is the same elevation everywhere. 
B)  By drilling wells, measuring the water levels, and contouring those elevations. 
C)  It is always at the base of the soil zone; just measure the soil thickness. 
D)  Look at the regional streams and measure their depths; that's where the water table is.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is false for an area subsiding because of excessive pumping of groundwater?

Accepted Answer

A)  The aquifer is consolidated bedrock. 
B)  Water table is substantially lowered. 
C)  Dewatered aquifer material compacts. 
D)  Effluent streams may dry up. 
A)  The aquifer is consolidated bedrock. 
B)  Water table is substantially lowered. 
C)  Dewatered aquifer material compacts. 
D)  Effluent streams may dry up.

Question 11

Which reservoir of the hydrosphere would you describe as containing only a small fraction of Earth's freshwater that is well mixed and exchanged continually?

Accepted Answer

A)  the atmosphere 
B)  groundwater 
C)  lakes and reservoirs 
D)  soil moisture 
A)  the atmosphere 
B)  groundwater 
C)  lakes and reservoirs 
D)  soil moisture

Question 12

The porosity of typical unconsolidated sediments and sedimentary rocks is .

Accepted Answer

A)  <0.1% 
B)  1- 5% 
C)  6- 9% 
D)  10- 50% 
A)  <0.1% 
B)  1- 5% 
C)  6- 9% 
D)  10- 50%

Question 13

In three words, describe the shape of the water table around a pumping well.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In three words, describe the shape of...

Question 14

Of the choices listed below, which would make the best aquifer for water content and delivery?

Accepted Answer

A)  clay 
B)  basalt 
C)  granite 
D)  sand 
A)  clay 
B)  basalt 
C)  granite 
D)  sand

Question 15

would be the best medium to naturally remove sewage pollutants.

Accepted Answer

A)  Well- sorted, coarse gravel 
B)  Slightly clayey sand 
C)  Fractured granite 
D)  Limestone with solution channels and caverns 
A)  Well- sorted, coarse gravel 
B)  Slightly clayey sand 
C)  Fractured granite 
D)  Limestone with solution channels and caverns

Question 16

A water table is the .

Accepted Answer

A)  boundary between the zone of saturation above and partly saturated zone below 
B)  boundary between the zone of aeration above and zone of saturation below 
C)  bottom boundary surface of the zone of saturation above an aquitard 
D)  boundary between the zones of aeration and superposition 
A)  boundary between the zone of saturation above and partly saturated zone below 
B)  boundary between the zone of aeration above and zone of saturation below 
C)  bottom boundary surface of the zone of saturation above an aquitard 
D)  boundary between the zones of aeration and superposition

Question 17

Which would be the most prone to surface contamination from runoff and infiltration?

Accepted Answer

A)  wells a few hundred metres uphill from septic systems in rugged mountainous terrain 
B)  deep confined aquifers directly below contaminated sites 
C)  shallow aquifers with thin soils or unconsolidated coarse overburden 
D)  an aquifer with a thick, overlying, unsaturated vadose zone 
A)  wells a few hundred metres uphill from septic systems in rugged mountainous terrain 
B)  deep confined aquifers directly below contaminated sites 
C)  shallow aquifers with thin soils or unconsolidated coarse overburden 
D)  an aquifer with a thick, overlying, unsaturated vadose zone

Question 18

Which statement concerning the water table is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  In humid regions, it is generally higher than lake or stream level. 
B)  Wetlands (swamps) occur where the water table is at the surface. 
C)  Its elevation is constant and does not fluctuate seasonally. 
D)  Its shape is a subdued replica of the overlying surface topography. 
A)  In humid regions, it is generally higher than lake or stream level. 
B)  Wetlands (swamps) occur where the water table is at the surface. 
C)  Its elevation is constant and does not fluctuate seasonally. 
D)  Its shape is a subdued replica of the overlying surface topography.

Question 19

After ice sheets and glaciers, contains the next highest percentage of Earth's freshwater that is readily accessible to humans.

Accepted Answer

A)  Dasani/Coca- cola Ltd. 
B)  the atmosphere 
C)  lakes and rivers 
D)  groundwater 
A)  Dasani/Coca- cola Ltd. 
B)  the atmosphere 
C)  lakes and rivers 
D)  groundwater

Question 20

The zone of aeration .

Accepted Answer

A)  lies below the capillary fringe 
B)  lies above the water table 
C)  has pore spaces which are filled with water 
D)  is a well- oxygenated, shallow aquifer 
A)  lies below the capillary fringe 
B)  lies above the water table 
C)  has pore spaces which are filled with water 
D)  is a well- oxygenated, shallow aquifer

Which of the following best describes how geysers erupt?

What is the relationship between drawdown and the cone of depression associated with a pumping well?

is the volume of voids or open space in a rock or unconsolidated material.

An area exhibiting tower karst features would likely have .

Suppose a well has become contaminated by harmful bacteria such as E. coli. How can this be removed from an aquifer by natural subsurface processes?

Two ways that sink holes can form are by and .

For unconfined aquifers, what hydrologic factor is approximated by the slope of the water table?

What is the belt of soil moisture?

In general, how do we know where the water table is located?

Which of the following statements is false for an area subsiding because of excessive pumping of groundwater?

Which reservoir of the hydrosphere would you describe as containing only a small fraction of Earth's freshwater that is well mixed and exchanged continually?

The porosity of typical unconsolidated sediments and sedimentary rocks is .

In three words, describe the shape of the water table around a pumping well.

Of the choices listed below, which would make the best aquifer for water content and delivery?

would be the best medium to naturally remove sewage pollutants.

A water table is the .

Which would be the most prone to surface contamination from runoff and infiltration?

Which statement concerning the water table is false?

After ice sheets and glaciers, contains the next highest percentage of Earth's freshwater that is readily accessible to humans.

The zone of aeration .

An Introduction to Geology and Plate Tectonics

Minerals: the Building Blocks of Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Volcanoes and Volcanic Processes

Weathering and Soil

Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Crustal Deformation

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

The Ocean Floor

Plate Tectonics: the Framework for Modern Geology

Mountain Building and Continental Frameworks

Mass Wasting: the Work of Gravity

Running Water

Groundwater

Glaciers and Glaciation

Deserts and Winds

Shorelines

Mineral and Energy Resources

Filters

Exam 8: Geologic Time

Which of the following best describes how geysers erupt?

What is the relationship between drawdown and the cone of depression associated with a pumping well?

is the volume of voids or open space in a rock or unconsolidated material.

An area exhibiting tower karst features would likely have .

Suppose a well has become contaminated by harmful bacteria such as E. coli. How can this be removed from an aquifer by natural subsurface processes?

Two ways that sink holes can form are by and .

For unconfined aquifers, what hydrologic factor is approximated by the slope of the water table?

What is the belt of soil moisture?

In general, how do we know where the water table is located?

Which of the following statements is false for an area subsiding because of excessive pumping of groundwater?

Which reservoir of the hydrosphere would you describe as containing only a small fraction of Earth's freshwater that is well mixed and exchanged continually?

The porosity of typical unconsolidated sediments and sedimentary rocks is .

In three words, describe the shape of the water table around a pumping well.

Of the choices listed below, which would make the best aquifer for water content and delivery?

would be the best medium to naturally remove sewage pollutants.

A water table is the .

Which would be the most prone to surface contamination from runoff and infiltration?

Which statement concerning the water table is false?

After ice sheets and glaciers, contains the next highest percentage of Earth's freshwater that is readily accessible to humans.

The zone of aeration .

An Introduction to Geology and Plate Tectonics

Minerals: the Building Blocks of Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Volcanoes and Volcanic Processes

Weathering and Soil

Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Crustal Deformation

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

The Ocean Floor

Plate Tectonics: the Framework for Modern Geology

Mountain Building and Continental Frameworks

Mass Wasting: the Work of Gravity

Running Water

Groundwater

Glaciers and Glaciation

Deserts and Winds

Shorelines

Mineral and Energy Resources

Filters