Question 1

Coliform bacteria populations are routinely monitored in drinking water supplies, swimming pools, and at beaches because these bacteria

Accepted Answer

A) Are especially toxic to animals 
B) May mutate into severely pathogenic strains 
C) Indicate the presence of feces in water 
D) Usually live in pesticide-contaminated water 
E) Are more difficult to find in water 
A) Are especially toxic to animals 
B) May mutate into severely pathogenic strains 
C) Indicate the presence of feces in water 
D) Usually live in pesticide-contaminated water 
E) Are more difficult to find in water C

Question 2

Which of the following would NOT help to improve water quality?

Accepted Answer

A) Composting yard waste 
B) Stop using fertilizers 
C) Not using jet skis 
D) Watering plants with water from rain barrels rather than municipal water. 
E) Keeping your car well maintained 
A) Composting yard waste 
B) Stop using fertilizers 
C) Not using jet skis 
D) Watering plants with water from rain barrels rather than municipal water. 
E) Keeping your car well maintained D

Question 3

Tertiary treatment of sewage produces water that is typically used for

Accepted Answer

A) Agriculture 
B) Drinking 
C) Industrial activities 
D) Watering livestock 
E) Dumping into freshwater systems 
A) Agriculture 
B) Drinking 
C) Industrial activities 
D) Watering livestock 
E) Dumping into freshwater systems E

Question 4

The following statements explain why contamination of aquifers is dangerous.Which of the statements is false?

Accepted Answer

A) The contaminants are concentrated by the different densities of water in the aquifers. 
B) Pollutants are extremely stable once they contaminate an aquifer. 
C) Minuscule amounts of a pollutant can contaminate an entire aquifer. 
D) Aquifers can take an extremely long time to turn over their water content. 
E) All of these statements are true. 
A) The contaminants are concentrated by the different densities of water in the aquifers. 
B) Pollutants are extremely stable once they contaminate an aquifer. 
C) Minuscule amounts of a pollutant can contaminate an entire aquifer. 
D) Aquifers can take an extremely long time to turn over their water content. 
E) All of these statements are true.

Question 5

The advantage of effluent sewerage is that

Accepted Answer

A) Since solids are removed, pipes and pumps to the central treatment plant can be small and cheap 
B) Since solids remain in the liquid, disposal is easy and cheap 
C) Families can do all their processing at home 
D) Large, expensive municipal systems are no longer needed 
E) Since solids are digested like a septic system, the effluent can be used as fertilizer 
A) Since solids are removed, pipes and pumps to the central treatment plant can be small and cheap 
B) Since solids remain in the liquid, disposal is easy and cheap 
C) Families can do all their processing at home 
D) Large, expensive municipal systems are no longer needed 
E) Since solids are digested like a septic system, the effluent can be used as fertilizer

Question 6

When natural waters are overloaded with plant nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate ions, they become

Accepted Answer

A) Oligotrophic 
B) Dystrophic 
C) Eutrophic 
D) Metatrophic 
E) Megatrophic 
A) Oligotrophic 
B) Dystrophic 
C) Eutrophic 
D) Metatrophic 
E) Megatrophic

Question 7

Feedlots are a major cause of _________ in water.

Accepted Answer

A) Viruses 
B) Coliform bacteria 
C) Nitrates 
D) Phosphates 
E) All of these are correct 
A) Viruses 
B) Coliform bacteria 
C) Nitrates 
D) Phosphates 
E) All of these are correct

Question 8

-The most active decomposition occurs in the area marked _____ on the horizontal axis of the diagram.

Accepted Answer

A) -1 to 0 
B) 0 to 1 
C) 1 to 2 
D) 2 to 3 
E) 1 to 3 
A) -1 to 0 
B) 0 to 1 
C) 1 to 2 
D) 2 to 3 
E) 1 to 3

Question 9

_________ sources of water pollution are relatively easy to monitor and regulate, while _____________ sources of water pollution are difficult to monitor and clean up.

Accepted Answer

A) Domestic; industrial 
B) Primary; tertiary pollutant 
C) Nonpoint; point 
D) Tertiary pollutant; primary 
E) Point; nonpoint 
A) Domestic; industrial 
B) Primary; tertiary pollutant 
C) Nonpoint; point 
D) Tertiary pollutant; primary 
E) Point; nonpoint

Question 10

-In the diagram, which of the following organisms would probably be found in the area marked 3 and higher?

Accepted Answer

A) Mayfly and stonefly larvae 
B) Mosquito larvae 
C) Bullhead catfish and gar 
D) Gar, blackfly, and midge larvae 
E) Leeches and isopods 
A) Mayfly and stonefly larvae 
B) Mosquito larvae 
C) Bullhead catfish and gar 
D) Gar, blackfly, and midge larvae 
E) Leeches and isopods

Question 11

____________ is to a point source of water pollution as _____________ is to a nonpoint source of water pollution.

Accepted Answer

A) Golf course runoff; atmospheric deposition 
B) Golf course runoff; power plant effluent 
C) Power plant effluent; golf course runoff 
D) Atmospheric deposition; golf course runoff 
E) Power plant effluent; an underground coal mine drain 
A) Golf course runoff; atmospheric deposition 
B) Golf course runoff; power plant effluent 
C) Power plant effluent; golf course runoff 
D) Atmospheric deposition; golf course runoff 
E) Power plant effluent; an underground coal mine drain

Question 12

-In the diagram, which of the following units would probably be used to label the numbers on the horizontal (X) axis?

Accepted Answer

A) Degrees Centigrade 
B) Hours 
C) Meters 
D) Days 
A) Degrees Centigrade 
B) Hours 
C) Meters 
D) Days

Question 13

The potential problem with natural decay for human waste is that

Accepted Answer

A) It never really works 
B) It only works where population density is low 
C) It is an expensive process to maintain 
D) Unlike sewage treatment, it produces toxic by-products 
E) Natural processes take a long time 
A) It never really works 
B) It only works where population density is low 
C) It is an expensive process to maintain 
D) Unlike sewage treatment, it produces toxic by-products 
E) Natural processes take a long time

Question 14

Identify four categories of human health problems associated with water pollution and provide an example for each one.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify four categories of human health problems...

Question 15

The type of water pollutant that most commonly threatens human health is/are ______.

Accepted Answer

A) Pathogenic organisms 
B) Dissolved plant matter 
C) Toxic and hazardous chemicals 
D) Thermal pollution 
E) Oxygen-demanding wastes 
A) Pathogenic organisms 
B) Dissolved plant matter 
C) Toxic and hazardous chemicals 
D) Thermal pollution 
E) Oxygen-demanding wastes

Question 16

The discharge from a nonpoint source of pollution is

Accepted Answer

A) Usually constant throughout the year 
B) Generally easier to regulate than a point source 
C) Usually less polluting than a point source 
D) Highly seasonal in quantity 
E) Less damaging than other sources of pollution 
A) Usually constant throughout the year 
B) Generally easier to regulate than a point source 
C) Usually less polluting than a point source 
D) Highly seasonal in quantity 
E) Less damaging than other sources of pollution

Question 17

Open sea bilge pumping and tank cleaning are legal ways to clean ships, once the ship is at least 300 miles offshore.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

______________ is an example of a natural process that is accelerated by human activities.

Accepted Answer

A) Eutrophication 
B) The weathering and release of toxic inorganic minerals from rocks 
C) The mobilization and concentration of soluble salts from groundwater 
D) Sediment loading of rivers 
E) All of these are correct 
A) Eutrophication 
B) The weathering and release of toxic inorganic minerals from rocks 
C) The mobilization and concentration of soluble salts from groundwater 
D) Sediment loading of rivers 
E) All of these are correct

Question 19

__________ should never be allowed down a drain when a septic tank and drain field system is being used for sewage disposal.

Accepted Answer

A) Kitchen wastes from cooking 
B) Dog or cat urinary or fecal matter 
C) Chlorine and antimicrobial cleansers 
D) Oils and greases 
E) Solid materials 
A) Kitchen wastes from cooking 
B) Dog or cat urinary or fecal matter 
C) Chlorine and antimicrobial cleansers 
D) Oils and greases 
E) Solid materials

Question 20

The sediments that make up the Ganges river delta in India are often toxic because they

Accepted Answer

A) Run through toxic soils 
B) Originate in coastal industrial areas 
C) Are highly acidic due to acid rain 
D) Have concentrations of naturally occurring arsenic 
E) Dissolve naturally-occurring sulfur dioxide 
A) Run through toxic soils 
B) Originate in coastal industrial areas 
C) Are highly acidic due to acid rain 
D) Have concentrations of naturally occurring arsenic 
E) Dissolve naturally-occurring sulfur dioxide

Exam 18: Water Pollution

Coliform bacteria populations are routinely monitored in drinking water supplies, swimming pools, and at beaches because these bacteria

Which of the following would NOT help to improve water quality?

Tertiary treatment of sewage produces water that is typically used for

The following statements explain why contamination of aquifers is dangerous.Which of the statements is false?

The advantage of effluent sewerage is that

When natural waters are overloaded with plant nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate ions, they become

Feedlots are a major cause of _________ in water.

-The most active decomposition occurs in the area marked _____ on the horizontal axis of the diagram.

_________ sources of water pollution are relatively easy to monitor and regulate, while _____________ sources of water pollution are difficult to monitor and clean up.

-In the diagram, which of the following organisms would probably be found in the area marked 3 and higher?

____________ is to a point source of water pollution as _____________ is to a nonpoint source of water pollution.

-In the diagram, which of the following units would probably be used to label the numbers on the horizontal (X) axis?

The potential problem with natural decay for human waste is that

Identify four categories of human health problems associated with water pollution and provide an example for each one.

The type of water pollutant that most commonly threatens human health is/are ______.

The discharge from a nonpoint source of pollution is

Open sea bilge pumping and tank cleaning are legal ways to clean ships, once the ship is at least 300 miles offshore.

______________ is an example of a natural process that is accelerated by human activities.

__________ should never be allowed down a drain when a septic tank and drain field system is being used for sewage disposal.

The sediments that make up the Ganges river delta in India are often toxic because they

Understanding Our Environment

Principles of Science and Systems

Matter, Energy, and Life

Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species Interactions

Biomes

Population Biology

Human Populations

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Food and Hunger

Farming: Conventional and Sustainable Practices

Biodiversity

Biodiversity: Preserving Landscapes

Restoration Ecology

Geology and Earth Resources

Climate Change

Air Pollution

Water Use and Management

Conventional Energy

Sustainable Energy

Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste

Urbanization and Sustainable Cities

Ecological Economics

Environmental Policy, Law, and Planning

What Then Shall We Do

Filters

_ sources of water pollution are relatively easy to monitor and regulate, while _____ sources of water pollution are difficult to monitor and clean up.

is to a point source of water pollution as _ is to a nonpoint source of water pollution.