Water Properties
Which property of water allows insects such as water striders to walk across the surface of a pond?
A. High specific heat
B. Density
C. Universal solvent
D. Surface tension
D. Surface tension
About what percentage of Earth's water is freshwater available for human use?
A. About 97%
B. About 30%
C. Less than 1%
D. About 10%
C. Less than 1%
Which process moves water from Earth's surface into the atmosphere as water vapor?
A. Condensation
B. Evaporation
C. Runoff
D. Infiltration
B. Evaporation
What is the best description of a watershed?
A. Land area where water drains into a shared water body
B. Underground layer storing groundwater in rock
C. Large lake formed by melting glaciers
D. River channel flowing directly to the ocean
A. Land area where water drains into a shared water body
What term describes water that is safe for humans to drink?
A. Aquifer
B. Tolerance
C. Potable
D. Solubility
C. Potable
What is groundwater?
A. Water frozen in glaciers and ice sheets
B. Water flowing through rivers and streams
C. Water stored underground within soil and rock layers
D. Water vapor floating in Earth's atmosphere
C. Water stored underground within soil and rock layers
What are organisms used by scientists to measure water quality called?
A. Bio-Indicators
B. Zooplankton
C. Algae
D. Phytoplankton
A. Bio-Indicators
Why can water dissolve many different substances in rivers and lakes?
A. It has low density
B. It has polarity
C. It has high viscosity
D. It has low pressure
B. It has polarity
Where is the largest amount of freshwater on Earth stored?
A. Lakes and rivers
B. Glaciers and ice caps
C. Groundwater wells
D. Clouds
B. Glaciers and ice caps
Which process releases water vapor from plant leaves into the atmosphere?
A. Transpiration
B. Precipitation
C. Condensation
D. Runoff
A. Transpiration
Which river basin is the largest located in North Carolina?
A. Amazon River Basin located in South America
B. Colorado River Basin located in western United States
C. Mississippi River Basin covering the central United States
D. Cape Fear River Basin located in central North Carolina
D. Cape Fear River Basin located in central North Carolina
Which type of pollution comes from a single identifiable source?
A. Pollutant
B. Point Source Pollution
C. Non-Point Source Pollution
D. Tolerance
B. Point Source Pollution
What is an aquifer?
A. Device used to filter drinking water
B. Large river flowing through a watershed system
C. Lake formed by melting glaciers
D. Underground layer of rock or sediment storing groundwater
D. Underground layer of rock or sediment storing groundwater
Which organism usually indicates clean water conditions?
A. Leeches surviving in low oxygen conditions
B. Aquatic worms tolerant of polluted environments
C. Midge larvae commonly found in polluted water
D. Mayfly larvae sensitive to pollution levels
D. Mayfly larvae sensitive to pollution levels
Large lakes and oceans change temperature slowly compared to land. Which property of water explains this pattern?
A. Cohesion
B. Adhesion
C. High specific heat
D. Surface tension
C. High specific heat
A drought reduces water levels in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Which source of freshwater would likely still supply drinking water to many communities?
A. Ocean water
B. Atmosphere
C. Glaciers
D. Groundwater
D. Groundwater
Clouds form when water vapor in the atmosphere cools and changes into tiny liquid droplets. Which process is this?
A. Condensation
B. Evaporation
C. Infiltration
D. Runoff
A. Condensation
Fertilizer enters a small stream from nearby farms. What will most likely happen next?
A. Pollution disappears quickly from natural processes
B. Pollution remains only in the small stream
C. Pollution travels downstream through the watershed system
D. Pollution moves directly into underground aquifers
C. Pollution travels downstream through the watershed system
Which example best represents nonpoint source pollution?
A. Chemicals draining directly from a factory
B. Wastewater leaking from a factory pipe
C. Oil spilling from a damaged tanker ship
D. Fertilizer washing from farms into nearby streams
D. Fertilizer washing from farms into nearby streams
Which process allows rainfall to enter the ground and refill aquifers?
A. Rainwater soaking into soil through infiltration
B. Rainwater evaporating into the atmosphere
C. Rainwater forming clouds through condensation
D. Rainwater flowing downhill through runoff
A. Rainwater soaking into soil through infiltration
Eutrophication most often occurs when water receives excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from runoff. What is the first major result?
A. Rapid growth of algae across the water surface
B. Decrease in plant growth near shorelines
C. Increase in dissolved oxygen levels
D. Decrease in bacteria populations
A. Rapid growth of algae across the water surface
Water moves upward through the stems of plants because of cohesion and adhesion. What process does this help support?
A. Condensation
B. Capillary action
C. Precipitation
D. Evaporation
B. Capillary action
Why are rivers and lakes important even though they contain a very small percentage of Earth's water?
A. They contain most of the saltwater on Earth
B. They are the most accessible freshwater for human use
C. They hold most of Earth's glaciers
D. They control ocean currents
B. They are the most accessible freshwater for human use
A parking lot is built over a grassy field. How will this most likely affect the local water cycle?
A. Increase infiltration
B. Increase groundwater recharge
C. Increase runoff
D. Increase transpiration
C. Increase runoff
Why can pollution far inland eventually affect ocean ecosystems?
A. Ocean tides move pollution far upstream
B. Rivers transport water and pollutants through watersheds
C. Rainfall carries ocean water back inland
D. Groundwater always flows directly toward oceans
B. Rivers transport water and pollutants through watersheds
Which factor would most directly decrease water quality in a lake?
A. Harmful chemicals entering the water system
B. Increasing populations of fish species
C. Increased sunlight reaching aquatic plants
D. Clear water allowing sunlight penetration
A. Harmful chemicals entering the water system
Why are aquifers important sources of drinking water?
A. Aquifers contain large amounts of ocean water
B. Aquifers produce precipitation through evaporation
C. Aquifers store large amounts of freshwater underground
D. Aquifers increase evaporation from the land
C. Aquifers store large amounts of freshwater underground
What usually happens after a large algal bloom dies?
A. Fish populations increase due to food supply
B. Bacteria use oxygen while decomposing the algae
C. Water becomes colder throughout the lake
D. Oxygen levels increase across the lake
B. Bacteria use oxygen while decomposing the algae
A scientist spills fertilizer into a lake and observes that the chemicals spread throughout the water quickly. Which property of water best explains why the fertilizer spreads so easily?
A. Water has high density compared to land
B. Water has polarity and acts as a universal solvent
C. Water has a low freezing temperature
D. Water has strong surface tension
B. Water has polarity and acts as a universal solvent
A region receives less snowfall in the mountains for several years. Which outcome would most likely occur?
A. River flow would increase
B. Groundwater recharge would increase
C. Freshwater supply in rivers would decrease
D. Ocean salinity would decrease
C. Freshwater supply in rivers would decrease
A city cuts down a large forest and replaces it with buildings and roads. Which change in the water cycle is most likely?
A. Increased transpiration and infiltration
B. Reduced infiltration and reduced groundwater recharge
C. Decreased runoff and increased infiltration
D. Increased condensation and precipitation
B. Reduced infiltration and reduced groundwater recharge
A factory releases waste into a river upstream from several towns. What is the most likely environmental impact?
A. Pollution travels downstream through the watershed system
B. Pollution stays near the factory location
C. Pollution evaporates before reaching towns
D. Pollution disappears naturally in the river
A. Pollution travels downstream through the watershed system
Scientists measure a large decrease in dissolved oxygen within a lake. What outcome is most likely?
A. Aquatic plants grow faster in deeper water
B. Fish populations increase due to more nutrients
C. Fish populations decrease due to low oxygen levels
D. Water clarity improves throughout the lake
C. Fish populations decrease due to low oxygen levels
A city pumps groundwater faster than rainfall can replace it. What will most likely occur?
A. Rainfall increases across the surrounding region
B. Groundwater levels increase within underground rock
C. Rivers stop flowing into nearby watersheds
D. Groundwater levels decrease within the aquifer system
D. Groundwater levels decrease within the aquifer system
Scientists observe many aquatic worms and midge larvae but very few mayflies in a lake. What is the best explanation?
A. The lake likely has poor water quality conditions
B. The lake likely has extremely high biodiversity
C. The lake likely has very low nutrient levels
D. The lake likely contains excessive dissolved oxygen
A. The lake likely has poor water quality conditions