QUESTION 1

1. In what part of the water cycle does water have the SHORTEST residence time?
   

   		atmosphere
   		groundwater
   		oceans
   		ice sheets

3 points

QUESTION 2

1. Which of the following can serve as a drainage divide between adjacent watersheds?
   

   		ridge
   		hill
   		mountain
   		all of the above

3 points

QUESTION 3

1. Watersheds are like a system with interacting components that can perform work. Which of the following is an example of work done by a watershed?
   

   		carry sediment
   		transport water
   		transport energy
   		all of the above

3 points

QUESTION 4

1. Compare and contrast surface and subsurface water in terms of natural inputs, outputs, and storage.
   

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5 points

QUESTION 5

1. 
   
   Define
   subterranean river and
   ephemeral river. Describe the types of areas where each of these river types are found.
   
   

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5 points

QUESTION 6

1. The potential energy of water behind a dam can be used to
   

   		drive a turbine and generate electricity
   		initiate the chemical reactions necessary for power production
   		prevent the flow of electricity across a river
   		transform electrical energy to mechanical energy at a power plant

3 points

QUESTION 7

1. Headward erosion by a stream
   

   		extends a valley into a hillside
   		deepens a valley
   		both extends and deepens a valley
   		shortens a valley

3 points

QUESTION 8

1. When sand and gravel are whirled around by eddies in a river they cause
   

   		regolith removal
   		potholes
   		stream piracy
   		headward erosion

3 points

QUESTION 9

1. Headward erosion takes place opposite the direction of a river’s flow.
   

   
   True
   
   False
   

2 points

QUESTION 10

1. Floodplains are most often found for rivers that exist on
   

   		highly elevated mountainous areas
   		areas that receive constant amounts of high rainfall
   		hilly areas at the base of mountains
   		gentle slopes and relatively flat areas

3 points

QUESTION 11

1. When do alluvial fans develop in arid desert environments?
   

   		after periodic flash floods
   		when rivers finally reach the ocean
   		when the velocity of a river’s flow increases
   		all of the above

3 points

QUESTION 12

1. Which of the following can cause a flash flood?
   

   		dam failure
   		intense thunderstorms
   		release of ice jams
   		all of the above

3 points

QUESTION 13

1. Flash floods are a type of _____ flood.
   

   		estuarine
   		riverine
   		coastal
   		storm surge

3 points

QUESTION 14

1. Which term best describes the topography of a floodplain?
   

   		mountainous
   		highly sloped
   		moderately sloped
   		flat

3 points

QUESTION 15

1. Besides drowning, how else can floods cause loss of human life?
   

   		collapse of structures
   		contamination of drinking water
   		water-borne diseases
   		all of the above

3 points

QUESTION 16

1. If a government flood risk map for your area does not fit on one page, it may be drawn up on several different pages. Each page is referred to as a
   

   		panel
   		subset
   		minor map
   		quadrant

3 points

QUESTION 17

1. Official U.S. government maps that show flood risks are usually printed on which of the following levels?
   

   		state-wide
   		nation-wide
   		community-wide
   		street-wide

3 points

QUESTION 18

1. If your home is damaged by a flood, try to avoid turning on any lights until you know that all gas and electrical lines are undisturbed.
   

   
   True
   
   False
   

2 points

QUESTION 19

1. Why are floods especially common in the spring?
   

   		More water is added to a river as groundwater seeps upward.
   		Winds are more common, causing more movement of water.
   		Warmer temperatures increase the volume of water in a river.
   		The still-frozen ground is unable to soak up the water from melting snow.

3 points

QUESTION 20

1. The percentage of total volume of voids in a rock is called
   

   		permeability
   		saturation
   		porosity
   		aeration

3 points

QUESTION 21

1. How does solution activity make limestone rocks permeable for groundwater flow?
   

   		cuts down on the number of open pores
   		makes the pore spaces less connected
   		fills in many of the limestone’s cracks
   		gives the limestone numerous pits and holes

3 points

QUESTION 22

1. Define the term aquifer and explain the difference between a confined and an unconfined aquifer.
   

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5 points

QUESTION 23

1. Natural discharge of a groundwater system occurs when
   

   		rainwater percolates down through the soil
   		the water table intersects the surface of the ground
   		surface water seeps into the ground
   		a confined aquifer is pumped for drinking water

3 points

QUESTION 24

1. Which statement is true about groundwater flow?
   

   		Groundwater flows from zones of low pressure to zones of high pressure.
   		Groundwater does not flow but stays in one location until pumped upward.
   		Groundwater moves downward by gravity and from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.
   		Groundwater circulates in a convection current manner.

3 points

QUESTION 25

1. How are natural springs, hot springs, and geysers similar? How are they different?
   

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5 points

QUESTION 26

1. More than one-half of America’s drinking water comes from groundwater.
   

   
   True
   
   False
   

2 points

QUESTION 27

1. Most groundwater in the U.S. is used for residential purposes, such as laundry and watering lawns.
   

   
   True
   
   False
   

2 points

QUESTION 28

1. A chemical in groundwater that can cause genetic changes is called a
   

   		teratogen
   		VOC
   		carcinogen
   		mutagen

3 points

QUESTION 29

1. A chemical in groundwater that causes cancer is called a
   

   		teratogen
   		VOC
   		carcinogen
   		hypoxic substance

3 points

QUESTION 30

1. Besides saltwater intrusion, describe two other problems commonly caused by over-pumping of groundwater.
   

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5 points

QUESTION 31

1. Excessive withdrawal of groundwater for agricultural use rarely causes land subsidence, unlike excessive withdrawal for drinking water, which does cause subsidence.
   

   
   True
   
   False
   

2 points

QUESTION 32

1. After an aquifer collapses due to over-pumping, it can slowly be restored by natural precipitation.
   

   
   True
   
   False
   

2 points