Surface Water
Practice Test
1.
How is Earth's water supply recycled?
a.
Water on Earth is not recycled.
b.
through lakes
c.
the water cycle
d.
rivers
2.
__________ are depositional features formed at the bases of slopes.
a.
Alluvial fans
b.
Meanders
c.
Oxbow lakes
d.
Stream channels
3.
Look at the data in the graph, showing how the water quality has changed in Lake Smith over forty years. What is the most likely explanation for this trend?
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
Dissolved oxygen
(parts per million or ppm)
20
19
18
18
16
17
15
11
9
pH
7.6
7.2
7.1
7.0
6.8
6.8
6.5
6.1
5.8
Phosphate (ppm)
0.0
0.10
0.20
0.25
0.28
0.28
0.45
0.55
0.55
Nitrogen (ppm)
0.05
0.18
0.19
0.25
0.28
0.28
0.35
0.40
0.45
Largemouth bass
450
455
448
338
235
220
155
125
50
Mosses and grasses
0
0
2
5
15
18
29
35
55
a.
Higher phosphate and nitrogen levels suggest it was damaged by fertilizers.
b.
Lower oxygen levels indicate that too many fish were living in the lake.
c.
The dropping pH levels indicate that acid rain has been plaguing the region.
d.
The falling population of largemouth bass indicate that too much fishing has occurred on this lake.
4.
How can a watershed's water quality be measured?
a.
measuring the water temperature
b.
measuring the concentration of material in solution
c.
measuring the erosion
d.
measuring the average stream velocity
5.
If gardeners want more water to infiltrate into their gardens, how should they change the soil?
a.
increase the amount of clay-sized particles
b.
decrease the amount of humus
c.
increase the amount of silt sized particles
d.
increase the amount of coarse particles
6.
Look at the map. Which city is most likely to see an increase in eutrophication in its lakes?
a.
Indianapolis
b.
Madison
c.
Lansing
d.
Springfield
7.
Many lakes in agricultural regions are eutrophic due to __________.
a.
excessive nutrients
b.
minimal algae growth
c.
reduced amounts of animal waste
d.
excessive sunlight
8.
The renewed downcutting of a streambed is called __________.
a.
erosion
b.
rejuvenation
c.
deposition
d.
eutrophication
9.
The amount of material in suspension is dependent upon the __________ of the stream water.
a.
solutes
b.
bed load
c.
stream channel
d.
volume and velocity
10.
Soil with vegetation allows __________ water to infiltrate than soil without vegetation.
a.
always ten times more
b.
the same amount of
c.
less
d.
more
11.
Look at the figure showing a map of the Souris River valley. What kind of valley is it?
Click here for figure
a.
steep
b.
narrow
c.
broad
d.
v-shaped
12.
Which combination of characteristics allows the greatest amount of water to infiltrate into the ground?
a.
steep slopes, sandy soil, and hot temperatures
b.
low slopes, clay-rich soils, and hot temperatures
c.
steep slopes, silty soils, and cool temperatures
d.
little slopes, sandy soils, and cool temperatures
13.
What is the relative speed of the stream shown in the figure?
Click here for figure
a.
very fast
b.
fast
c.
standstill
d.
slow
14.
What process adds oxygen to a lake?
a.
decay of plants
b.
decay of animals
c.
photosynthesis of plants
d.
breathing of animals
15.
The graph shows the discharge of a river flowing through two cities. A discharge of 3.5 thousand cubic meters per second or more will cause the river to flood. Which city saw more flooding in March 1999?
a.
Frankston
b.
Wet Gulch
c.
They both saw the same amount.
d.
neither one flooded
