01
Choose one
1 point
A town replaces a vegetated area beside a stream with extensive asphalt parking lots. Which hydrologic change is most likely during a heavy storm?
Free Practice Quiz Question List
05. Water Resources and Aquatic Systems Online Quiz Questions
Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 05. Water Resources and Aquatic Systems, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.
20 questions
02
True or false
1 point
Protecting wetlands can reduce downstream flooding and nutrient pollution because wetlands slow runoff, store water, and transform or retain nutrients.
- A
True
- B
False
03
Written response
1 point
What hydrologic-cycle process returns water vapor to the atmosphere through openings in plant leaves?
04
Fill in the blank
1 point
In the hydrologic cycle, water vapor cools and forms droplets or ice crystals in clouds through .
05
Choose one
1 point
A groundwater investigation identifies a relatively impermeable layer that slows movement between two more permeable units. What is this layer called?
- A
An aquifer
- B
A drainage divide
- C
An aquitard
- D
A riparian zone
06
Choose all
1 point
Which effects can result from dams and reservoirs? Select all correct answers.
- A
They can alter the timing and amount of downstream flow.
- B
They can block fish migration.
- C
They always increase groundwater recharge in every nearby aquifer.
- D
They can trap sediment.
- E
They eliminate evaporation from stored water.
07
Written response
1 point
A watershed receives 100 million cubic meters of precipitation. Runoff is 40 million cubic meters and evapotranspiration is 35 million cubic meters. Using P = Q + ET + ΔS, what is the change in water storage?
08
True or false
1 point
True or false: Every gallon of water withdrawn for irrigation is consumptively used because none of it can return to a river or aquifer.
- A
True
- B
False
09
Fill in the blank
1 point
When groundwater withdrawals exceed long-term recharge, the aquifer is experiencing .
10
Choose one
1 point
A farm wants to maintain crop production while reducing irrigation losses from evaporation, runoff, and deep percolation. Which change is most appropriate?
- A
Expanding flood irrigation to cover more bare soil
- B
Replacing flood irrigation with drip or microirrigation
- C
Irrigating at the hottest part of the day to increase evaporation
- D
Removing mulch so that soil moisture evaporates faster
11
Choose all
1 point
A city is evaluating a proposed dam using integrated water management. Which considerations should be included? Select all correct answers.
- A
Effects on habitat and downstream communities
- B
Sediment transport and greenhouse-gas emissions
- C
Only the volume of water delivered, with no other considerations
- D
Whether conservation or reuse could provide an alternative
12
Open ended
1 point
Compare conservation and efficiency, water reuse, and managed aquifer recharge as water-management strategies. Explain how each can improve water reliability and identify an important limitation or condition for using each strategy.
13
Choose one
1 point
A coastal region is considering desalination during a prolonged drought. Which assessment best reflects the material?
- A
It requires no energy because salt separates naturally from seawater.
- B
It eliminates the need for conservation because coastal water is unlimited.
- C
It can increase freshwater supply but requires energy and careful brine management.
- D
It is practical only in inland regions with no access to seawater.
14
Choose one
1 point
A region receives substantial precipitation but still experiences water scarcity. Which explanation best fits the material?
- A
High precipitation always guarantees abundant usable water.
- B
High demand, inadequate infrastructure, or poor water quality can limit usable supplies.
- C
Water scarcity occurs only in regions with low precipitation.
- D
Freshwater is evenly distributed wherever precipitation occurs.
15
True or false
1 point
Wetlands can reduce downstream flooding and improve water quality by slowing runoff, trapping sediment, and removing or transforming nutrients.
- A
True
- B
False
16
Written response
1 point
What is the technical term for a less-permeable layer of sediment or rock that restricts groundwater movement?
17
Choose one
1 point
A community pumps groundwater faster than the aquifer is replenished over the long term. Which outcome is most likely?
- A
The water table rises because pumping increases recharge.
- B
The aquifer becomes an aquitard immediately.
- C
The aquifer experiences overdraft and may develop a declining water table.
- D
The aquifer's storage capacity necessarily increases.
18
Choose one
1 point
An agricultural field receives excess fertilizer before a major storm. Which downstream chain of effects is most consistent with watershed processes?
- A
Fertilizer immediately increases dissolved oxygen by adding nutrients.
- B
Fertilizer prevents algae from growing in receiving waters.
- C
Fertilizer has no downstream effect if it is applied on land.
- D
Fertilizer can promote algal growth whose decomposition reduces dissolved oxygen.
19
Written response
1 point
Approximately what percentage of global freshwater withdrawals did agriculture account for in 2021? Enter the value in percentage points; the fixed unit is %.
20
Choose one
1 point
A farm wants to reduce irrigation losses from evaporation, runoff, and deep percolation while maintaining crop production. Which practice is the best choice?
- A
Flood irrigation across the entire field surface
- B
Drip or microirrigation targeted near plant roots
- C
Irrigation at the hottest time of day without soil-moisture monitoring
- D
Leaving bare soil exposed to increase evaporation