Much of the world’s fresh water is unavailable to us because:

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. It is in deep and

inaccessible aquifers

2. It exists in the form of water vapor

3. It is mixed with saltwater

4. It is locked up in ice caps or glaciers

Which country has more fresh water, Canada or China?

1 2

50%50%1. Canada

2. China

About 2/3 of the world’s annual runoff is lost by _____ and is not available for human

use.

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Evaporation

2. Percolation into the ground

3. Pollution of the water supply

4. Seasonal floods

Most water is withdrawn from surface waters and aquifers for:

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Drinking water

2. Industrial manufacturing

3. Irrigation of crops

4. Cooling power plants

Porous, water-saturated layers of sand, gravel, or bedrock through which groundwater flows make up a(n):

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Aquifer

2. Watershed

3. Zone of aeration

4. Eutrophic zone

One trend in managing water resources is:

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Privatization

2. Government seizure of privately-held water supplies

3. Public utility ownership

4. None of the choices

True or false? Innovative conservation strategies assure California of an adequate

water supply for at least this century.

1 2

50%50%1. False

2. True

Diversion of water from the Aral Sea has led to:

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Decrease in its salinity

2. Increased crop yields in the neighboring areas

3. Extinction of native fish species

4. More moderate temperature and increased rain

True or false? Distillation is one method of desalinating water.

1 2

50%50%1. True

2. False

Which of the following is not a stated means of preventing groundwater depletion?

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Reduce stream flow

levels

2. Ban new wells

3. Tax water pumped from wells near surface water

4. Switch to less water-intensive crops

Which is the most efficient irrigation technique?

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Gravity flow

through ditches

2. Center pivot sprinkler systems

3. Surge valves

4. Drip irrigation systems

_____ is reclaimed water from sinks, tubs, and washers.

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Sludge

2. Brown water

3. Gray water

4. Treated water

True or false? Water meters reduce water waste.

1 2

50%50%1. True

2. False

The removal of vegetation, especially on hillsides increases the risk of:

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Salinization

2. Groundwater overdrafts

3. Saltwater intrusion

4. Flooding

From an environmental viewpoint, the best approach to reducing flood risks is:

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Floodplain

management

2. Channelization

3. Artificial levees

4. Flood control dams

Which of the following is not one of the causes of water scarcity?

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Dry climate

2. Erosion

3. Desiccation

4. Drought

True or false? Dams can lose more water than they provide.

1 2

50%50%1. True

2. False

Which of the following is not a stated concern about China’s Three Gorges Dam?

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. The reservoir will force

the displacement of over a million people

2. The reservoir will flood important archaeological sites

3. The dam may not be able to withstand the impact of an earthquake

4. The dam will increase China’s dependence on coal

Which of the following is not a main factor in water scarcity?

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Dry climate

2. Increased damming of rivers and building of reservoirs

3. Drought

4. Too many people using reliable water source

True or false? Since the 1960’s the Aral Sea in the former Soviet Union is going dry as a result of a large scale water transfer project.

1 2

50%50%1. True

2. False

Which of the following is a strategy to use water more sustainably?

1 2 3 4

25% 25%25%25%1. Build more dams and

levees

2. Regulate withdrawals to prevent depletion of renewable aquifers

3. Slow the rate of ozone depletion

4. Increase efficiency and productivity in livestock production