Land Title: Environmental Science: Systems and Solutions, Fourth Edition Authors: Michael I. McKinney, Robert M. Schoch, Logan Yonavjak
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Practice Quizzes

Please read each question and select your answer from the choices provided. You must complete all of the questions in order to view your results.

1:  Which of the following is true about polluted water?
A: Water unfit for drinking is polluted.
B: Fortunately, death due to water contamination is nowadays rare worldwide.
C: The Clean Water Act of 1972 has been an overall failure due to the ambiguity of its regulations.
D: Most water pollution control efforts has been devoted to "end-of-pipe" methods.

2:  Which of the following is true?
A: Point sources of water pollution are more difficult to control than nonpoint sources.
B: Nonpoint source control can be best accomplished by input reduction.
C: End-of-pipe controls are emphasized over input controls because they are cheaper.
D: Industry has been the main culprit as a point source.

3:  Which of the following statements about the composition and properties of water pollutants is true?
A: Algae blooms often occur when a limiting nutrient is provided.
B: Any amount of animal wastes found in water is considered harmful.
C: No microorganism can survive the chlorination of water for drinking.
D: Natural organic chemicals tend to be more toxic than synthetic ones.

4:  Which of the following favors a shift from green to blue-green algae?
A: thermal pollution
B: radioactivity
C: sediment pollution
D: infectious wastes

5:  Which is the largest nonpoint source of water pollution?
A: industry
B: agriculture
C: domestic
D: government

6:  Which sector of industry is the largest contributor to sediment and acid drainage?
A: manufacturing
B: power-generating industries
C: mining and construction
D: food processing industries

7:  Which sector of industry produces the largest oxygen-demand wastes?
A: manufacturing
B: power-generating industries
C: mining and construction
D: food processing industries

8:  Which of the following is true about marine waters?
A: Marine pollution means primarily coastal water pollution.
B: The large cities in the Mediterranean area have excellent sewage treatment plants.
C: In the U.S. most beach closings occur in New York, New Jersey, and Florida.
D: Most oil pollution comes from oil spills.

9:  What is the most common litter found along beaches?
A: glass
B: aluminum
C: plastic
D: paper

10:  Which of the following is true about source reduction as a way of fighting water pollution?
A: Source reduction methods are more expensive than wastewater treatment.
B: Efficiency, recycling, and substitution are source reduction methods for combating water pollution.
C: Nitrate reduction in detergents has significantly decreased the incidence of algae blooms.
D: Unfortunately, increased efficiency in handling oil (less oil spills) has not taken place in recent years.

11:  Which of the following statements is true?
A: Because of the Clean Water Act of 1972 American rivers are no longer on the decline.
B: River decline in the U.S. is due primarily to point pollution.
C: One major factor for Lake Erie's Pollution is its shallowness.
D: Groundwater is used as a drinking source for about one-fourth of the U.S. population.

12:  The most common groundwater pollutant is (are)
A: nitrates.
B: oil.
C: pesticides.
D: volatile organic compounds.

13:  Which of the following about sewage treatment is true?
A: At present, sludge from waste-water treatment plants is used as soil conditioners.
B: Chlorination is part of the tertiary treatment of waste water.
C: In most cities, primary treatment of waste water is sufficient.
D: Nitrogen and phosphorus are often present in significant quantities after secondary treatment.

14:  What type of soil is best suited for septic tank usage?
A: clay
B: sandy
C: limestone
D: gravel

15:  The most common radioactive containment is
A: uranium.
B: plutonium.
C: radon.
D: iodine.

16:  Coliform bacteria in water is an indication of the presence of
A: radioactive wastes.
B: excess fertilizer.
C: decaying animals and plants.
D: human feces.

17:  Which of the following is true about bottled water?
A: It is safer than tap water.
B: The industry is poorly regulated.
C: The industry is regulated by the FDA.
D: All companies must belong to the IBWA (International Bottled Water Association).

18:  Which of the following statements is true?
A: Most water control programs, especially the control of non-point sources, are difficult to enforce.
B: Most water-treatment plants are of new construction with advanced technological design.
C: Groundwater protection comes under the Clean Water Act of 1972.
D: Water-chlorination produces water free from toxic by-products.

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Link: Jones and Bartlett Publishers