Watershed And Drainage Basin! Trivia Questions Quiz

1. A student builds a model to show how pollutants move through an ecosystem. In plastic tub, the student places a layer of small marbles, covers it with a thick cloth, and then adds a layer of sand. The student then sprinkles red powdered paint on top of the soil. When the student sprays water onto the model, red color appears in the cloth and in the water in the layer of marbles. Which part of the model represents pollutants introduced by humans?

The marbles

The thick cloth

Red powdered paint

Layer of sand

The red powdered paint represents pollutants introduced by humans because it is the substance that is being sprayed onto the model by the student. The paint is meant to simulate pollutants in the ecosystem, and its presence in the water and cloth indicates that it is being transported through the system. The marbles, thick cloth, and layer of sand are all components of the model but do not directly represent pollutants introduced by humans.

Explanation

The red powdered paint represents pollutants introduced by humans because it is the substance that is being sprayed onto the model by the student. The paint is meant to simulate pollutants in the ecosystem, and its presence in the water and cloth indicates that it is being transported through the system. The marbles, thick cloth, and layer of sand are all components of the model but do not directly represent pollutants introduced by humans.

2. When runoff crosses the land, it picks up fertilizers that have been used on crops and lawns. These contaminants will eventually enter a lake, river or stream, which may lead to -

The earth’s surface to sink.

The water in an aquifer to drop.

Harmful over-growth of algae

Clean water for drinking and bathing

Runoff from land carries fertilizers that have been used on crops and lawns. These fertilizers contain nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. When these nutrients enter a lake, river, or stream, they can cause an overgrowth of algae. This overgrowth is harmful because it can deplete oxygen levels in the water, leading to the death of other aquatic organisms. It can also create harmful algal blooms that produce toxins, making the water unsafe for drinking and bathing. Therefore, the presence of fertilizers in runoff can result in a harmful overgrowth of algae in water bodies.

Explanation

Runoff from land carries fertilizers that have been used on crops and lawns. These fertilizers contain nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. When these nutrients enter a lake, river, or stream, they can cause an overgrowth of algae. This overgrowth is harmful because it can deplete oxygen levels in the water, leading to the death of other aquatic organisms. It can also create harmful algal blooms that produce toxins, making the water unsafe for drinking and bathing. Therefore, the presence of fertilizers in runoff can result in a harmful overgrowth of algae in water bodies.

3. An area experiences a long period of drought forcing towns to pump out almost all of the water held in aquifers. What is the most likely result of this over pumping?

Stability of underground rock layers will be weakened and sink.

Excessive growth of plants will occur in local lakes.

Rainfall levels will increase and fill the aquifer.

A dead zone will be created in the watershed.

Taking to much water out of the ground may cause the ground above to collapse and sink

Explanation

Taking to much water out of the ground may cause the ground above to collapse and sink

4. Overflow during a heavy rainstorm from a wastewater treatment plant would result in -

Flooding in the local aquifer.

Weakened housing foundations.

Over treated drinking water.

Polluted runoff into nearby ponds.

Wastewater has pollution in it. If it rains a lot, this pollution can be washed out of the treatment plant and into ponds, lakes and streams

Explanation

Wastewater has pollution in it. If it rains a lot, this pollution can be washed out of the treatment plant and into ponds, lakes and streams

5. The illustration provided shows a river and four cities on that river. When the water from the river was sampled at location X, it was determined to be polluted with various chemicals. What would be the most likely source for this pollution?

City 1 and City 2

City 2 and City 3

City 3 and City 4

City 1 and City 4

The most likely source of pollution in the river at location X would be City 1 and City 2. This can be inferred because the question states that the water from the river was sampled at location X and found to be polluted with various chemicals. Since City 1 and City 2 are the only cities that share a common point on the river, it is likely that their waste or discharge is polluting the river at that location.

Explanation

The most likely source of pollution in the river at location X would be City 1 and City 2. This can be inferred because the question states that the water from the river was sampled at location X and found to be polluted with various chemicals. Since City 1 and City 2 are the only cities that share a common point on the river, it is likely that their waste or discharge is polluting the river at that location.

6. A paper company wants to build a paper mill in the watershed where a village exists. In order to minimize potential pollution to the village, which of the following locations is the best to build the mill?

At the highest point in the watershed

Downstream from the village

Closest to a freshwater stream or river

Nearest to the main street of the village

The paper play mill needs to be downstream from the village, so when it rains any pollution in the water will not flow into the village

Explanation

The paper play mill needs to be downstream from the village, so when it rains any pollution in the water will not flow into the village