Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________________ Score: ____________________
Ch. 3 – Fresh Water Systems
Sci. 8 – pgs. 390 to 409
/25
After reading chapter 3 in your textbook and using your notes, answer the following questions.
Multiple Choice: /9
1. Water quality is tested all the time. To determine the depth to which sunlight will penetrate the water, or
clarity, investigator check for ...
a)
b)
c)
d)
aquatic organisms
bacteria count
suspended matter
aquatic vegetation
2. Canada has 5 major drainage basins. The land feature that determines in which direction the waters will
flow is called the ....
a)
b)
c)
d)
drainage plain
continental divide
elevation gradient
glacial stream
3. A raindrop landing in the extreme southeastern corner of Alberta will end up in ...
a)
b)
c)
d)
Hudson's Bay
Arctic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Gulf of Mexico
4. To determine what happens when land use affects a particular watershed, watershed management
technicians use this tool ...
a)
b)
c)
d)
GPS
GIC
GRS
GIS
5. The reason that researchers need to know how much water is flowing through a river channel at a given
time is because it helps scientists ...
a)
b)
c)
d)
predict deposition
prevent flooding
predict flooding
prevent erosion
6. The system of water that flows through porous rock is called ...
a)
b)
c)
d)
an aquifer
a riverbed
a water table
groundwater
7. Irrigation canals in Southern Alberta distribute water to farmlands, acreage owners and industries. This
water can be contaminated by from run-off which contains pesticides and fertilizers used on farmlands.
This type of contamination is considered to be ...
a)
b)
c)
d)
point sources
non-point sources
direct outflow
ground-water
8. Which of the following environments would be best at absorbing water and reducing run-off?
a)
b)
c)
d)
A shopping mall with a large parking lot.
A steep, rocky slope.
A hill that has recently been logged.
A large, flat forested area.
9. Digging into the ground will eventually lead to a level where there is water. The depth at which water is
found is called
a)
b)
c)
d)
the water table.
the well level.
the ground water.
an aquifer.
Short Answer: /16
1. What is a water-shed or drainage basin? /1
2. On the map below, color and label the 5 major drainage basins of Canada. Use a different color for each
basin. Draw and label the Continental Divide. /3
3. List the 7 major river basins in Alberta. / 3.5
a)
e)
b)
f)
c)
g)
d)
4. Of the drainage basins from question 2, which 3 do all of Alberta’s rivers flow into? /1.5



5. Explain how sediment plays a major role in the transportation of pollutants. /2
6. Describe what happens to water that falls on land and sinks out of sight into the ground. Use these terms
in your description: groundwater, aquifer, water-table, impermeable material, permeable material. /3
7. Explain what is meant by “aquifer depletion”. How can this problem be solved or reduced? /2