TEST NAME: Water Pollution
TEST ID: 1300571
GRADE: 08 - Eighth Grade
SUBJECT: Life and Physical Sciences
TEST CATEGORY: School Assessment
Water Pollution
Page 1 of 13
11/04/16, Water Pollution
Student:
Class:
Date:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Indicators of aquatic health are best observed under which conditions?
A.
once every ten years
B.
at the surface, every year
C.
once a year at many depths
D.
many times a year at many
depths
Which best describes the world’s oceans?
A.
There is one ocean with one
basin.
C.
There are many oceans with one
basin.
B.
There is one ocean with many
basins.
Which water quality data most likely indicates eutrophication?
A.
pH level
B.
turbidity
C.
temperature
D.
nutrient level
Which best describes the process by which water from the ocean enters
the atmosphere?
A.
infiltration
B.
precipitation
C.
evaporation
D.
condensation
Why is it important for people to understand how to properly dispose of
wastes?
A.
Proper disposal of wastes will
regulate Earth’s climate.
B.
Proper disposal of wastes will
eliminate the need for additional
landfills.
C.
Improper disposal of wastes in a
watershed affects the amount of
water flowing downstream.
D.
Improper disposal of wastes in a
watershed affects the organisms
living in the water downstream.
Water Pollution
Page 2 of 13
Which dissolved gas is added to ocean water as a result of
photosynthesis?
6.
A.
oxygen
C.
carbon dioxide
B.
nitrogen
Which best explains why there is a greater concentration of oxygen
located near the ocean’s surface?
7.
A.
Sunlight warms the ocean’s
temperature and stimulates
oxygen production near the
surface.
B.
Plankton produces excess
amounts of nutrients that remove
oxygen levels from the
atmosphere.
C.
Marine life gives off oxygen
instead of carbon dioxide, which
makes the ocean water rich in
oxygen.
D.
Plants, which release oxygen, live
near the surface of the ocean,
where they receive large amounts
of sunlight.
The word “bioaccumulation” is most often associated with which threat to
water?
8.
A.
sediment
B.
excess nitrogen
C.
toxic chemicals
D.
excess nutrients
Which best describes how marine ecosystems are so unique?
9.
10.
A.
Marine ecosystems are home to
diverse biological life.
C.
Marine ecosystems rely on many
different abiotic and biotic
factors like dissolved gases and
phytoplankton for survival.
B.
Marine ecosystems have a wide
range in amounts of salinity.
How will high turbidity most likely affect a watershed?
A.
Water temperatures and dissolved B. Water temperatures and dissolved
oxygen levels will decrease.
oxygen levels will increase.
C.
Water temperatures will increase,
and dissolved oxygen levels will
decrease.
Water Pollution
D.
Water temperatures will decrease,
and dissolved oxygen levels will
increase.
Page 3 of 13
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Which best describes how frogs can be used to indicate the health of a
water system?
A.
Frogs will change color in a
polluted environment.
B.
Frogs will sicken or die in a
polluted environment.
C.
Frogs will move away from a
polluted environment.
D.
Frogs will change their diet in a
polluted environment.
Which event will most likely cause increased turbidity in a lake or pond?
A.
increase in runoff
B.
decrease in runoff
C.
increase in aquatic plants
D.
decrease in aquatic plants
Which is the most likely result of an increase in the level of nitrates in a
body of water?
A.
increase in turbidity
B.
increase in plant growth
C.
increase in fish population
D.
increase in water temperature
Which may cause scientists to be concerned about the quality of lake
water?
A.
low levels of salt
B.
low levels of arsenic
C.
high levels of oxygen
D.
high levels of nitrates
If a large amount of fertilizer enters a lake, which will most likely
happen?
A.
The fish population in the lake
will increase.
B.
The temperature of the lake water
will increase.
C.
The number of fish dying in the
lake will increase.
D.
The available food supply for the
fish in the lake will increase.
What does a pH of 7 most likely indicate about the water quality?
A.
The water is a strong base.
B.
The water is highly acidic.
C.
The water is toxic to drink.
D.
The water is safe to drink.
Water Pollution
Page 4 of 13
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Which process would most likely increase the dissolved oxygen level in a
freshwater lake?
A.
algae bloom
B.
lake turnover
C.
photosynthesis
D.
respiration
Which is a bioindicator?
A.
current
B.
insect
C.
rock
D.
water
In which way does a flood have the greatest impact on local water
quality?
A.
It causes aquifers to run out of
water.
B.
It cleans the water and decreases
the turbidity.
C.
It allows many foreign materials
to enter the water.
D.
It moves animals to new
locations and increases biological
diversity.
Which organism would make a good bioindicator?
A.
an organism that is endangered
B.
an organism that is tolerant of
slight physical or chemical
changes
C.
an organism that has reached its
carrying capacity in the
ecosystem
D.
an organism that is not sensitive
to slight physical or chemical
changes
Which best explains why a scientist would use nets to capture and count
organisms in a river?
A.
to measure pH
B.
to measure turbidity
C.
to measure biodiversity
D.
to measure temperature
Which most likely has the highest number of contaminants in the water?
A.
a water system with moderate
turbidity
B.
a water system with high turbidity
C.
a water system with low turbidity
D.
a water system with no turbidity
Water Pollution
Page 5 of 13
23.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) data for a local river was taken throughout 2011.
In which month was the water temperature most likely the lowest?
24.
25.
A.
January
B.
February
C.
August
D.
December
Which effect does fertilizer runoff have on North Carolina lakes and
streams?
A.
The fertilizer causes some
organisms to thrive, but hurts
others.
B.
The fertilizer causes the water to
become hotter, killing certain fish.
C.
The fertilizer causes fish to
become sterile, preventing them
from spawning.
D.
The fertilizer causes the water to
become over-oxygenated, killing
aquatic plants.
Which factors can have the greatest effect on the health of a river
system?
A.
type of soil and salinity
B.
nitrate levels and turbidity
C.
human consumption and pH
D.
natural disasters and tidal
changes
Water Pollution
Page 6 of 13
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Which is the most likely effect of too much nitrogen and phosphorus
flowing into a lake?
A.
algal blooms
B.
greater salinity
C.
decreased turbidity
D.
lower temperature
How do algal blooms affect the health of a water system?
A.
They photosynthesize and
increase the amounts of dissolved
oxygen, decreasing the water
quality.
C.
They can block sunlight and their
decomposition decreases
dissolved oxygen in the water,
decreasing the water quality.
B.
They photosynthesize and
decrease the amounts of
dissolved oxygen, increasing the
water quality.
What does pH measure?
A.
acidity/alkalinity
B.
dissolved oxygen
C.
nutrient level
D.
turbidity
Which chemical elements in fertilizers pollute stormwater runoff and
contribute to excessive plant growth in a water system?
A.
iron and lead
B.
copper and zinc
C.
calcium and magnesium
D.
phosphorous and nitrogen
How are indicator species like a warning system for bodies of water?
A.
They indicate when food sources
are declining.
B.
Their illness or death indicates
pollution in an aquatic ecosystem.
C.
They indicate when predators are
reducing the numbers of a
species.
D.
Their illness or death indicates
the body of water is becoming
more populated.
Water Pollution
Page 7 of 13
31.
Which best describes the relationship between temperature and
dissolved oxygen in a lake?
A.
C.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
As temperature increases, dissolved
oxygen increases.
As temperature decreases, dissolved
oxygen decreases.
B.
D.
As temperature increases, dissolved
oxygen decreases.
A change in temperature has no effect on
dissolved oxygen.
Which human action would most likely increase the nutrients in an
ecosystem?
A.
building a rock wall
B.
fertilizing a cornfield
C.
watering a flower bed
D.
pulling weeds from a garden
Why do biologists use indicator species?
A.
to compare freshwater and ocean
ecosystems
B.
to count the number of organisms
present
C.
to monitor water quality and
biodiversity
D.
to analyze the dominant species
Which is most likely to happen when river water temperature rises above
35°C?
A.
The water will become polluted.
B.
The dissolved oxygen levels will
increase.
C.
There will be negative health
effects on wildlife.
D.
There will be decreased
evaporation from the river.
How does the use of fluoride in drinking water affect the human
population?
A.
It helps to prevent tooth decay.
C.
It regulates pH of the water.
B.
It kills bacteria in the water.
Which best explains why public beaches and recreational waterways are
monitored carefully by local health departments?
A.
to protect future industrial
expansion
B.
to protect citizens from potential
disease
C.
to maintain tourism and economic
stability
D.
to maintain public health and
safety records
Water Pollution
Page 8 of 13
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
Which can households do to help the local wastewater treatment facility
function properly?
A.
put food waste in a composter
instead of in the trash
C.
flush only human waste and toilet D. volunteer to help operate the
paper down the toilet
treatment plant once a month
B.
dispose of cooking oil and grease
in the kitchen sink
Which best explains why water quality standards are necessary?
A.
to maintain clear water
B.
to maintain fresh-tasting water
C.
to prevent water from having any
trace of pollutants
D.
to prevent water from having
excessive levels of pollutants
Which is the most important reason why findings of water quality
studies need to be communicated to policy makers?
A.
so laws can be enacted to protect
the hydrosphere
C.
so laws protecting the
environment can have fewer
penalties
B.
so policy makers will begin to
conserve water personally
How can communities best determine if methods used to maintain water
quality can justify the economic trade-offs involved?
A.
by evaluating health benefits of
higher water quality
B.
by creating monetary incentives
for industry
C.
by analyzing costs of educational
programs
D.
by reducing tax incentives for
farmers
How does the use of a pH meter help monitor the hydrosphere?
A.
by indicating whether the water is
too acidic or basic
B.
by indicating if there is too much
sediment in the water
C.
by indicating whether
microorganisms are living in the
water
D.
by indicating if there is enough
dissolved oxygen in the water
Water Pollution
Page 9 of 13
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
Why do lakes, rivers, and streams most likely require more treatment
than groundwater?
A.
They are classified as surface
water resources.
C.
They are exposed to a greater
variety of contaminants.
B.
They experience fewer
governmental regulations.
Which is most important for protecting the quality of a local river basin?
A.
reducing industrial activities in
rural areas
B.
planting and protecting plants
around streams and lakes
C.
reducing recreational activities
around streams and lakes
D.
planting and protecting plants in
neighborhoods and parks
Which most likely would cause diseases to be spread by polluted water?
A.
dumping human waste in rivers
and streams
C.
an oil spill resulting from an
accident to a ship carrying oil as
cargo
B.
runoff that contains fertilizers and
pesticides
Which is the best way to conserve water?
A.
Take a daily bath rather than a
shower.
B.
Wash several small loads of
clothing rather than a few large
ones.
C.
Use the dishwasher only for small
loads rather than for large loads.
D.
Install low-flow toilets that
reduce the amount of water being
flushed.
Which act of stewardship most directly impacts the water cycle?
A.
walking to work or school
B.
recycling aluminum soda cans
C.
limiting shower time to 10
minutes
D.
carpooling to work during the
week
Water Pollution
Page 10 of 13
47.
This diagram shows pH ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral, less
than 7 as acidic, and greater than 7 being alkaline (basic).
How does pollution affect the pH of a stream?
48.
A.
When the acid rain finds its way
into the stream, the pH in the
stream can increase.
C.
Pollution corresponds with
decreased photosynthesis, which
may cause long-term stability in
pH.
B.
When the acid rain finds its way
into the stream, the pH in the
stream can decrease.
Which is one way people can help prevent the pollution of lakes and
rivers?
A.
by controlling soil erosion around
lakes and rivers
B.
by clearing land around lakes and
rivers to build homes
C.
by limiting the amount of fish
caught in lakes and rivers
D.
by creating hiking and biking
trails along lakes and rivers
Water Pollution
Page 11 of 13
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
Which organism uses nitrates from its fresh water habitat as a primary
food source?
A.
fish
C.
algae
B.
birds
Which is most likely an example of point source pollution?
A.
fertilizer sprayed onto a field
C.
a pipe flowing into a river
B.
water runoff from a city street
Which best explains why most prescription and over-the-counter drugs
should not be disposed of in the sink or toilet?
A.
The drugs can clog drains.
B.
The drugs may not dissolve.
C.
The drugs may enter the water
cycle.
D.
The drugs may become less
effective.
Why are Americans warned to avoid drinking the water when visiting
developing countries?
A.
Water in developing countries is
discolored.
B.
Water in developing countries is
composed of different elements.
C.
Water in developing countries
may be minimally treated and
could cause illness.
D.
Water in developing countries
contains large amounts of
chlorine from overtreatment.
Which best explains why water may be treated differently in different
communities?
A.
Some communities avoid using
groundwater.
C.
Environmental factors vary
between communities.
Water Pollution
B.
Groundwater requires more
expensive treatments.
Page 12 of 13
54.
A new town is established in a remote mountain area. The citizens of the
new town are concerned about the health of themselves and their
environment. Which aspect of the community should the town develop
first to meet their concerns?
A.
clean water source
B.
fine restaurants
C.
large hospitals
D.
good roads
Water Pollution
Page 13 of 13