Environmental Midterm

Question 1

What are the three Rs and which is best for the environment?

Answer 1

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce is best for the environment

Question 2

Define potable

Answer 2

Safe to drink

Question 3

What is the amount of available fresh water suitable for human consumption on Earth (%)?

Answer 3

Less than 1%

Question 4

What are some examples of surface water?

Answer 4

Lakes
Rivers
Streams
Oceans
Seas
Icecaps
Glaciers

Question 5

What are some factors that affect the quality of water for an area?

Answer 5

Pollution
Runoff
Sewage
Farming

Question 6

How does water availability in developing countries impact the quality of life or women living there?

Answer 6

Poor water access lowers health, education, and income. Women spend time collecting water instead of school and work.

Question 7

What sector uses the most water worldwide?

Answer 7

Agriculture

Question 8

.020 ml (2-20 µl pipette, 20-200 µl pipette, 10 ml serological pipette or 50 mL graduated cylinder)

Answer 8

2–20 µL pipette

Question 9

20 ml (2-20 µl pipette, 20-200 µl pipette, 10 ml serological pipette or 50 mL graduated cylinder)

Answer 9

50 mL graduated cylinder

Question 10

4 ml (2-20 µl pipette, 20-200 µl pipette, 10 ml serological pipette or 50 mL graduated cylinder)

Answer 10

10 mL serological pipette

Question 11

150 µl (2-20 µl pipette, 20-200 µl pipette, 10 ml serological pipette or 50 mL graduated cylinder)

Answer 11

20–200 µL pipette

Question 12

2 µl (2-20 µl pipette, 20-200 µl pipette, 10 ml serological pipette or 50 mL graduated cylinder)

Answer 12

2–20 µL pipette

Question 13

What factors are considered when calculating a person’s water footprint?

Answer 13

Water used at home (shower, sink, toilet etc) food you eat, clothes/products you buy, and energy use.

Question 14

What is an aquifer?

Answer 14

An underground layer of rock or soil that holds water

Question 15

What is an artesian aquifer?

Answer 15

trapped between two layers of rock, so the water is under pressure

Question 16

What is the water table?

Answer 16

top level of underground water

Question 17

What layer in the ground is the least permeable and often forms the boundary of an artesian aquifer?

Answer 17

clay

Question 18

How can fresh groundwater in an aquifer become salty?

Answer 18

Saltwater intrusion, road salt, human actions or evaporation leaving salt behind.

Question 19

pH concern

Answer 19

below 6.5 or above 8.5

Question 20

Sulfate level concern over

Answer 20

over 250 mg/L

Question 21

Nitrate level concern

Answer 21

over 10 mg/L

Question 22

Coliform colonies present concern

Answer 22

any presence

Question 23

What is normally added to drinking water?

Answer 23

Chlorine (to kill bacteria) and sometimes fluoride.

Question 24

Why is maintaining a normal pH important for drinking water?

Answer 24

It keeps water safe to drink and prevents pipe damage.

Question 25

Which heavy metal was in the news due to being found in water supplies in Flint, Michigan?

Answer 25

Lead

Question 26

A surface water sample was found to contain a high nitrate concentration on 6 consecutive days. The source of this high nitrate concentration could be from what?

Answer 26

Fertilizer runoff from farms or lawns.

Question 27

Describe point source and non-point source of pollution. Give examples of each.

Answer 27

Point source pollution comes from a single, identifiable location like a pipe or smokestack, making it easier to regulate while nonpoint source pollution is diffuse, coming from broad areas from runoff, making it harder to control (agricultural fields, urban stormwater).

Question 28

Water samples were collected by students in the river where the wastewater treatment plant discharges their treated water. What levels of E. coli, pH and Nitrates would show up in that sample, assuming that the treatment plant has adequate treatment of its sewage?

Answer 28

Low E. coli, normal pH, low nitrates.

Question 29

What household cleaning supply would be a treatment for fecal coliform in drinking water?

Answer 29

Bleach

Question 30

Independent Variables

Answer 30

the thing you change on purpose

Question 31

Dependent Variable

Answer 31

the thing you measure or observe

Question 32

Constants

Answer 32

the things you keep the same

Question 33

During the secondary sewage treatment process the water is aerated before moving it onto the next stage. The purpose of this step is what?

Answer 33

To add oxygen so bacteria can break down waste.

Question 34

Where does Coliform bacteria originate from?

Answer 34

intestines of humans and animals.

Question 35

Are all fecal coliforms a health risk?

Answer 35

No

Question 36

What are three methods for remediating pollution from a water source?

Answer 36

Filtration Chlorination Bioremediation

Question 37

Filtration

Answer 37

removes solids

Question 38

Chlorination

Answer 38

kills bacteria

Question 39

Bioremediation

Answer 39

breaks down chemicals

Question 40

what are three other ways to clean up an oil spill

Answer 40

Skimmers, absorbent booms, burning the oil, chemical dispersants

Question 41

Why is biomedication better?

Answer 41

Biomedication does not damage the environment.

Question 42

Why is a good water management plan important if we want to continue to have access to clean water?

Answer 42

To make sure clean water lasts for the future because clean fresh water is limited.

Question 43

Phytoremediation

Answer 43

Using plants to remove pollutants.

Question 44

Hyperaccumulator

Answer 44

A plant that absorbs large amounts of toxins.

Question 45

What makes up a water shed?

Answer 45

an area of land where all the water drains to the same place

Question 46

What are the 3 main components inside a well.

Answer 46

Casing, pump, well screen.

Question 47

How might biological organisms be used to remove contaminants from a water supply?

Answer 47

Bacteria, plants, or algae can remove contaminants by breaking down pollutants or absorbing toxins from the water.

Question 48

Define Food Security

Answer 48

Having reliable access to enough safe food.

Question 49

Positives and negative of Bt corn

Answer 49

Positive: Produces its own toxin to kill certain pests so farmers use less insecticide. Negative: Pests can eventually become resistant to the toxin.

Question 50

Positives and negative of Bt cotton

Answer 50

Positive: Same as corn, fewer chemical sprays needed. Negative: Can still harm some beneficial insects and may lead to resistance over time.

Question 51

Round-Up is an herbicide, what crop is often genetically modified to be resistant to this herbicide?

Answer 51

Soybeans

Question 52

What makes an animal a GM animal?

Answer 52

Its DNA has been changed using genetic engineering.

Question 53

What are the advantages of producing transgenic plants?

Answer 53

Higher yields, pest resistance, less chemical use.

Question 54

Does a liver cell contain the same chromosomes as a cheek cell?

Answer 54

Yes

Question 55

Example of genetically modified animal

Answer 55

Salmon: Engineered to reach market size much faster