Quiz on Colorado River and Water Resources

Where does the Colorado River start and end?

• Colorado to the Pacific Ocean

• Colorado to the Gulf of California

• Utah to the Gulf of Mexico

• Wyoming to the Atlantic Ocean

How many dams are along the Colorado River?

• 7

• 10

• 14

• 20

What percentage of the nation’s crops and livestock does the Colorado River water help produce?

• 10%

• 15%

• 20%

• 25%

What percentage of Earth’s water is available for human use?

• 1%

• 0.1%

• 0.024%

• 0.5%

What is an aquifer?

• A lake formed by a dam

• A porous, water-saturated layer of sand, gravel, or bedrock

• A reservoir used for irrigation

• A land area delivering water to streams

What is the primary use of freshwater globally?

• Drinking water

• Generating electricity

• Irrigating crops and raising livestock

• Industrial production

What is groundwater?

• Water that flows on the surface

• Water stored in underground reservoirs

• Water stored in lakes and rivers

• Water evaporating from the soil

Which natural absorber helps reduce flooding?

• Concrete

• Forests

• Roads

• Dams

What is subsidence?

• Rising water tables

• The gradual sinking of land

• Overfilling of aquifers

• Creation of reservoirs

How much freshwater is lost to evaporation, leaks, and inefficient use?

• 30%

• 40%

• 50%

• 60%