Watershed and Human Activity

The following computer model was created to illustrate how a watershed can be affected by human activities. What is the most likely reason for placing the farm land upstream from the factories?

• The water at the highest point of the river will have been impacted the least by human activities, so it should be the cleanest.

• Farms do not have a negative impact on watersheds, so they should be placed upstream.

• The factory puts pollution into the air, so it does not matter where the farm is located.

• The farm should be placed upstream because pesticides from the farm will end up in the river, which is beneficial for the factories downstream.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

The model shows an area near a lake. Community leaders are planning new laws to help protect the lake from pollution. One proposed law will make it illegal to dump trash on the shore of the lake, but the law still allows trash to be placed in the area labeled "Flow-through" wetland." Which statement about the proposed law is supported by the model?

• The proposed law will protect the lake because plant roots between the wetland and the lake will stop pollution from entering the lake.

• The proposed law will not protect the lake because animals that live in or new the lake will add pollution to the lake.

• The proposed law will not protect the lake because groundwater will carry pollution from the wetland directly into the lake.

• The proposed law will protect the lake because the high elevation of the water table will block pollution from entering the lake.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which of these human activities is most likely to cause the excessive growth of phytoplankton in the world's oceans?

• The use of chemical fertilzers that are carried by runoff into rivers

• The logging of old-growth forests, which results in erosion

• The spraying of chemical herbicides that reduce carbon dioxide in the air

• The mining of fossil fuels, which requires digging underground tunnels

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A company known as Arten Industries is wanting to build a factory in the watershed that is pictured. The company wants to limit the ecological impact it has on surrounding areas. Where should the company build its factory?

• top of the river so the rain can dilute the pollution

• away from the river so the pollution can not reach the river

• the middle of the river so the pollution can have time to settle.

• the bottom of the river so it effects a smaller amount of land

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

As the map shows, there are multiple drainage basins in Texas. Ft. Worth and Dallas are in the same drainage basin. What is the most likely reason that the water in the Trinity River is dirtier in Houston than it is in Dallas?

• Ocean pollutants are entering the river.

• Pollutants are entering from other drainage basins.

• The river basin picks up more human pollutants.

• The water goes through a salt dome and get more polluted.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Farmers can best reduce negative effects on the water quality of nearby streams and lakes by planting crops that

• produce less oxygen

• produce less carbon dioxide

• need less fertilizer

• need less solar energy

How do the industrial, agricultural and residential activities of humans most likely affect the groundwater in the area?

• Pollutants from the activities percolate through the soil and enter the water table.

• The activities prevent most of the water from evaporating into the atmosphere.

• The activities replace groundwater use.

• All of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

How does the agricultural activity most likely affect the surface water of the area?

• Excess crop material accumulates on the riverbanks, showing the movement of the river water.

• Crops reduce erosion, increasing the amount of soil entering the river.

• Crops absorb pure water from soil, causing the remaining water to contain more salt.

• Excess crop fertilizer is carried by runoff into the river, causing excess growth of water plants.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A proposed law will make it illegal to dump trash on the shore of the lake, but the law still allows trash to be placed in the area labeled "Flow-through.

• The law will protect because, the high elevation of the water table will block pollution from enter the lake.

• The law will not protect because, groundwater will carry pollution from the wetland directly into the lake.

• The law will not protect because, animals that live in or near the lake will add pollution to the lake.

• The law will protect because, plant roots between the wetland and the law will stop pollution from enter the lake.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

The use of fertilizers on a farmland can eventually cause an overgrowth of algae to appear in surrounding aquatic ecosystems. What process contributes to the increased growth of algae?

• A decrease in the erosion of creek beds

• An increase in the sedimentation of rivers

• An increase in runoff after heavy rains

• A decreased use of water by animals

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-1