REVIEW: Human Impacts

Which of the following would NOT be a beneficial activity on groundwater in a watershed

• Reduce use of pesticides on gardens
• Increase use of fertilizers on lawns
• Clean up animal droppings
• Dispose of chemicals properly

The agricultural industry utilizes fertilizer and pesticides to boost crop growth and reduce pests. How do these inorganic treatments negatively impact the watershed surrounding the land?

• Runoff from the farms can cause overgrowth of plant life in local ponds, lakes, and rivers, reducing oxygen levels and impacting animal life.
• Runoff carrying fertilizer and pesticides helps plants grow and reduces pests in surface water locations.
• Runoff carries fertilizer and pesticides to other agricultural areas and is absorbed there so it does not seep into the groundwater supply.
• Runoff does not carry fertilizer and pesticides to the water supply because these chemicals are too heavy to be carried by water.

Humans depend on the oceans for many aspects of their lives. Which of the following summarizes how life would be different if the ocean ecosystems collapsed?

• The recreation industry would collapse because of the lack of available and abundant fish populations.
• The temperature regulation of the oceans would collapse because of the lack of available and abundant fish populations.
• The oil drilling industry would collapse because of the lack of available and abundant fish populations.
• The commercial fishing industry would collapse because of the lack of available and abundant fish populations.

Humans contribute to the chemical pollution of oceans in many ways. Which of the following is a method in which humans contribute to the chemical pollution of our oceans? Select three correct answers.

• Spraying fertilizer on yards, public spaces, and agricultural areas
• Boat traffic interfering with the communication methods of large aquatic mammals
• Leaking oil, gasoline, and other chemicals from cars and boats
• Collecting rainwater to reuse as irrigation for farms
• Runoff from manufacturing plants located near waterways

Which of the following human activities would most likely lead to subsidence, the sinking of the surface of Earth? (Sink holes)

• Using toxic chemicals in the manufacturing of goods
• Filtering out pollutants at a water treatment plant
• Excess removal of water from underground reservoirs
• Storing drinking water in small above-ground basins

Using the diagram provided, identify the best location for a factory to be built to minimize the impact its runoff will have on the nearby towns.

• Top of the hill, above City 1
• Between Cities 1 and 2
• Between Cities 2 and 3
• Bottom of the hill, below City 4

Includes streams, lakes, rivers, ponds, etc. Found above ground Precipitation contributes to these areas. This best describes

• Runoff
• Groundwater
• Surface Water
• Aquifers

Water samples were collected from Points A, B, and C on the map. In which sample was pollution found to be the highest? *Note that the building shown is symbolic for a factory

• Point A
• Point B
• Point C
• All were equal.

Which answer choice correctly summarizes how the pollution from the factory and the commercial fishing industry are connected?

• The factories provide nutrients for the fish, increasing their populations, which in turn helps the fishing industry by increasing their profits.
• The factories produce pollution, which ends up in the water, reducing the number of animals in the oceans. The fishing industry then cannot catch enough fish to meet the demand.
• The fishing boats produce pollution, which impacts the factory’s ability to produce its product.
• The fishing boats catch the majority of fish in the oceans, which prevents the factories from having the required materials to function.

What is one way that humans positively impact oceans?

• Overfishing to ensure that less fish are inhabiting the ocean, thus eliminating death by polluted waters.
• Increasing Factory activity during night hours so pollution is limited during the day when fish are most active
• Creating and placing artificial reefs which allow organisms to reinhabit different areas.
• Throwing outdated pesticides into the ocean to prevent it from contaminating local groundwater