Practice Questions – Chapter 13
Water Resources
1. What percentage of the earth’s fresh water is available to us? How is most of
the world’s fresh water used? Describe the availability and use of fresh water
resources in the United States.
2. How many people in the world lack regular access to (a) safe drinking water
and (b) do not have access to basic sanitation?
3. What is drought? What are (a) three causes and (b) three harmful effect of
drought?
4. What are (a) three advantages and (b) three disadvantages of withdrawing
ground water?
5. Describe the problem of ground water depletion in the (a) United States
(Ogallala) and (b) the world (use specific example – Aral Sea). Describe
three ways that slow groundwater depletion may be presented.
6. What is a dam? What is a reservoir? What three (a) advantages and (b) three
disadvantages of large dams?
7. Describe the Three Gorges Dam? What are (a) three advantages and (b)
three disadvantages associated with the building of this dam?
8. Define desalinization and distinguish between distillation and reverse
osmosis as methods for distilling water. What are limitations of this process
and how might they be overcome?
9. Describe the four irrigation methods. List and describe ways to reduce water
waste in (a) developed and (b) developing countries.
10. List seven ways to reduce domestic water waste. Which three can you use to
reduce your water wastage?
11. What is a flood plain? Why do people like to live thee?
12. Describe three human activities that increase the possibility of flooding.
List three (a) advantages and (b) three disadvantages of floods.
Vocabulary Words
Groundwater
Zone of saturation
Water table
Aquifers
Natural recharge
Lateral recharge
Surface water
Surface runoff
Watershed
Drought
Sink holes
Land subsidence
Reservoir
California Water Proje