Name ______________________________ Class ___________________ Date __________________
Skills Worksheet
Active Reading
Section: Water Resources
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
Most of the fresh water that is available for human use cannot be
seen—it exists underground. When it rains, some of the water that
falls onto the land flows into lakes and streams. But much of the
water percolates through the soil and down into the rocks beneath.
Water stored beneath the Earth’s surface in sediment and rock
formations is called groundwater.
As water travels beneath the Earth’s surface, it eventually
reaches a level where the rocks and soil are saturated with water.
This level is known as the water table. In wet regions, the water
table may be at the Earth’s surface and a spring of fresh water may
flow out onto the ground. But in deserts, the water table may be
hundreds of meters beneath the Earth’s surface. The water table is
actually not as level as its name implies. The water table has peaks
and valleys that match the shape of the land above it. Just as
surface water flows downhill, groundwater tends to flow slowly
from the peaks of the water table to the valleys.
IDENTIFYING MAIN IDEAS
One reading skill is the ability to identify the main idea of a passage. The main
idea is the main focus or key idea. Frequently, a main idea is accompanied by
supporting information that offers detailed facts about main ideas.
Read each question and write the answer in the space provided.
1. Where is most fresh water that is available for human consumption found?
_______________________________________________________________
2. How does water get beneath Earth’s surface after it rains?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
Read each question and write the answer in the space provided.
3. Water stored in sediments and rocks beneath Earth’s surface is called
_______________________________________________________________
. 4. The level where rocks and soil become saturated with water is called
_______________________________________________________________
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Name ______________________________ Class ___________________ Date __________________
Active Reading continued
SEQUENCING INFORMATION
One reading skill is the ability to sequence information, or to logically place items
or events in the order in which they occur.
Read each question and write the answer in the space provided to show the
sequence of the process in which groundwater is formed.
5. Water that will become groundwater falls on the surface of Earth when
______________________________________________________________ .
6. Water first percolates through the ____________________.
7. Then, water reaches the ______________________ beneath.
8. Eventually, the water reaches the ___________________, where the rocks and
soil are already______________________ with water.
RECOGNIZING SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
One reading skill is the ability to recognize similarities and differences between
two phrases, ideas, or things. This is sometimes known as comparing and
contrasting.
Read each question and write the answer in the space provided.
9. Why is a water table not like a table in your home?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
10. Explain the difference between water tables in wet and desert regions.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
RECOGNIZING CAUSE AND EFFECT
One reading skill is the ability to recognize cause and effect.
Read each question and write the answer in the space provided.
11. What movement occurs with groundwater? What causes this movement?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
12. Why might a spring flow out of the ground in a wet region?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
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TEACHER.RESOURCE.PAGE
Answer Key
12. Possible answer: Agree; drip irrigation
conserves water that is used for irrigation
because it reduces the amount that is lost
due to evaporation. This improves the
efficiency of the farm by reducing the
amount of water that is used. This is
especially important if the water must be
purchased.
13. Possible answer: Agree; aquifers are
sensitive because they can be easily
contaminated but it is very difficult to
clean up the contamination. It can take
many years for an aquifer to recover.
Concept Review
MATCHING
1. e
2. b
3. d
4. a
MULTIPLE CHOICE
9. b
10. d
11. c
12. d
13. b
14. d
5.
6.
7.
8.
c
f
g
h
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
b
b
c
a
b
d
REFINING CONCEPTS
14. Possible answer: flood control, drinking
water source, and obtaining fertile
farmland
15. Possible answer: Diverting a river will
change the ecosystem in the newly
flooded and the previously flooded areas,
eliminate the water supply for people
downstream, and create tension between
the people upstream and downstream of
the river.
16. Possible answer: The water may not be
safely consumed but it can be used for
construction, manufacturing processes,
and some agricultural processes.
17. Possible answer: It is difficult to stop or
reduce nonpoint-source pollution because
the pollution comes from many sources.
These sources may be in various
jurisdictions where the laws vary or
enforcement is difficult.
Critical Thinking
ANALOGIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
a
d
c
d
c
b
b
INTERPRETING OBSERVATIONS
8. All water that is used for consumption
could be treated to remove a portion of the
arsenic by using alum.
9. Accept all reasonable responses. Arsenic
may be naturally occurring in the soil
where groundwater collects. The arsenic
could contaminate the water supply.
10. Microorganisms in the surface water may
be eliminated via chlorination. People
living in the areas with arseniccontaminated well water could drink the
surface water, once it has been
chlorinated.
Active Reading
SECTION: WATER RESOURCES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
AGREE OR DISAGREE
11. Possible answer: Disagree; water exists as
a solid, liquid, and a gas. Surface and
groundwater exist as a liquid. Water in
icebergs and glaciers exist as a solid.
Water vapor in the atmosphere is a gas.
underground
It percolates through the soil.
groundwater
water table
it rains
soil
rocks
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TEACHER.RESOURCE.PAGE
Map Skills
8. water table; saturated
9. A water table has peaks and valleys like
the land above it. It is not flat like a dining
table.
10. A water table in a wet region is likely to
be near the surface of Earth, and springs
may flow out of the ground. A water table
in the desert may be far below Earth’s
surface.
11. It flows downhill. Underground peaks and
valleys cause this movement.
12. The water table is near the surface of
Earth.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Arctic Ocean; Inuvik
St. Lawrence River
They are all located near water.
Answers may vary but should involve
proximity to waterways such as the St.
Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, as
well as the city’s proximity to major U.S.
industrial areas and cities.
Quiz
SECTION: WATER RESOURCES
SECTION: WATER USE AND
MANAGEMENT
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Matching
1. b
2. c
3. e
4. a
5. d
b
c
a
d
to manufacture goods, to dispose of waste,
and to generate power
aluminum, cars, computer chips, and
semiconductors
water is pumped from a water source,
such as a river or lake
water travels through pipes in a cooling
tower
water is pumped back into the source
c
d
SECTION: WATER USE AND
MANAGEMENT
Matching
1. a
2. c
3. b
4. e
5. d
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Multiple Choice
6. b
7. c
8. a
9. d
10. b
SECTION: WATER POLLUTION
Matching
1. c
2. e
3. d
4. b
5. a
SECTION: WATER POLLUTION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Multiple Choice
6. b
7. c
8. d
9. c
10. a
b
a
c
a large floating mat of algae
Eutrophication occurs naturally; artificial
eutrophication has the same results as
eutrophication but is caused by human
activity.
humans
inorganic plant nutrients enter the water
from sewage and fertilizer runoff
fertilizer from farms, lawns, and gardens
phosphates in laundry and dishwashing
detergents
phosphorus
Most of the dissolved oxygen in the water
is used as the algae dies and decompose,
so the fish suffocate.
Multiple Choice
6. c
7. a
8. b
9. d
10. a
Chapter Test General
MATCHING
1. e
2. d
3. b
4. f
MULTIPLE CHOICE
9. a
10. c
11. b
12. a
13. c
14. d
5.
6.
7.
8.
g
a
c
h
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
b
b
c
d
a
d
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