Name: _________________________
PRACTICE TEST – Unit 7: Water, Water Pollution, and Aquatic Biodiversity
AP Environmental Science – February 22, 2013
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and darken its bubble.
1. Which of the following lists the major steps of cultural
eutrophication, in the order in which they occur?
(A) nutrient input, algal bloom, nutrient depletion, algal
die-off, decomposition, decreased dissolved oxygen,
fish suffocate
(B) nutrient input, algal bloom, decomposition, algal-die
off, increased dissolved oxygen, fish suffocate,
nutrient depletion
(C) nutrient input, decreased dissolved oxygen, algal
bloom, nutrient depletion, decomposition, algal dieoff, fish suffocate
(D) nutrient input, algal bloom, algal die-off, fish
suffocate, nutrient depletion, decreased dissolved
oxygen, decomposition
(E) nutrient input, increased dissolved oxygen, algal
bloom, nutrient depletion, algal die off,
decomposition, fish suffocate
2. The introduction of the water hyacinth into Lake Victoria
ecosystem has had all the following impacts EXCEPT
for:
(A) deprives sub-aquatic vegetation from receiving
more sunlight
(B) deprives fish and other organisms of oxygen, over
time
(C) made boat travel more difficult
(D) increased the diversity of aquatic plant species
(E) increased mosquito breeding areas
3. Which of the following is NOT generally considered a
pattern of marine biodiversity?
(A) It is higher in benthic regions than in pelagic regions.
(B) It is higher in coastlines than in the open sea.
(C) It decreases in the open ocean as you move from the
tropics to the North Pole.
(D) It is greatest in coral reefs and estuaries.
(E) It is probably lowest in the bathyl zone of the open
ocean
4. Which of the following has contributed to the
endangered status of the blue whale?
I. the brief time period to reach sexual maturity
II. prolonged overharvesting of the blue whale
III. group feeding behavior in Antarctic waters
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III
5. Each of the following is an ecological service provided
by marine ecosystems EXCEPT for:
(A) climate regulation
(B) nutrient cycling
(C) waste treatment and dilution
(D) ground water recharge
(E) nursery areas and habitats
6. Bycatch is…
(A) commonplace only in temperate waters.
(B) generally considered to be desirable among the
majority of legislators
(C) a method which enhances the sustainability of
fishing
(D) typically carried out using two or more fishing
vessels
(E) used to describe organisms that are unintentionally
caught
7. Marine biodiversity is difficult to protect due to:
I. the perception that the seas contain inexhaustible
resources
II. the difficulties in developing, monitoring, and
enforcing international agreements
III. the fact that much of the damage to the oceans is
not visible to people.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III
8. Which of the following is the least likely explanation for
the endangered or threatened status of the world’s sea
turtles?
(A) lack of natural predators
(B) legal and illegal taking of their eggs
(C) habitat degradation especially on nesting beaches
(D) harvesting for shells and meat
(E) unintentional capture and drowning by commercial
fishing boats
9. Which of the following statements is inaccurate
regarding turtle exclusion devices (TEDs)?
(A) It is a device required by the U.S. government for all
off-shore shrimp trawlers fishing in U.S. waters.
(B) It has been unilaterally adopted by all international
fishing fleets.
(C) It allows turtles to escape trawl nets but not shrimp.
(D) It can be expensive for small-scale fisherman to
install in their nets.
(E) It is a highly effective conservation technology.
10. Which of the following statements is accurate regarding
purple loosestrife?
I. It is an invasive plant that has reduced wetland
biodiversity in the United States.
II. It may be controlled by natural predators, such as a
specific weevil or leaf-eating beetle.
III. It has reduced habitat for some wetland wildlife.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II only
(E) I, II, and III
11. Which of the following statements is true regarding the
maximum sustained yield (MSY) method of managing
the world’s marine fisheries?
(A) Fishing quotas are typically easy to enforce.
(B) Populations and growth of fish stocks are difficult
to measure and predict.
(C) Harvesting a fishery at its extreme maximum
sustainable level typically allows for a wide margin
for error.
(D) Underreporting fish harvests by fishers cannot
occur under MSY’s.
(E) Fish population estimates are based on precise data
that is updated monthly.
12. Which of the following would NOT enhance the
sustainability of fisheries?
(A) Use labels that allow consumers to identify fish that
have been harvested sustainably.
(B) Reduce or eliminate fishing subsides.
(C) Impose fees for harvesting fish and shellfish from
publicly owned and managed offshore waters.
(D) Publicize overfished and threatened species.
(E) Encourage fishers to throw bycatch back into the
sea even if the species is marketable.
13. When the Fort McHenry Tunnel was constructed, an
area of wetlands was destroyed; however, an equal area
of wetlands was created adjacent to Fort McHenry
National Monument. This best exemplifies which of the
following conservation strategies?
(A) comanagement
(B) optimum sustain yield
(C) mitigation banking
(D) integrated coastal management
(E) multispecies management
14. The depletion of the world’s marine fish stocks due to
overfishing is a classic example of…
(A) the sustainable use of resources.
(B) the trap-door principle.
(C) the failure of international treaties.
(D) the eminent domain principle.
(E) the tragedy of the commons.
15. Activities allowed in the (U.S.) National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System include which of the following?
I. fishing
II. kayaking
III. motor boating
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II only
(E) II and III only
16. The largest wetlands restoration project in U.S. history
is…
(A) the Salton Sea (California).
(B) the Great Salt Lake (Utah).
(C) the Mississippi River.
(D) the Chesapeake Bay.
(E) the Florida Everglades.
17. The land area that delivers recharge to smaller tributary
streams that flow into larger rivers is known as…
(A) watershed
(B) source zone
(C) flood plain
(D) delta
(E) estuary
18. The most biologically diverse areas of the ocean
include coral reefs and estuaries. All of the following
characteristics are reasons why these ecosystems can
support such a high level of diversity EXCEPT:
(A) They are areas of high primary productivity.
(B) Both ecosystems have abundant nutrient flow that
supports phytoplankton populations.
(C) Coral reefs and estuaries receive an abundant amount
of sunlight.
(D) Both ecosystems provide plenty of habitat space for
organisms.
(E) These ecosystems do not have commercially
important species; therefore human impact on
biodiversity is limited.
19. Deep lakes that are characterized by steep banks and
have a relatively small supply of plant nutrients are
known as…
(A) autotrophic.
(B) euphotic.
(C) mesotrophic.
(D) oligotrophic.
(E) eutrophic.
20. All of the following are threats to biodiversity in river
systems EXCEPT:
(A) increasing of riparian zones along stream banks.
(B) pesticides entering local rivers from agricultural runoff.
(C) habitat fragmentation by dams.
(D) runoff of animal wastes from feedlots.
(E) dredging river bottoms to increase ability for
transportation.
21. The process of human activities near urban or
agricultural areas that input excess plant nutrients into
lakes is known as…
(A) artificial fertilization.
(B) cultural eutrophication.
(C) thermal pollution.
(D) lake stratification.
(E) synthetic primary productivity.
22. Of the following, which constitutes the greatest percent
of use for water withdrawn in the world today?
(A) Flushing toilets in residential homes.
(B) Drinking water for human consumption.
(C) Smelting of metal in manufacturing.
(D) Irrigation for food production.
(E) Coolant water for electricity produced from coal.
23. The federal legislation that set maximum containment
levels for pollutants that cause adverse health effects in
humans is the…
(A) Water Quality Act
(B) Clean Water Act
(C) Pollution Prevention Act
(D) National Environmental Policy Act
(E) Safe Drinking Water Act
24. Which water quality test will best determine the
disruption of photosynthesis caused by cloudy water
conditions from sedimentation?
(A) Temperature
(B) Salinity
(C) Dissolved oxygen
(D) pH
(E) Turbidity
25. Coal-burning power plants and nuclear power plants
producing electricity release a large amount of …
(A) nitrogen compounds.
(B) arsenic contaminants.
(C) thermal pollution.
(D) infectious agents.
(E) oxygen-demanding wastes.
26. Which of the following water quality tests, if elevated,
would suggest that animal wastes are contaminating
stream water?
(A) Nitrates
(B) Salinity
(C) Temperature
(D) Dissolved oxygen
(E) Total suspended solids
27. Which of the following are the main causes of beach
erosion globally?
(A) coastal development and rising sea levels
(B) rising sea levels and ocean water desalination plants
(C) overfishing and decreased ozone levels
(D) increasing salinity and El Niño events
(E) ocean acidification and the creation of marine
reserves
28. Which of these is a disadvantage of dams and reservoirs?
I. They can slow downstream migration.
II. They can prevent upstream migration of mature
salmon.
III. They may kill young salmon as they pass through
turbines.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and III only
(E) I, II, and III
29. Which of the following statements is FALSE?
(A) Eutrophication is a natural process that can occur
without the influence of humans.
(B) Rivers are generally more vulnerable to
contamination than lakes.
(C) Acid deposition represents a more serious hazard to
lakes than rivers.
(D) Lakes are more prone to stratification than rivers.
(E) Rivers are less likely to have prolonged periods of
anoxia than lakes.
30. The International Whaling Commission (IWC)…
I. regulates the whaling industry by setting quotas.
II. attempts to prevent overharvesting and commercial
extinction of whale species.
III. has been unable to stop the decline of most
commercially hunted whale species.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II only
(E) I, II, and III
31. How have Japan, Norway, and Iceland side-stepped the
International Whaling Commission moratorium on
commercial whaling?
(A) They have insisted that subsistence hunting of a
small number of whales for food and survival is
essential.
(B) They claim that whaling protects the survival of
indigenous populations, such as the Inuit.
(C) They believe that compliance with the CITES
treaty is sufficient to protect whale species.
(D) They only harvest whales which are threatened,
and not those which are endangered.
(E) They claim that annual whale harvests are
“scientific whaling.”
32. Individual transfer rights (ITRs)…
(A) give fishing vessel owners a specified percentage of
the total allowable catch for a fishery in a given year.
(B) are government subsidies that encourage overfishing.
(C) are easily enforced.
(D) have dramatically reduced bycatch amounts.
(E) typically give an advantage to small fishing vessels
and companies over large companies.
33. Which of the following would least likely reduce the
nutrient loading into the Chesapeake Bay estuary?
(A) Replanting of riparian zones and sea grass beds
(B) Upgrade of current sewage treatment plants
(C) Improvement of manure containment lagoons in
feedlots
(D) Government subsidies for cotton crops
(E) Re-introduction of native oyster beds
34. What is the largest source of oil pollution found in the
oceans?
(A) urban and industrial runoff from the land
(B) oil tanker accidents transporting oil between port
cities
(C) offshore drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico
(D) pipeline leaks near coasts
(E) the Alaskan pipeline
35. Although PCBs have been banned in the United States
since 1977, they are still causing damage in the Great
Lakes because…
(A) They are still being produced in Canada today.
(B) Fishermen are illegally dumping PCBs.
(C) PCBs are persistent pollutants that do not degrade
easily.
(D) They are water soluble and therefore make their way
into aquatic systems.
(E) They are examples of heavy metals that are
nondegradable.
36. Which of the following is NOT a nonpoint-source
pollutant?
(A) Sediment loading from erosion
(B) Runoff of pesticides from cropland
(C)Animal wastes from feedlots
(D) Fertilizer runoff from urban lawns
(E) A sewage treatment plant effluent pipe
37. Which of the following would most likely cause
metabolic stress in aerobic lake organisms?
(A) Variation in conductivity
(B) Dissolved oxygen levels at 2 to 3 ppm
(C) Influx of dissolved solids
(D) A 1- to 2- degree change in water temperature
(E) An increase in pH from 6 to 7
38. In coastal areas, withdrawing groundwater to the point
where lateral recharge into the oceans becomes limited
can cause…
(A) hypoxic conditions
(B) increased vertical recharge
(C) saltwater intrusion
(D) change in the zone of aeration
(E) drought
39. Which water pollutant is not agricultural in origin?
(A) atrazine
(B) sediment
(C) phosphate
(D) aluminum
(E) pyrethrum
40. Which of the following river conditions would yield the
highest dissolved oxygen content?
(A) Fast-moving colder water, large amounts of
submerged vegetative biomass
(B) Slow-moving cool waters, large amounts of
emergent vegetative biomass
(C) Slow-moving warm waters, low amounts of
submerged vegetative biomass
(D) Stagnant, warm water with large clumps of algae
(E) Warm water with little vegetative biomass
41. The loss of riparian land along a river would cause
which of the following?
I. Increased flooding
II. Decreased turbidity
III. Increased non-point source pollution
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and III
(E) I, II, and III
42. Stronger regulations for coal-burning power plant
emissions are likely to reduce which of the following
aquatic pollutants?
(A) arsenic
(B) DDT
(C) mercury
(D) atrazine
(E) cadmium
43. Bycatch refers to which of the following?
(A) a filtering method for removing particulates from
coal smoke
(B) near-shore trawling for shellfish
(C) organisms that are unintentionally caught while
fishing
(D) the harvesting of fish in arctic seas
(E) the harvesting of fish in tropical seas
44. Which of the following practices is most damaging to
species of coral?
(A) pelagic whaling
(B) long-line fishing
(C) purse-seine fishing
(D) deep-sea aquaculture cages
(E) bottom trawling
45. Which of the following methods would NOT be
effective to increase the run of migrating fishes like
salmon, shad, and striped bass?
(A) Constructing fish ladders and fish elevators.
(B) Using trucks and barges to transport salmon around
dams.
(C) Reducing the number of open flood gates in dams
during spawning periods.
(D) Reducing silt runoff from logging roads above
spawning streams
(E) Removing unnecessary dams and river obstructions
46. The phosphorus and nitrogen concentration found in
groundwater most likely would be greatest beneath…
(A) undisturbed forest land
(B) an animal feedlot
(C) a coal-fired power plant
(D) an automobile salvage facility
(E) a petroleum refinery
47. Well water is often contaminated with which naturally
occurring element?
(A) mercury
(B) MTBE
(C) lead
(D) arsenic
(E) DDT
48. A company pollutes a river, rationalizing that they will
release a small quantity of pollutants that will quickly be
diluted and have little effect on the water quality of the
river. This best illustrates a…
(A) synergistic interaction
(B) negative feedback
(C) positive feedback
(D) tragedy of the commons
(E) carcinogenic effect
49. In a river, which of the following will most likely occur
downstream as a result of the effluent discharge of a
primary sewage treatment facility?
52. Which of the following would be a disadvantage of
septic systems over municipal sewage systems?
(A) The responsibility for operating the waste treatment
system falls to the homeowner.
(B) Solid waste can be concentrated, digested, dried, and
used as fertilizer.
(C) Bacterial communities are more diverse and more
effective at digesting waste in large scale operations.
(D) Wastewater can be disinfected prior to discharge into
the environment.
(E) Leaks in wastewater systems are more easily
detected and fixed.
53. Which of the following is NOT a result of the
channelization of Florida’s Kissimmee River?
(A) It provided flood control.
(B) It drained water from wetlands north of Lake
Okeechobee
(C) It allowed for greater agricultural production of
vegetables and sugarcane.
(D) It led to an increase in nutrient inputs for Lake
Okeechobee and the Florida Everglades.
(E) It improved the biodiversity of the Florida
Everglades.
Base your answer to questions 54-56 on the diagram
below.
(A) An increase in the dissolved oxygen concentration of
the river’s water
(B) An increase in the biological oxygen demand of the
river’s water
(C) A decrease in the turbidity of the river’s water
(D) A decrease in the pH of the river’s water
(E) No change in the quality of the river’s water
50. Which of the following is a major cause of cultural
eutrophication?
(A) global warming
(B) pesticide runoff
(C) organic waste
(D) burning coal
(E) fertilizer runoff
51. Which of the following is NOT considered a drawback
in salmon ranching?
(A) Fish kept in close quarters contributes to rapid
spread of diseases.
(B) Interbreeding programs between wild salmon and
ranch salmon can reduce genetic diversity of the
wild salmon.
(C) Salmon ranching reduces the pressure on
governments to remove unnecessary dams and
water impoundments to migrating wild salmon.
(D) Farm raised salmon tend to have lower
concentrations of bioaccumulated heavy metals.
(E) Ranches generate a large amount of nutrient rich
solid waste that must be disposed.
54. Which species of fish has a direct relationship with the
amount of sewage waste?
(A) Trout
(B) Whitefish
(C) Walleye
(D) Oxygen
(E) Carp
55. What is using up the oxygen in the lake?
(A) Bacteria
(B) Sewage waste
(C) Carp
(D) Whitefish
(E) Walleye
56. Which strategy would decrease the sewage waste?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Build a water treatment plant
Build a wetland to treat the sewage
Close the pig farm
Empty septic tanks
All of the above
57. Which method of fishing experiences the largest
bycatch?
(A) purse seine fishing
(B) bottom trawling
(C) drift netting
(D) long-lining
(E) harpooning
58. Which of the following is/are used to disinfect
municipal water supplies?
I. fluorine
II. ozone
III. chlorine
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and III only
(E) II and III only
59. The diversion of water from rivers that flow into a lake
that has no outlet to the sea will increase the …
(A) volume of water in the lake.
(B) available bird habitat around the lake
(C) recreational value of the lake
(D) water quality of the lake
(E) salinity of the lake
60. Which of the following is the smallest reservoir of the
global hydrologic cycle?
(A) groundwater
(B) lakes
(C)rivers
(D) the atmosphere
(E) polar ice and glaciers
61. While flying high above the ground far from any large
cities, a migrating bird sees a series of large circular
green patches on the ground. If the bird lands it will
likely find itself in…
(A) a series of ponds used for tertiary sewage treatment
(B) danger from wind farm that is also being used for
agriculture with a drop irrigation system
(C) a large solar array that is part of a solar power tower
(D) agricultural land that is using center-pivot irrigation
(E) a factory farm that is raising hogs
62. Which of the following irrigation methods is the most
efficient with respect to conserving water?
(A) drip irrigation
(B) low-efficiency precision application sprinklers
(C) gravity flow irrigation
(D) aerial boom sprayers
(E) center pivot sprinklers
63 . The Ogallala Aquifer supplies water to much of…
(A) the High Plains area of the United States
(B) Western Europe
(C) the Amazon rain forest
(D) California
(E) Eastern China
64. Which of the following explains why more than 99% of
the water on earth is not readily available for use as
freshwater?
I. It is located too deep underground.
II. It is stored behind dams.
III. It is frozen or too salty.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and III only
(E) II and III only
65. What is the major reason that many of the world’s
desalination plants are located in the Middle East?
(A) The companies operating in this region have made
significant innovations in desalination technology.
(B) There is a large amount of reliable, intense, sunlight
necessary for desalination.
(C) There is a large amount of fossil fuels required for
desalination.
(D) Desalination requires a large number of low-wage
workers which are available in these areas.
(E) Wars and tribal conflicts make it nearly impossible to
relocate water resources within the region.
66. Which of the following is NOT an infectious disease
that is transmitted through water?
(A) Cholera
(B) Tuberculosis
(C) Typhoid fever
(D) Crytosporidiosis
(E) Giardiasis
67. Of the following, the largest storage reservoir of the
world’s freshwater is …
(A) the atmosphere
(B) groundwater
(C) lakes
(D) living organisms
(E) rivers
68. Which of the following is a commonly cultivated
aquaculture crop?
(A) tuna
(B) swordfish
(C) shark
(D) oyster
(E) duck
69. Which of the following is NOT a contributing reason to
the fact that the Colorado River no longer reaches the
sea?
(A) The Colorado drains some of the driest land in the
United States.
(B) The river has a modest flow and slow recharge.
(C) Legal pacts have allocated more water for human use
than the river can supply.
(D) Urban and agricultural withdraws of water have
increased significantly since 1900.
(E) Whitewater rafting outfits require a steady flow.
70. Unconfined aquifers…
75. Which of the following organism would likely be
found at point “C?”
(A) do not have bedrock below them.
(B) contain saline water.
(C) have a permeable water table.
(D) cannot be accessed.
(E) do not have a defined watershed.
Questions 71-75 refer to the diagram below showing the
dissolved oxygen (DO) and biological oxygen demand
(BOD) levels of a river.
A
B
C
D
E
DO
BOD
Direction of Flow
71. This diagram is a depiction of what typically happens in
a river when
(A) a river flows past a point source of pesticide
pollution
(B) a river flows past a non-point source of nutrient
pollution
(C) a river flows past agricultural land
(D) a river flows past a point source of organic waste
(E) a river flows past a golf course
72. Which of the following is most likely true of human
activity along the river?
(A) The river is being polluted at the point labeled “A.”
(B) The river is being polluted at the point labeled “B.”
(C) The river is being polluted at the points labeled “B”
and “D.”
(D) The river is being polluted at the points labeled “B”,
“D”, and “E.”
(E) The river is being polluted at all of the labeled points.
73. The healthiest aquatic ecosystem can most likely be
found at…
(A) the point labeled “C.”
(B) the point labeled “D.”
(C) the points labeled “B” and “D.”
(D) the points labeled “C” and “D.”
(E) the points labeled “A” and “E.”
74. The area labeled point “C” in this river would most
likely be called the _____________.
(A) upstream clean zone
(B) decomposition zone
(C) septic zone
(D) recovery zone
(E) downstream clean zone
(A) trout
(B) leeches
(C) perch
(D) mayflies
(E) benthic worms
76. In an experiment, a researcher fills three aquariums labeled
A, B, and C with seawater collected from a local estuary. To
aquarium A, nitrate and phosphate are added. To aquarium B
only nitrate is added. To aquarium C only phosphate is
added. The results show that algae growth accelerated in
aquariums A and B, but not in C. One conclusion that may
be drawn from these results is that…
(A) phosphate is not required for algae growth in
seawater.
(B) for algae in seawater, nitrate is a more essential
nutrient than phosphate.
(C) phosphate is a limiting agent for algae growth in
seawater.
(D) nitrate is a limiting agent for algae growth in
seawater.
(E) nitrate is not required for algae growth in seawater.
77. Which of the following strategies would be effective at
preventing groundwater depletion?
(A) Transfer the management of water resources from
governments to private corporations.
(B) Provide financial support for community based water
harvesting projects.
(C) Subsidize farmers who plant in drought-prone or
high-evaporation areas.
(D) Build more dams and reservoirs in areas likely to
experience groundwater depletion.
(E) Large scale water diversion projects like the
Kissimmee River channelization.
78. Marine reserves are beneficial because…
I. They protect marine habitats from harmful practices.
II. The serve as nurseries for young fish and shellfish.
III. They increase commercial fish stocks in areas
adjacent to the marine reserve.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II only
(E) I, II, and III
79. A type of wastewater treatment that includes some form
of physical cleaning is…
I. primary treatment
II. secondary treatment
III. tertiary treatment
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
I only
II only
III only
I and III
I, II, and III
ANSWER KEY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
A
D
C
E
D
E
E
A
B
E
B
E
C
E
D
E
A
E
D
A
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
B
D
E
E
C
A
A
E
B
E
E
A
D
A
C
E
B
C
D
A
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
D
C
C
E
C
B
D
D
B
E
D
A
E
E
A
E
B
E
E
D
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
D
A
A
D
C
B
B
D
E
C
D
B
E
C
E
D
B
E
D