Geol 101: Physical Geology
PAST EXAM QUESTIONS
LECTURE 29: GROUNDWATER
29. Precipitation that falls onto the Earth’s surface first (1) ________ into the regolith, then (2) _______ downwards
through the (3) _________ into the (4) ________.
A.
(1) percolates
(2) infiltrates
(3) zone of aeration
(4) saturated zone
B.
(1) infiltrates
(2) percolates
(3) unsaturated zone
(4) water table
C.
(1) transpires
(2) percolates
(3) saturated zone
(4) water table
D.
(1) evaporates
(2) percolates
(3) unsaturated zone
(4) saturated zone
E.
(1) percolates
(2) infiltrates
(3) water table
(4) head gradient
29. Which of the following terms does not mean the same thing as the others?
A. water table
B. zone of aeration
C. vadose zone
D. unsaturated zone
E. all of the above terms mean the same thing
29. Sediment near the Earth’s surface only has air inside the pores, so it is called the:
A. vadose zone
B. unsaturated zone
C. zone of aeration
D. all of the above
E. none of the above
29. A well dug into an unconfined aquifer will:
A. fill up with water to the level of the water table
B. dry up during the dry season
C. immediately develop into an artesian well
D. develop a cone of depression around the well
E. need to pierce through an aquicude to reach the aquifer
29. If a hole is dug into an unconfined aquifer, the water will rise up to the level of the:
A. aquiclude
B. water table
C. earth’s surface
D. perched water table
E. artesian pressure surface
29. If a hole is dug into a confined aquifer, the water will rise up to the level of the:
A. aquiclude
B. water table
C. earth’s surface
D. perched water table
E. artesian pressure surface
29. The holes and gaps in rocks within which water can be stored are called:
A. mineral lattices
B. pores
C. joints
D. all of the above
E. both B and C above
29. When referring to groundwater, (1) __________ refers to the volume percentage of a rock made up of open
space that can fill with water, whereas (2) __________ refers to the ability of water to flow through the rock.
A. (1) permeability
(2) porosity
B. (1) permeability
(2) infiltration capacity
C. (1) porosity
(2) infiltration capacity
D. (1) porosity
E. (1) infiltration capacity
(2) permeability
(2) permeability
29. Which of the following features is NOT likely to form in limestone by groundwater dissolution?
A. sinkholes
B. disappearing streams
C. karst topography
D. cones of depression
E. caves
29. Regions that are underlain by limestone rocks are prone to the development of ________ as a result of
dissolution by groundwater.
A. artesian wells
B. sinkholes
C. confined aquifers
D. swamps
E. marble
29. Rocks that are saturated in the subsurface form a storage system for water that we call a/an:
A. reservoir
B. vadose zone
C. aquifer
D. aquiclude
E. disappearing stream
29. A rock layer that can store a large amount of groundwater is called (1) ________ whereas a layer that does not
allow water to pass into it or through it is called (2) _________.
A. (1) an aquifer
(2) a confined aquifer
B. (1) an unconfined aquifer
(2) a confined aquifer
C. (1) an aquiclude
(2) an aquifer
D. (1) an aquifer
(2) an aquiclude
E. (1) an aquiclude
(2) a confined aquifer
29. What activity results in the development of a feature called a cone of depression?
A. compaction
B. overpumping
C. subsidence
D. saltwater incursion
E. contamination
29. A cone of depression is:
A. when a well near the ocean is contaminated by salt water
B. a type of subsidence caused by the compaction of an aquifer
C. the path of groundwater flow that feeds rivers from below
D. a drop in the water table around a well caused by overpumping
E. the inescapable blue funk that falls over you during exam week
29. Which of the following is NOT associated with overpumping of a well?
A. artesian well
B. saltwater incursion
C. compaction
D. subsidence
E. cone of depression
29. Contamination of groundwater systems by man-made pollutants is an issue of major concern to
environmentalists. An example that is currently in the news is the planned nuclear waste repository site that is
being proposed at the following location:
A. Yucca Mountain, Nevada
B. Idaho Falls, Idaho
C. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
D. Canyonlands National Park, Utah
E. Akron, Ohio