Chapter 8 Water Resources

1. What percentage of Earth's water is fresh water?

a) 10% b) 3%
c) 5% d) 7%

2. What is the term for water that is safe for human consumption?
a) Surface water b) Groundwater
c) Potable water d) Industrial water

3. What is the main reason for the uneven distribution of fresh water?
a) Population growth b) Climate
c) Industrial waste d) Agriculture

4. What percentage of the world’s fresh water is used for agricultural

purposes?
a) 25% b) 40%
c) 69% d) 85%

5. What is the term for the problem of water shortage?

a) Water wastage b) Water pollution
c) Water constraint d) Water reclamation

6. Which country uses NEWater as recycled drinking water?

a) USA b) China
c) Singapore d) India

7. What percentage of fresh water is available for human use?

a) 3% b) 1%
c) 10% d) 5%

8. Which industry heavily relies on water for cooling machinery?

a) Agriculture b) Textile
c) Wafer fabrication d) Transport

9. What is the process of removing salt from seawater called?

a) Water reclamation b) Desalination
c) Filtration d) Reverse osmosis
10. What happens when a country signs an international water
agreement?
a) The country loses control over its water supply
b) The country shares or buys water from another country
c) The country must stop using its own water sources
d) The country only relies on desalinated water

11. Which method is NOT used to increase the supply of water?

a) Increasing the size of water catchment areas
b) Desalination
c) Waste disposal in rivers
d) Water recycling

12. What is the most common source of water pollution?

a) Domestic waste b) Industrial waste
c) Agricultural waste d) All of the above

13. How do modern irrigation schemes affect water availability?

a) They reduce the amount of water needed for agriculture
b) They help conserve water by reducing evaporation
c) They divert water from rivers, streams, and lakes
d) They increase rainfall in dry areas

14. Which sector consumes about 15% of the world’s fresh water
supply?
a) Agriculture b) Industries
c) Transportation d) Household use

15. What is the main disadvantage of desalination?

a) It produces fresh water very quickly
b) It is highly expensive
c) It is an environmentally friendly process
d) It increases groundwater levels

16. What happens when water is heated and the vapor is collected to
make fresh water?
a) Reverse osmosis b) Filtration
c) Distillation d) Sedimentation
17. What is an example of water conservation?
a) Building more factories
b) Using water-efficient appliances
c) Increasing demand for bottled water
d) Increasing industrial water use

18. How much wastewater from sewage is untreated in many less

developed countries?
a) 50% b) 70%
c) 90% d) 30%

19. What type of climate experiences rain throughout the year?

a) Desert climate b) Polar climate
c) Equatorial climate d) Mediterranean climate

20. What is an example of a water catchment area?

a) A shopping mall b) A factory
c) A nature reserve d) A highway

21. Which method increases the price of water to reduce demand?

a) Water reclamation b) Water conservation
c) Water pricing d) Water subsidy

22. Which household appliance increases water usage?

a) Washing machine b) Solar panel
c) Ceiling fan d) Microwave

23. What is the main reason for increasing household water

demand?
a) More public parks b) Decrease in industrial growth
c) Higher standard of living d) More trees in cities

24. What is a negative effect of international water agreements?

a) They provide unlimited water b) They increase the cost of water
c) They decrease economic growth d) They eliminate water shortages

25. Which country uses desalination as a main source of water?

a) Canada b) Brazil
c) Saudi Arabia d) Russia
 26. Which of the following is NOT a response to rising water
demand?
a) Increasing price of water b) Increasing water pollution
c) Water recycling d) Conservation campaigns

27. What is one disadvantage of water reclamation?

a) It increases rainfall b) It makes water taste different
c) It is free d) It pollutes the air

28. How much fresh water is stored underground?

a) 1% b) 2%
c) 5% d) 10%

29. What is the primary reason for increasing demand for water?
a) Climate change b) Population growth
c) Desertification d) Natural disasters

30. What is one way to encourage water conservation?

a) Cutting down trees b) Wasting water
c) Education campaigns d) Increasing household water use

Short Answer Questions with Answers

1. What is potable water?

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2. What percentage of Earth’s water is saltwater?

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3. What is water constraint?
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4. How does water constraint occur?
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5. What is the process of removing salt from seawater?

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6. What is the main reason for increasing global water demand?

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7. What does reverse osmosis remove from water?

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8. What are the two types of freshwater?

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9. What is the main use of water in agriculture?

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10. Why is increasing the price of water not always effective?

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11. What is a water catchment area?
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12. Why do developed countries use more water?
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13. What is one method to conserve water in homes?
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14. When is recycling water produced?
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15. What is desalination?
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16. What is distillation?
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17. What is international agreement on water?
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An agreement between two or more countries sharing the supply and use of water.

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18. What is the main source of water pollution?
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The main source of water pollution is human activities, like industrial waste and sewage disposal.

19. What is the term for untreated wastewater from sewage?

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wastewater discharge
20. What does UV radiation do in water reclamation?
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UV radiation kills germs in water to make it safe.

21. What does conservation?

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Conservation is the careful use of resources to make sure that waste is decreased.

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22. What is reverse osmosis?
Reverse osmosis is the process of putting water through a special membrane to remove very small
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particles, such as bacteria and dissolved salts, from water.