AP Environmental Science : Freshwater
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Water Resources
What percent of the Earth's water is readily available for drinking and agriculture?
1%
5%
50%
25%
3%
1%
97% of the Earth's water is saltwater and unusable for drinking or farming. of the 3% that is actually freshwater, 2% is frozen in glaciers, leaving humans with 1% of all water on earth to use for farming.
Example Question #2 : Water Resources
All of the following characteristics apply to the riparian zone except __________.
biofilters
wildlife corridors
high species diversity
high sun exposure
high sun exposure
Shade provided by the riparian zone is crucial to stream temperature regulation.
The riparian zone is the edge of a river or stream, therefore it has high biodiversity due to edge effects. Biofilters in the riparian zone protect the aquatic environment it surrounds. Also, because the riparian zone spans distances of an aquatic environment's edge, it serves as a corridor for wildlife.
Example Question #2 : Water Resources
The Great Lakes of North America represent the largest source of freshwater on the planet. Approximately how many years ago did the Great Lakes form?
10,000,000 years ago
100,000,000 years ago
10,000 years ago
100,000 years ago
10,000 years ago
The correct response was 10,000 years ago. The Great Lakes formed during glacial recession of the most recent glaciation. This most recent glacial recession occurred between 10-15 thousands years ago. As the glaciers receded northward across North America, melting glacial waters drained and formed what is now known as the Great Lakes.
Example Question #3 : Water Resources
About 2% of the Earth's water supply is suitable for human and plant consumption. 98% of Earth's water is found in the oceans and is too salty for human or plant consumption.
Where is a majority of Earth's fresh water found?
Aquifers
Polar ice caps/glacial ice
Rivers
Lakes
Ground water
Polar ice caps/glacial ice
Lakes, streams, rivers and ground water account for about a half a percent of the fresh water found on Earth.
Example Question #3 : Freshwater
Freshwater is a necessary resource for human survival. Approximately what percent of the Earth's water supply is found in freshwater resources that are groundwater deposits (i.e. rivers, lakes, and streams)?
2.0%
0.02%
20%
0.2%
0.02%
The correct response is 0.02%. The rest of the water resources are either too salty, too deep, or too cold in frozen icecaps.
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