Energy & Environment Management Multiple Choice Questions on “Causes of Water Pollution”.
1. Which of the following organisms found in human waste that cause water pollution?
a) Coliform bacteria
b) Viruses
c) Protozoa
d) Parasitic worms
Answer: a
Clarification: Humans waste contains concentrated populations of coliform bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Streptococcus faecalis. These bacteria normally grow in the large intestine of the human body. Releasing of such wastes to water cause pollution in water bodies.
2. What is oxygen depleting waste?
a) Organic waste that can be decomposed by aerobic bacteria
b) Organic waste that can be decomposed by anaerobic bacteria
c) Organic waste that can be decomposed by aerobic viruses
d) Organic waste that can be decomposed by anaerobic viruses
Answer: a
Clarification: Oxygen depleting waste is organic that can be decomposed by aerobic bacteria. Large populations of bacteria use up the oxygen present in the water in order to degrade these wastes. This degrades the water quality as it uses up the oxygen.
3. What is the indicator of pollution in water?
a) Amount of oxygen
b) Amount of hydrogen
c) Amount of BOD
d) Amount of nitrogen
Answer: c
Clarification: The amount of oxygen required to break down a certain amount of organic matter is called the biological oxygen demand (BOD). The amount of BOD in water is an indicator of the level of pollution.
4. Why certain parts of water bodies contain more number of algae?
a) Due to favorable environment
b) Due to run-off excess fertilizers
c) Due to lack of fertilizers
d) Due to water pollution
Answer: b
Clarification: Inorganic plant nutrients found in fertilizers. Run-off carries excess fertilizers into nearby water bodies, causing high levels of plant nutrients which promote the excessive growth of algae and other aquatic plants.
5. What are water soluble inorganic chemicals?
a) Compounds of pure metals
b) Compounds of non-metals
c) Compounds of synthetic metals
d) Compounds of toxic metals
Answer: d
Clarification: Water soluble inorganic chemicals are acids, salts and compounds of toxic metals such as mercury and lead. High levels of these chemicals can make the water unfit to drink and harm fish and other aquatic life.
6. There is only one class of common water pollutants.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: There are several classes of common water pollutants. These classes of water pollutants harm the environment by polluting the water. Some of the classes of common water pollutants are Disease causing agents, oxygen depleting waste, inorganic plant nutrients etc.
7. Who sediment of suspended matter occurs?
a) When soil is eroded from the air
b) When soil is eroded from the land
c) When soil is eroded from the water
d) When soil is eroded from the rock
Answer: b
Clarification: Sediment of suspended matter occurs when the soil is eroded from the land. High levels of soil particles which are suspended in water interfere with the penetration of sunlight. This reduces the photosynthetic activity of aquatic plants and algae.
8. What is a sediment of suspended matter?
a) Insoluble particles of soil and other solids
b) Soluble particles of soil and other solids
c) Insoluble particles of water
d) Soluble particles of water
Answer: a
Clarification: Sediment of suspended matter is insoluble particles of soil and other solids that become suspended in water. When the velocity of water in streams and rivers decreases, the suspended particles settle down at the bottom as sediments.
9. Where we can find water soluble radioactive isotopes?
a) In radioactive reactor
b) In radioactive coolant
c) In radioactive shield
d) In radioactive waste
Answer: d
Clarification: Water soluble radioactive isotopes are contained in the radioactive waste. They can be concentrated in various tissues and organs as they pass through food chains and food web. The ionizing radiation can cause cancer and genetic damage.
10. What is the main reason for thermal pollution?
a) Increase in the temperature of the ecosystem
b) Increase in the chemical contains in water
c) Hot water released by power plants and industries
d) Pollution causing by vehicles
Answer: c
Clarification: The hot water released by power plants and industries that use large volumes of water to cool the plant. This result in a rise in temperature of the water bodies, due to this thermal pollution occurs.
11. Why thermal pollution causing the release of hot water by power plants is dangerous?
a) They increase the solubility of oxygen
b) They decrease the solubility of oxygen
c) They don’t dissolve oxygen
d) They dissolve nitrogen
Answer: b
Clarification: Hot water released by power plants and industries warm water bodies those which are connected to power plants and industries. This warm water decreases the solubility of oxygen and it changes the breeding cycles of various aquatic organisms.
12. How to minimize the pollution of water pollution due organic chemicals that release to water bodies?
a) To remove all the aquatic organisms from the water
b) To purify water manually after released to the water bodies
c) Purify the water before enter the water directly from industries
d) Leave the water bodies without using it
Answer: c
Clarification: Organic chemicals are harmful to aquatic life and human health. These include oil, gasoline, detergents and many other chemicals. They enter the water directly from industrial activity from improper handling of chemicals in industries.
13. The birds lay eggs with shells that are much thinner than normal is an example of_______________
a) Bioaccumulation
b) Mutation
c) DNA sequence
d) Mal nutrients
Answer: a
Clarification: The pesticides that eat by an organism keep on moving in an aquatic food chain. At each link in the food chain, these chemicals which do not pass out of the body get accumulated and cause bioaccumulation. High levels of pesticides such as DDT can cause thin shells in bird eggs.
14. Leakage of oil from underground tanks can pollute groundwater.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: Oil is another chemical which can enter surface water bodies. The leakage from underground tanks can also pollute groundwater. Accidental oil spills from large transport tankers at sea have been causing significant environment pollution.