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Chapter 10

Concept #2 Quiz

Concept #2 Quiz
Choose the best possible answer to the following questions about Key Concept 2 "The water table."

This activity contains 7 questions.

	Which of the following best describes the “water table”?   an underground mass of partly saturated rock a boundary between unsaturated bedrock and an underground river a boundary between unsaturated bedrock below and saturated bedrock above a boundary between saturated rock below and unsaturated rock above

	Which of the following are reasons why the water table is found at the surface in some places while it is hundreds of meters deep in others? Choose all that apply.   The water table level is steady all year long, but the land surface changes seasonally. The addition of water to the groundwater is by melting of glacial ice, which varies from place to place. The addition of water to the groundwater is by precipitation, which varies from place to place. The water table level varies seasonally and from year to year.

	Indicate the correct response for the labels on the diagram: For each item below, use the pull-down menu to select the letter that labels the correct part of the image. 3.1 elevation of water table in dry periods A B C D E F 3.2 zone of aeration (infiltration zone) A B C D E F 3.3 zone of complete saturation (an aquifer) A B C D E F 3.4 water table is at the surface A B C D E F 3.5 water table A B C D E F 3.6 elevation of water table in wet periods A B C D E F

	Since the highs and lows of the shape of the water table cannot be viewed directly, how do we use the topography of a region to determine that shape?   The shape of the water table is variable day to day depending upon the mass of the material the water is in. The shape of the water table is a subdued replica of the land surface hills and valleys. The shape of the water table is a flat, horzontal surface everywhere except in a few places where geysers bring groundwater closer to the surface. The shape of the water table is an exact replica of the land surface hills and valleys.

	Where is the water table at the surface, and where is the water table above the surface?   in lakes and streams, respectively in streams and hill tops, respectively in hill tops and swamps, respectively in swamps and lakes, respectively

	Why does the water table have a high elevation under hills and a low elevation under valleys?   Groundwater moves very slowly so water tends to “pile up” under hills until the groundwater at lower elevations has flowed out of the way. Water infiltrates the land surface and subsurface fairly quickly to replenish the zone of saturation, so eventually the water table rises to the surface on hills. Groundwater moves quickly away from the tops of hills towards streams located within the valleys to keep this elevation difference intact. Surface water flow as sheet flow and runoff due to the high elevation of the water table on hills making the water table closer to the surface at lower elevations.

	Which of the following is the difference between what gets called a “gaining” stream and what gets called a “losing” stream?   Gaining streams receive water from rain, lakes and glaciers, whereas losing streams lose water to rain, lakes and glaciers. Gaining streams give water to the groundwater supply, whereas losing streams receive water from the groundwater supply. Gaining streams fill up with runoff and groundwater infiltration, whereas losing streams lose water to runoff into the oceans. Gaining streams receive water from the groundwater supply, whereas losing streams give water to the groundwater supply.

Some questions in this exercise may have more than one correct answer. To answer such questions correctly, you must select all the correct answers. Also note that answer choices in this exercise appear in a different order each time the page is loaded.

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