ECON 310 Chapter 15 Study Quiz Answers

______1. In the United States, the distinct problems which have arisen that affect water availability include all the following except

a. the rate of water use is less than the rate at which it is being replenished.

b. water used as an input in production is being returned to surface or groundwater with quality diminished.

c. agro-forest operations have contributed to declining groundwater levels.

d. water sources are being used as a waste disposal.

Answer: a

______2. In the United States _____ percent of the precipitation returns to the atmosphere and ______ percent runs off to rivers, streams, and lakes.

a. 31; 66

b. 66; 31

c. 50; 48

d. 48; 45

Answer: b

______3. "Fossil water" is an example of

a. water as a resource flow.

b. a renewable resource.

c. an exhaustible resource.

d. both a and b.

Answer: c

______4. As populations expanded in the United States, there was continual pressure on the ecosystem. One of the problems associated with this growth was that

a. the demand for water increased beyond the quantity available of the water resource, when the price of water was zero.

b. there was a growing conflict over the use of the water resource.

c. the laws governing rights to use water changed.

d. all of the above.

Answer: d

______5. Riparian property rights are based on

a. ownership of the water resource.

b. allocation of the right to use the water resource.

c. ownership of the land adjacent to the water resource.

d. all of the above.

Answer: c

______6. The opportunity cost of withdrawing water from the Ogalla Aquifer has two components. These are

a. extraction costs and transportation costs.

b. extraction costs and transactions costs.

c. contemporaneous and intertemporal costs.

d. all of the above.

Answer: c

______7. In southern California, the conflict over water use is between

a. recreational users of water and urban users of water.

b. agricultural users of water and urban users of water.

c. industrial users of water and urban users of water.

d. all of the above.

Answer: b

______8. One of the problems associated with excess nutrients returned to a water system is

a. reduce plant growth.

b. release of trace metals from soils.

c. excess algae growth resulting in depressed oxygen levels.

d. none of the above.

Answer: c

______9. The amendments to the Clean Water Act

a. were designed to address toxic discharge by nuclear power facilities.

b. prohibit the use of federal funds in a fashion that might further threaten an endangered species.

c. required all municipalities to develop and upgrade their sewage treatment facilities.

d. both a and c.

Answer: c

______10. The primary water problem in developing countries is

a. lack of water resources.

b. contamination of water by industrial development.

c. contamination of water by human waste.

d. both a and c.

Answer: c

______11. Transfrontier externalities

a. cannot be internalized without international agreement.

b. result when the water consumption or waste disposal activities in one country affect water availability and quality in another country.

c. are present in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

d. all of the above.

Answer: d