SSM MIDTERM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | SSM MIDTERM STUDY
GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Which parts of the world are experiencing water stress? (there is more than one correct
answer) - Correct answer ✔✔ North Africa, southwestern US, the Middle East
The Aral Sea was one of the largest inland seas in the world but most of it's area has been lost in
the past few decades. What caused the loss ? (select one) - Correct answer ✔✔ Irrigation
Withdrawal
It takes more water to make a hamburger made from grass-fed beef (as opposed to grain-fed
beef) because grass uses so much water. - Correct answer ✔✔ False
Although a person may be able to survive up to a month without food, a person can go at most,
how many days without water? - Correct answer ✔✔ 5-7 days
Irrigated farmland provides a disproportionate amount of our food supply given it's relatively
small area. Although only 18% of all farmland is irrigated what percent of our total food is
produced on irrigated lands? - Correct answer ✔✔ 40%
What are the two current theories that describe how earth got its water? - Correct answer ✔✔
Hydrated comets and asteroids bombarded Earth,
Water was already around since the formation of the Earth, trapped in rocks that form the
Earth's mantle
The average American uses about twice as much water every day, compared to the average
european. - Correct answer ✔✔ True
, Once water enters or infiltrates into the soil, it is just a matter of time before this water flows to
the groundwater zone to recharge an aquifer. - Correct answer ✔✔ False
Water is able to help regulate the earth's temperature because it has ___________ . - Correct
answer ✔✔ an ability to store and give off heat
Groundwater makes up approximately what percent of our freshwater resources? - Correct
answer ✔✔ 30%
What is the approximate annual average rainfall for the state of Minnesota, ranging from west
to east? - Correct answer ✔✔ 20-35 inches
South America is the wettest of the 7 continents, when land mass is taken into consideration. -
Correct answer ✔✔ True
Water is the only substance on earth that exists naturally as a solid, liquid, and gas. - Correct
answer ✔✔ True
Water plays at least 3 fundamental and important roles on Earth, involving physical and
ecological processes before we even take a drop for our use. Can you name them? - Correct
answer ✔✔ Water plays a essential role in biological processes, including the production of
oxygen through photosynthesis
Water regulates global temperatures and solar energy
Water provides transport and distribution of soluble substances around the earth
The global amount of water is fixed and water can neither be created or destroyed. - Correct
answer ✔✔ True
Which of the water "reservoirs" described by Diana Karwan has the longest residence, or
recycling time? - Correct answer ✔✔ Deep groundwater
GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Which parts of the world are experiencing water stress? (there is more than one correct
answer) - Correct answer ✔✔ North Africa, southwestern US, the Middle East
The Aral Sea was one of the largest inland seas in the world but most of it's area has been lost in
the past few decades. What caused the loss ? (select one) - Correct answer ✔✔ Irrigation
Withdrawal
It takes more water to make a hamburger made from grass-fed beef (as opposed to grain-fed
beef) because grass uses so much water. - Correct answer ✔✔ False
Although a person may be able to survive up to a month without food, a person can go at most,
how many days without water? - Correct answer ✔✔ 5-7 days
Irrigated farmland provides a disproportionate amount of our food supply given it's relatively
small area. Although only 18% of all farmland is irrigated what percent of our total food is
produced on irrigated lands? - Correct answer ✔✔ 40%
What are the two current theories that describe how earth got its water? - Correct answer ✔✔
Hydrated comets and asteroids bombarded Earth,
Water was already around since the formation of the Earth, trapped in rocks that form the
Earth's mantle
The average American uses about twice as much water every day, compared to the average
european. - Correct answer ✔✔ True
, Once water enters or infiltrates into the soil, it is just a matter of time before this water flows to
the groundwater zone to recharge an aquifer. - Correct answer ✔✔ False
Water is able to help regulate the earth's temperature because it has ___________ . - Correct
answer ✔✔ an ability to store and give off heat
Groundwater makes up approximately what percent of our freshwater resources? - Correct
answer ✔✔ 30%
What is the approximate annual average rainfall for the state of Minnesota, ranging from west
to east? - Correct answer ✔✔ 20-35 inches
South America is the wettest of the 7 continents, when land mass is taken into consideration. -
Correct answer ✔✔ True
Water is the only substance on earth that exists naturally as a solid, liquid, and gas. - Correct
answer ✔✔ True
Water plays at least 3 fundamental and important roles on Earth, involving physical and
ecological processes before we even take a drop for our use. Can you name them? - Correct
answer ✔✔ Water plays a essential role in biological processes, including the production of
oxygen through photosynthesis
Water regulates global temperatures and solar energy
Water provides transport and distribution of soluble substances around the earth
The global amount of water is fixed and water can neither be created or destroyed. - Correct
answer ✔✔ True
Which of the water "reservoirs" described by Diana Karwan has the longest residence, or
recycling time? - Correct answer ✔✔ Deep groundwater
