Understand the importance of water pollution in preparing for PSC exams, Railway Board exams, SSC exams, UPSC exams, and other State government exams. Read our complete GKMCQs to get a better understanding of water pollution.
1. What is the primary source of water pollution?
A) Air pollution
B) Soil pollution
C) Industrial discharges
D) Noise pollution
Answer: C) Industrial discharges
2. Which of the following is a common waterborne pathogen responsible for waterborne diseases?
A) Mosquito
B) E. coli bacteria
C) Cockroach
D) Flea
Answer: B) E. coli bacteria
3. What is the main cause of nutrient pollution in water bodies?
A) Industrial discharges
B) Agricultural runoff
C) Oil spills
D) Radioactive waste
Answer: B) Agricultural runoff
4. Which of the following pollutants is a result of improper disposal of electronic waste?
A) Heavy metals
B) Pesticides
C) Microplastics
D) Radioactive materials
Answer: A) Heavy metals
5. What is the primary function of a wastewater treatment plant?
A) Increase water pollution
B) Remove pollutants from water
C) Introduce toxins into water
D) Promote algal bloom
Answer: B) Remove pollutants from water
6. Which chemical is commonly used in water treatment to disinfect and kill microorganisms?
A) Chlorine
B) Mercury
C) Lead
D) Arsenic
Answer: A) Chlorine
7. What is the term for the excessive growth of algae in water bodies due to high nutrient levels?
A) Eutrophication
B) Desalination
C) Filtration
D) Sedimentation
Answer: A) Eutrophication
8. Which of the following is a nonpoint source of water pollution?
A) Industrial discharge pipe
B) Sewage treatment plant
C) Pesticide runoff from farmland
D) Oil spill from a tanker
Answer: C) Pesticide runoff from farmland
9. What is the term for the process of removing salt and other impurities from seawater to make it suitable for drinking?
A) Filtration
B) Desalination
C) Distillation
D) Chlorination
Answer: B) Desalination
10. Which of the following diseases is commonly associated with contaminated water?
A) Influenza
B) Malaria
C) Cholera
D) Tuberculosis
Answer: C) Cholera
11. What is the major contributor to plastic pollution in oceans and water bodies?
A) Biodegradable plastics
B) Composting materials
C) Singleuse plastics
D) Glass containers
Answer: C) Singleuse plastics
12. Which gas is responsible for the acidification of water bodies when dissolved in water?
A) Oxygen
B) Carbon dioxide
C) Nitrogen
D) Methane
Answer: B) Carbon dioxide
13. What is the primary cause of the “Dead Zone” in water bodies?
A) Oil spills
B) Excessive nutrient runoff
C) Radioactive contamination
D) Thermal pollution
Answer: B) Excessive nutrient runoff
14. Which international organization focuses on addressing global water pollution and promoting sustainable water management?
A) WHO (World Health Organization)
B) UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund)
C) UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
D) Greenpeace
Answer: C) UNESCO
15. What is the primary purpose of the Clean Water Act in the United States?
A) Regulating air quality
B) Controlling noise pollution
C) Ensuring safe drinking water and regulating water pollution
D) Managing soil erosion
Answer: C) Ensuring safe drinking water and regulating water pollution
16. Which of the following is a common method of preventing oil spills in water bodies?
A) Oil drilling
B) Doublehulled tankers
C) Disposal of oil rigs
D) Increasing oil production
Answer: B) Doublehulled tankers
17. What is the term for the process of removing suspended particles from water by allowing them to settle?
A) Filtration
B) Sedimentation
C) Desalination
D) Chlorination
Answer: B) Sedimentation
18. Which of the following pollutants can disrupt the endocrine system in aquatic organisms?
A) Heavy metals
B) Radioactive substances
C) Endocrinedisrupting chemicals
D) Oxygen
Answer: C) Endocrinedisrupting chemicals
19. What is the term for the gradual increase in the temperature of water bodies due to human activities?
A) Global warming
B) Thermal pollution
C) Greenhouse effect
D) Acid rain
Answer: B) Thermal pollution
20. In which layer of the atmosphere does acid rainforming pollutants primarily originate?
A) Troposphere
B) Stratosphere
C) Mesosphere
D) Thermosphere
Answer: A) Troposphere