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Public opinion poll data consistently demonstrate that most Americans are highly concerned about environmental problems. Since public opinion plays a key role in the process of determining environmental priorities and policies, it is important that the public be adequately informed on environmental issues. This short test, taken primarily from a recent issue of EPA Journal, can help you deter-mine your own "ground-water literacy."

1.Of Michigan's 9 million residents, approximately which percentage depend on groundwater for their drinking water source? 10% 50% 100% none of the above 2.Groundwater is stored in underground formations known as aquifers. A groundwater aquifer is most like: an underground lake an underground river an underground sponge none of the above 3.Groundwater is especially susceptible to contamination because: it moves slowly; once contaminants enter they may be there a long time it is very cold, acting as a contaminant preserver it is low in oxygen, causing slow biological and chemical activity and breakdown all of the above 4. Sources of groundwater contamination can include: improperly installed or malfunctioning septic tanks unlined industrial and municipal waste pits, ponds and lagoons leaking municipal sewer lines agricultural land treated with fertilizers and pesticides salt from road deicing operations all of the above

5.Which of these amounts comes closest to the amount of garbage created annually by the average American? 10 pounds 100 pounds 1,000 pounds 10,000 pounds 6.What do we do with all the garbage we create? dispose of it in landfills burn it in incinerators recycle it all of the above 7.Which of the following en-vironmental problems is the American public most concerned about? hazardous waste sites radon in homes contaminants in drink-ing water leaking underground storage tanks 8.The federal government provides the majority of funding for implementing environmental programs. true false 9.In the past, which of these groups has en-joyed cost savings from inadequate pollution con-trols? industry the American consumer federal, state and local governments all of the above