The Water Quality Act of 1965 targeted which environmental issue?

• A. Air pollution
• B. Water pollution
• C. Drought
• D. Noise pollution

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is recognizing that the Water Quality Act of 1965 targeted water pollution. It broadened the federal role in protecting waterways by requiring states to set water quality standards and develop pollution-control programs for navigable and interstate waters, and it gave the federal government authority to step in if states didn’t meet those standards. This was aimed at cleaning up rivers, lakes, and coastal waters affected by industrial and municipal discharges, addressing public health and ecological concerns. The other issues don’t fit as neatly: air pollution is handled by air-quality laws, drought concerns water supply and scarcity rather than pollution, and noise pollution was not the primary focus of this legislation at that time.