United States Human Environment Interaction (Ch. 5 Lesson 3)

People and Their Environment (US) Ch. 5 Lesson 3

People and Their Environment: The United States

Managing Resources

• Modern life poses a threat to the abundant

natural resources in the United States.

• Conservation efforts by citizens and from all

levels of government have increased to ensure
resources will continue to flourish in the future.

• Resource management includes understanding

and respecting the balances that exist in natural
ecosystems.

• Efforts to reverse the damage have begun but

more is needed to achieve sustainable levels.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a result of clear-cutting?

• Less diverse ecosystems

• Preserving biodiversity
• Selective logging
• Planting new trees

Multiple Choice

The United States is working to reduce air pollution by supporting renewable sources of energy for power, such as

• coal, oil, and natural gas
• solar, wind, and hydroelectric power
• natural gas

• diesel, gasoline, and propane

Human Impact

• Acid rain and smog are consequences of

human pollution of the air and water.

• Water pollution speeds eutrophication, which

encourages the excessive algae growth that
depletes water’s oxygen and suffocates fish.

• Projected water shortages could turn into

droughts that cause billions of dollars in crop
and livestock losses.

People and Their Environment: The United States

Addressing the Issues

•

The United States is continually improving its
protection of the environment by using clean-air
practices, searching for renewable sources of
energy, and reducing waste.

•

Federal legislation, such as the Clean Water Act
and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement,
has helped restore water quality throughout the
country.

•

The government is working to curb
environmental damage by encouraging the use
of renewable energy sources and offering
incentives for companies to limit emissions.

People and Their Environment: The United States

Multiple Choice

What was the purpose of the Clean Water Act?

• To promote water pollution
• To privatize water resources
• To reduce access to clean water
• To establish regulations and standards to protect and restore the quality of the nation's waters.

Multiple Choice

What is acid rain?

• Acid rain is caused by excessive carbon dioxide emissions.
• Acid rain is a type of precipitation that contains high levels of salt.
• Acid rain is a natural phenomenon caused by volcanic eruptions.
• Acid rain is precipitation with elevated levels of acidity due to emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.

Multiple Choice

What is smog?

• Smog is a type of weather phenomenon.
• Smog is a type of water pollution.
• Smog is a type of noise pollution.
• Smog is a type of air pollution.