Human Impact on the Environment

Over the course of many years, a rural farm town becomes more urban. Which of the following will most likely happen in the town as a result of this urbanization?

• the amount of rainfall will increase

• rivers may be contaminated by sewage

• light pollution in the town may decrease

• people will develop more farms in the town

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

One measure of water quality is the cloudiness of the water. Which of these terms describes this measure?

• pH

• potable

• turbidity

• temperature

The town of Winchester recently built an artificial body of water. This reservoir will store drinking water for the town. Which of the following could cause contamination of the water and lead to human health-related problems and loss of native species?

• development of a water quality plan

• building a fence around the reservoir

• improvements to a water treatment facility

• increased use of fertilizer to keep the vegetation growing

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

The line graph shows the average amount of dissolved nutrients in a body of water each year from 1998 to 2003. Which human activity most likely affected this body of water between 2000 and 2003?

• burning fossil fuels

• dumping litter in the water

• adding chemical fertilizers to water

• discharging warm water into the body of water

Human need fresh, clean water to survive. Which of these statements is true about fresh water?

• an unlimited amount of fresh water is available on Earth

• in some places on Earth, fresh water is being used up faster than it can be replaced

• the global population is currently decreasing, and people are using less fresh water

• fresh water was once considered a renewable resource, but today it is considered an inexhaustible resource

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Several factors can lead to land degradation. Which of these activities is LEAST LIKELY to contribute to land degradation?

• urbanization

• deforestation

• poor farming methods

• using an irrigation system on crops

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Soil erosion can increase when humans remove trees and other vegetation from an area. What is this process called?

• decomposition

• conservation

• deforestation

• urbanization

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Helen has lived in a town outside a major city for more than 50 years. Over this time, Helen has observed the development of her town, including the construction of new roads and houses and the loss of natural areas. Which term best describes what happened in the town that Helen lives?

• land pollution

• urban sprawl

• desertification

• nutrient depletion

Humans have changed some of Earth's environments much more than others. Which best describes an area where humans have caused the MOST change to an environment?

• a rural area

• a natural area

• an urban area

• a suburban area

The table shows the population of Salem every 10 years from 1900 to 2000. Which category of land use would you LEAST expect to find in Salem today?

• industrial

• residential

• agricultural

• commercial