Human Impacts on the environment

Jackie lives in a newly-built housing development. Which statement best explains why most of the residents are having problems with insects and mice in their homes?

• The land where the houses were built underwent deforestation.

• Building the houses reversed the order of the layers of soil in that location.

• The animals are relying on products from the new houses for food and shelter.

• Building houses has taken away habitats and the animals have not yet relocated.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A suburban community is surrounded by a large city, a wetland, and another suburb. The community needs to build a new school with a sports complex, and there is no room to build it. They chose to fill in the wetland and build the school there. What is most likely to happen to the filled-in wetland and the surrounding area?

• increased erosion, increased flooding, increased pollution

• increased erosion, increased flooding, decreased pollution

• increased erosion, decreased flooding, increased pollution

• decreased erosion, decreased flooding, decreased pollution

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When Hurricane Hermine hit the Florida coast in August 2016, one person was killed and there was extensive property damage. What other, less visible damage was done to ocean water by this hurricane? Choose the TWO statements that apply.

• The ocean is so large that no other damage was done.

• Pollutants from the land were washed into the ocean water.

• The concentration of salt in the water increased because of runoff.

• The salt content of the ocean was reduced by the rain, and some organisms died.

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Charlie lives in a small town near a wetland. Currently, a company is trying to build a factory in the wetland area, but the community is against destroying the wetland. What might be their major concerns? Choose the THREE statements that apply.

• Their town is more likely to flood.

• Groundwater might become more polluted.

• More jobs will be available because of the factory.

• The variety of species in the area will decrease.

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Forests provide a habitat for many organisms. In addition, they reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and produce oxygen. What does it mean to say that forests must not only be managed, but they must be managed in a sustainable way?

• No trees should be cut down at all.

• They should be protected from floods.

• Trees should be cut in large numbers at a time.

• They should be kept usable by future generations.

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Ja’ron lives near a river that flows through farmland. He notices that the river has become more polluted over the years. The water that was once clear is now sometimes cloudy and has an unpleasant odor. What is the most likely cause of the pollution in the river?

• heat

• oil and gasoline

• industrial wastes

• pesticides and fertilizer

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Henderson Island, once unaffected by humans, is located in an area where ocean pollution collects. It is estimated that the beaches of this small island are now covered with 38 million pieces of trash. Which statement best explains one likely way all this trash affects animals on or near the island?

• In the trash, there is food that the animals can eat.

• Animals have difficulty crossing the beaches to get to the water.

• Animals can get tangled up in the trash and be unable to swim or otherwise move.

• When animals die from eating trash, they provide a good food supply for other animals.

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Jeremiah volunteers every week to help clean local beaches. He also made brochures to give the community information about the importance of clean beaches for native animals. What type of pollution can volunteers clean up on the beach to protect ocean life?

• trash

• sewage

• oil spills

• fertilizers

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NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Many common products, such as wooden furniture, paper, and books, are made from trees. Which of the following is a likely consequence of humans cutting down a forest in order to make use of the natural resources there? 

• the decrease of chemical runoff into the oceans
• increased acid rain
• the increase of light pollution in cities
• the destruction of habitats

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When fertilizers run off farmland into streams and ponds, the nitrogen content of the water increases. This can lead to rapid growth of algae in a process called eutrophication. How can this process affect other organisms in the water?

• Oxygen is used up as algae is decomposed, reducing the amount available to other organisms.
• The water becomes better able to support aerobic organisms.
• The algae provide food for fishes and other organisms, leading to decreased algae populations.
• The extra nitrogen provides additional food for the other organisms, increasing their population.

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