Latin American Environmental Issues

A serious environmental problem facing Mexico today is

• loss of the world's largest living coral habitat.
• air pollution in Mexico City.
• loss of the Amazon Rainforest.
• the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

What problem has been caused by oil production in Venezuela?

• About 9% of U.S. oil comes from Venezuela.
• The coast along the Caribbean Sea has been polluted with oil.
• Lake Maracaibo has become the largest lake in South America.
• Venezuela is more polluted than other South American Countries.

Why might the Venezuelan government NOT want to stop oil production in the country, even though it causes a lot of pollution?

• The government gets about half of its money from the oil business.
• The government does not care about the damage to the environment.
• People along Lake Maracaibo are now protected by a dam to prevent flooding.
• People in Venezuela do not care about the environment as much as other people.

What are the main sources of air pollution in Mexico City?

• intense sunlight
• the high altitude
• factories and cars
• cars that produce little or no air pollution

Which solution is a way that the government is trying to reduce pollution in Mexico City?

• ignoring cars with exhaust problems
• reducing the number of buses and trains
• making sure the population continues to grow
• increasing the number of cars that produce little or no air pollution

The climate of Brazil is __________.

• polar
• temperate
• tropical
• frigid

_______ is the largest country in South America.

• Cuba
• Chile
• Brazil
• Colombia

Mexico's environmental issue is _____________________.

• deforestation
• acid rain
• nuclear radiation
• air pollution

What is deforestation?

• land suitable for farming.
• replanting trees
• destruction of a forested area, typically as a result of human activities
• land that is within city limits.

The Amazon Rainforest is located in ________.

• Venezuela
• Cuba
• Brazil
• Colombia