Environmental Issues Quiz

Which of these industries is NOT a major cause of deforestation in Latin America?

• the agricultural industry

• the automobile industry

• lumber harvesting

• cattle ranching

Mexico City's most pressing environmental issue is

• mountain erosion.

• dangerous air pollution.

• erosion along the coastline.

• cutting down of the rainforest.

What issue would be MOST LIKELY to concern the region within the yellow circle?

• severe drought

• rapid urbanization

• suburban overpopulation

• destruction of the rain forests

According to this chart, the deforestation of the Amazon Rain Forest

• is on a decline

• peaked in the mid-1990s

• peaked in the early-2000s

• was banned by the United Nations

In the late 1990s the Mexican government passed a number of laws concerning the manufacture and operation of automobiles. These included switching to cleaner-burning fuels, installing catalytic converters on new cars, requiring tougher vehicle inspections, and converting city buses to natural gas. What was MOST LIKELY the purpose of these laws?

• to break their dependence on foreign oil

• to improve the air quality in urban areas

• to prevent major corporations from becoming too rich

• to stop industrial unions from going on a national strike

Which of these is the BIGGEST reason for the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest?

• the desire for farm land and cattle land

• creating reservations for native peoples

• wars with indigenous tribes who live there

• the addition of new countries to the region

Scarlett noticed that a large area of forest near her town was being cleared to build new houses and shopping centers. What is this process called?

• crop rotation

• deforestation

• environment

• pollution

The large scale clearing of trees by humans who use the cleared land for growing crops or grazing livestock or selling the trees for timber is called...

• deforestation

• desertification

• agriculture

• colonialism

What is the primary reason for clearing land in the Amazon rainforest?

• Urban development

• Conservation efforts

• Economic activities

• Scientific research

What is a significant environmental impact of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest?

• Improved air quality

• Increased biodiversity

• Loss of habitat for wildlife

• Decrease in carbon emissions