Ecology Environmental Impact

Which human activity is correctly paired with its likely future consequence?

• overfishing in the Atlantic — increase in supply of flounder and salmon as food for people 
• development of electric cars or hybrid vehicles — increased rate of global warming 
• use of fossil fuels — depletion of underground coal, oil, and natural gas supplies 
• genetically engineering animals — less food available to feed the world’s population

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Deforestation of areas considered to be rich sources of genetic material could limit future agricultural and medical advances due to

• the maintenance of dynamic equilibrium 
• the loss of biodiversity 
• an increase in the ecosystem’s carrying capacity
• the depletion of the ozone layer

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A large tract of land is purchased by a commercial agricultural company. The land is cleared of its native flora (plants), and a single crop is planted instead. What is the effect of this action?

• There is an increase in the variety of foods.
• The biodiversity of the area is reduced.
• There is a reduction in the size of the land
• The cost of the planted crop increases

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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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What would Earth be like without the greenhouse effect?

• Too cold to be habitable
• A little cooler than it is now
• The same temperature as it is now
• A little warmer than it is now

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Humans often change ecosystems as a result of population growth, consumption, and technology. Which of the following is a way in which humans modify ecosystems?

• factory and automotive emissions causing acid rain

• redirecting and storing freshwater behind dams

• cutting down trees to build new buildings and roads

• all of these

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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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Approximately 75 percent of the Earth's surface is covered in water. So why is water considered such a precious resource?

• The greenhouse effect is causing most of the world's freshwater to be trapped in the atmosphere
• Only a small fraction of the Earth's water is freshwater available for drinking and irrigation
• Each year, more freshwater is being trapped in icecaps located at the North and South Poles
• Global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions will likely cause Earth's oceans to evaporate

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Deforestation by burning has been described as a "double whammy" to the environment, meaning it has 2 negative impacts. Why is this description accurate? 

• Forest burning releases CO₂ while decreasing oxygen, which disrupts cycles
• Deforestation reduces the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere, which depletes the ozone layer
• Forest clearing is often followed by land development, which often leads to increased noise pollution
• Deforestation increases the number of plant and animal species by destroying habitat

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Which human activity would preserve nonrenewable resources?

• deforestation
• removing carnivores from a forest 
• recycling
• heating homes with fossil fuels