Reducing Human Impacts on the Environment

Which statement about the effects of natural events and human activities is true?

• The environment is not usually affected by natural events.

• All human activities change the environment in a negative way.

• Natural events always have a positive impact on the environment.

• Human activities and natural events can damage the environment.

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Pollution can enter the hydrosphere in many different ways. Which statement describes a type of point-source pollution?

• Oil being transported on a ship spills into the ocean.

• Grease from cars washes into a stream along the roadway.

• Litter along beaches gets pulled into the ocean by the tide.

• Rainwater carries chemical fertilizer from land into a stream.

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There are many sources of air pollution in the United States and around the world. Some are natural sources, and others come from human activities. Which example is a natural source of air pollution?

• car exhaust fumes

• dust from construction sites

• methane gas from cow manure

• smoke from the burning of fossil fuels

Which effect of mining for resources most directly impacts the biosphere?

• releasing dust into the air

• increasing erosion of soil

• adding sediment to waterways

• degrading habitats for animals

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Which example best describes how human activity can directly impact the geosphere?

• Poor farming practices can degrade the soil and cause erosion.

• Dumping waste from a factory into a river can pollute the water supply.

• Construction activities can release harmful dust and chemicals into the air.

• Removing too many fish from the ocean can cause a fish species to go extinct.

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The burning of coal releases sulfur dioxide gas. How might the burning of coal lead to damaged plant life?

• Sulfur dioxide can combine with drops of water to form acid rain.

• Sulfur dioxide is a radioactive material that is dangerous for many years.

• Sulfur dioxide gives off heat that raises the temperature of bodies of water.

• Sulfur dioxide causes the remains of animals to decompose at a faster rate.

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People often build structures to control how rivers flow. What is the name for the type of structure that uses raised land to prevent the water from spreading out when river water rises?

• delta

• levee

• dead zone

• lock-and-dam

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How can farming on land contribute to algal blooms in the ocean?

• Farmers apply fertilizers to add nutrients to the soil.

• Streams and rivers bring pollution from the land to the ocean.

• Nutrients in the fertilizers are carried by water to rivers.

• The burning of fossil fuels from tractors increases the algal bloom growth.

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An example of point source pollution is

• trash floating in the ocean
• oil spilling from a supertanker

An example of a non-point solution is 

• waste water from leaking pipe
• fertilizer runoff from lawns