HUMAN IMPACT REVIEW 2024

Humans rely on the stability of ecosystems for long-term health. Some of the current hazards to human health are represented in the diagram below. Decreases in soil, air, and water quality can result from human activities that have

• negatively influenced these resources by removing pollutants

• modified natural cycles, increasing the quality of these resources

• resulted in an increase in the stability of these resources

• had a negative influence on the natural systems that maintain these resources

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS2-6

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

Destruction of ocean habitats by pollution today means that the organisms living there may not survive in the future. By polluting the oceans, humans are

• helping advance economic gains by using resources wisely

• altering the equilibrium of ocean ecosystems

• decreasing the rate of species extinction

• increasing the stability of the oceans

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-6

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

NGSS.HS-LS4-5

Humans deplete the most resources when

• using wind energy as a power source

• generating power by using fossil fuels

• using water power to generate electricity

• recycling glass and plastics

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-2

Recently, oil from a wrecked tanker resulted in a disaster in ecosystems containing many unique species. The potential loss of these species could result in

• an increase in the variety of genetic material available

• a decrease in organisms available for scientific research

• an increase in the stability of the affected ecosystems

• a decrease in pollution affecting the land and water

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

NGSS.HS-LS2-6

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

NGSS.HS-LS4-5

Scientists have studied oceanic plastic garbage "patches" around the world. These are areas that accumulate plastic garbage from coastal regions. Their environmental effect ranges from killing sea life to blocking sunlight from reaching photosynthetic organisms. Without a change in human plastic usage, new garbage patches will continue to form. Which human activity would most directly reduce the amount of plastic garbage that enters the ocean?

• Ban the production and usage of all bags made from recycled plastic.

• Clean up plastic trash from shorelines, rivers, and other waterways that flow into the oceans.

• Manufacture fewer reusable water bottles, so that people will be more likely to use disposable ones.

• Implement a glass bottle deposit system to discourage people from recycling plastic bottles.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

Solar and wind power are options available to people interested in producing electricity while reducing their reliance on fossil fuels. A benefit of using these alternative energy sources is that they

• preserve natural resources for future generations

• increase the number of jobs required for mining coal

• ensure that supplies of fossil fuels will never decrease

• cost more to generate than all other sources of electricity

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-2

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

Which human activity most directly causes a significant increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

• growing corn for food

• not using products containing plastics

• driving cars long distances

• planting large numbers of trees

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

Humans are able to positively or negatively affect their environment in many ways. Which statement accurately describes one of these possible effects?

• A positive environmental effect is that burning fossil fuels to generate electricity reduces carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

• A positive environmental effect is the cutting of trees in rain forests to provide large quantities of lumber to build homes for the increasing world population

• A negative environmental effect is that industrialization provides many jobs and helps the economy grow.

• A negative environmental effect is that unregulated fishing in the ocean can disrupt the interactions between organisms in existing food webs.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS2-6

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

New York State charges consumers a fee when purchasing beverages sold in aluminum cans and plastic bottles. This money is returned to purchasers when they return these items for recycling. Programs such as these are an attempt to

• encourage people to spend more money on their beverages

• conserve the resources these containers are made from

• reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced by deforestation

• totally eliminate the use of reusable containers

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

Which long-term change could directly cause the other three?

• pollution of air and water

• increasing human population

• scarcity of suitable animal habitats

• depletion of resources

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5