WorksheetsLatin America’s Environmental Issues Review Game
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 45mins
What type of pollution does Mexico City face?
Air pollution (smog)
Water pollution
Noise pollution
Radioactive pollution
What are the main sources of air pollution in Mexico City?
Vehicle exhaust from cars, buses, and trucks
Emissions from factories and power plants
Open burning of waste
Sea salt spray from the ocean
Why does Mexico City have a problem with air pollution staying over the city?
It sits in a high-altitude basin surrounded by mountains that trap polluted air
Constant ocean winds blow pollution inland
Frequent heavy rain keeps pollution close to the ground
Flat, open plains prevent air from mixing
What are some of the consequences to human health from air pollution?
Breathing problems and irritated lungs
More asthma attacks
Increased risk of heart and lung disease
Rapid improvement in fitness
List some ways that Mexico City has worked to clean up its air quality.
Stricter vehicle emissions standards
Hoy No Circula limits driving on certain days
Expanding public transportation
Building more coal-fired power plants
What is the purpose of Hoy No Circula (Day Without a Car) program?
To reduce air pollution by restricting car use on certain days
To encourage people to buy larger vehicles
To ban buses from city streets
To increase highway speed limits
List several reasons why the Amazon rainforest is important.
It contains enormous biodiversity
It stores carbon and helps regulate the global climate
It is a major source of medicines and useful plants
It provides most of the world’s saltwater fisheries
Why is the Amazon rainforest nicknamed "the lungs of the earth"?
It produces large amounts of oxygen through photosynthesis
It has the world’s strongest winds
It contains many caves shaped like lungs
It filters salt from ocean water
What impact did the major highway system that Brazil built in the 1960s have on the Amazon rainforest?
It opened remote areas to settlement, logging, and ranching, increasing deforestation
It reduced traffic and protected forests from development
It created wildlife corridors that stopped logging
It made it illegal to transport timber
List several ways that the rainforest is being destroyed.
Commercial logging
Cattle ranching and clearing for pasture
Slash-and-burn farming
Deep-sea trawling
What percentage of rainforest deforestation is due to livestock farming?
About 10%
About 25%
About 60%
About 90%
How does slash and burn farming impact the Amazon rainforest?
It rapidly clears forest, releases carbon, and leaves nutrient-poor soils that lead to more clearing
It permanently enriches soils and increases forest cover
It blocks roads and prevents settlement
It only trims branches without killing trees
Hydroelectric dams provided electricity for Brazil’s cities, but they are hurting the rainforest. How so?
They flood vast areas, displace wildlife and people, and disrupt river ecosystems
They reduce the need for roads and limit logging
They create underground tunnels that protect habitats
They only operate during droughts
What is the motivation behind logging in the Amazon rainforest?
Profit from selling timber and meeting demand for wood products
Scientific research on tree growth
Religious ceremonies requiring wood
To increase rainfall
In what ways does mining impact the rainforest’s environment?
Clears forests and destroys habitats
Pollutes rivers with chemicals like mercury
Creates soil erosion and sedimentation
Increases fish populations in untouched lakes
What is the global effect of deforestation on the climate?
It increases greenhouse gases and contributes to global warming
It cools the planet by reflecting more sunlight
It has no measurable effect on climate
It makes hurricanes impossible
Why has Brazil’s government allowed the building of roads, farms, and ranches throughout the rainforest?
To promote economic development, jobs, and settlement
To eliminate all exports
To prevent people from moving to cities
To reduce national income
In what ways has Brazil’s government worked to solve the deforestation problems in the Amazon rainforest?
Creating protected areas and national parks
Enforcing logging laws and fining offenders
Promoting reforestation and sustainable practices
Subsidizing illegal timber exports
What type of environmental issues does Mexico City face?
Acid Rain
Deforestation
Air Pollution
Polluted drinking water
What factor below makes Mexico City's environmental issues worse?
The city is located in a valley of an extinct volcano making the air pollution stay in the atmosphere above the city.
Many citizens only source of income is harvesting trees form the forest, so the problem never stops.
In the summertime acid rain happens in Mexico City more frequent because there is warmer weather.
The government cannot afford to filter their cities drinking water.
What laws have Mexican officials put in place to help lessen the pollution?
Citizens are required to wear protective masks when pollution levels are high.
Citizens are permitted to drive their cars on certain days only.
Made it illegal to drive trucks that get poor gas mileage.
Made stricter laws against cutting down trees in the forest.
What is the cause of Mexico City's environmental issue?
Unfiltered drinking water
Illegal logging of trees
Nuclear waste disposal
Aging factories, power plants, and automobiles.
What type of environmental issues does Brazil face?
Acid Rain
Deforestation
Air Pollution
Polluted drinking water
What factor below makes Brazil's environmental issues worse?
The government cannot afford to filter their cities drinking water
The city is located in the valley of an extinct volcano making the air pollution stay in the atmosphere above the city
Many citizens only source of income is harvesting trees from the forest, so the problem never stops
The government cannot afford to filter their cities drinking water
What is the cause of Brazil's environmental issue?
Illegal logging of trees
Unfiltered drinking water
Nuclear waste disposal
Polluted drinking water
What is the issue with the laws Brazil has passed to help prevent their environmental issue?
The citizens cannot afford to buy the cars that pollute less
Lack of funding to enforce the laws
It cannot afford to buy all its citizens masks
Officials of the country cannot agree with the type of filters to use on its factories
Which of the following words describes deforestation?
The destruction of the ozone layer due to human activities
When factory smoke mixes with fog
The destruction of a forested area usually due to human activities
When nuclear waste mixes with the clouds
Most of the world's medicines come from the Amazon Rain Forest?
True
False
It is illegal for Brazil's citizens to drive a car a certain day of the week
True
False
The Amazon Rain Forest is located in Mexico.
True
False
Part of mexico's pollution comes from vehicle exhaust.
True
False
The Amazon Rain Forest helps convert carbon dioxide into clean breathable air.
True
False
Terrace Farming
One of the most significant effects of elevation on farming is the practice of terrace farming, particularly in mountainous regions such as the Andes. The Incan civilization is well-known for their use of terrace farming to cultivate crops at high altitudes, showcasing the adaptations for high-altitude farming and the impact of elevation on crop selection.
Adaptations for high-altitude farming include the use of hardy, cold-resistant crops and the development of terrace farming techniques to create flat surfaces for planting. The impact of elevation on crop selection is evident in the preference for crops such as quinoa and potatoes, which thrive in the cooler temperatures and lower oxygen levels found at higher elevations.
Terrace farming techniques, such as building stepped platforms on steep slopes, allow for efficient water management and soil conservation. These techniques have been essential for farming in the Andes mountains and other high-altitude regions, demonstrating the ingenuity of ancient agricultural practices in adapting to challenging environmental conditions.
Which civilization is well-known for their use of terrace farming in the Andes?
Mayan civilization
Aztec civilization
Incan civilization
Egyptian civilization
What are some adaptations for high-altitude farming?
Use of hardy, cold-resistant crops
Reliance on artificial lighting
Development of irrigation systems
Use of tropical crops
Which crops thrive in the cooler temperatures and lower oxygen levels found at higher elevations?
Wheat and corn
Quinoa and potatoes
Rice and soybeans
Tomatoes and carrots
The Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is located in Central America, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It stretches across the Isthmus of Panama, a narrow strip of land that separates North and South America. The canal runs for 50 miles and includes artificial lakes and locks to raise and lower ships as they pass through.
One of the most important waterways in the world, the Panama Canal plays a crucial role in global trade and transportation. It provides a shortcut for ships traveling between the east and west coasts of the Americas, saving them from having to navigate around the southern tip of South America. This not only saves time and money for shipping companies, but also reduces the risk of accidents and environmental damage.
The history of the Panama Canal dates back to the 16th century when Spanish explorers first surveyed the region. The construction of the canal began in the late 19th century by the French, but it was completed by the United States in 1914. The canal has since been expanded and modernized to accommodate larger ships and increased traffic, making it a vital link in the global economy.
Where is the Panama Canal located?
North America
Central America
South America
Europe
What does the Panama Canal connect?
Pacific Ocean to Arctic Ocean
Pacific Ocean to Indian Ocean
Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean to Indian Ocean
What role does the Panama Canal play in global trade and transportation?
It increases the risk of accidents and environmental damage
It has no impact on global trade and transportation
It saves time and money for shipping companies
It slows down the movement of goods
Deforestation
Deforestation in central and south America has led to a significant loss of biodiversity. Many plant and animal species have lost their natural habitats, leading to a decline in their populations. This has disrupted the delicate balance of the ecosystem, causing long-term damage to the region's natural diversity.
Furthermore, deforestation has had a profound impact on indigenous communities in the area. These communities rely on the forests for their livelihoods, and the loss of their traditional lands has resulted in social and economic upheaval. Many indigenous groups have been forced to relocate, leading to the erosion of their cultural heritage and way of life.
Additionally, the widespread deforestation has resulted in severe soil erosion. Without the protective cover of trees, the topsoil is easily washed away by rain, leading to barren land and decreased agricultural productivity. This has further exacerbated the environmental degradation in the region, posing a serious threat to the sustainability of the land.
What is one of the main causes of deforestation in central and south America?
Climate change
Overpopulation
Slash and burn techniques
Industrialization
How has deforestation affected indigenous communities?
Improved their social and economic conditions
Resulted in social and economic upheaval
No impact on indigenous communities
Enhanced their cultural heritage
What technique has been used to clear large portions of the Amazon rainforest?
Irrigation
Slash and burn
Crop rotation
Terracing
Effects of Natural Disasters
Natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes have significant effects on the tourism industry in Central and South America. In Puerto Rico, hurricanes have a direct impact on ecotourism, causing disruptions and damage to natural habitats and tourist attractions.
The tourism industry in the region has to respond to these natural disasters by implementing emergency preparedness plans and making necessary adjustments to accommodate the impact on tourist activities. This includes rebuilding and repairing infrastructure, as well as promoting environmental conservation efforts to mitigate the long-term effects of the disasters.
Earthquakes also have a profound impact on the infrastructure in Central and South America, causing damage to roads, buildings, and other essential facilities. The environmental impact of these natural disasters is also a concern, as they can lead to deforestation, soil erosion, and other ecological challenges that affect the region's natural resources.
How does Puerto Rico's ecotourism industry get affected by hurricanes?
Promotion of environmental conservation efforts
Disruptions and damage to natural habitats and tourist attractions
Increase in natural habitats
Decrease in tourist attractions
What are the environmental challenges caused by earthquakes in Central and South America?
Building new infrastructure
Deforestation and soil erosion
Increase in natural resources
Promotion of ecological conservation
What gets damaged by earthquakes in Central and South America?
Environmental conservation efforts
Tourist activities
Roads, buildings, and essential facilities
Natural habitats and tourist attractions
What do trees produce that humans need?
Water
Radiation
Carbon dioxide
Oxygen
