2B1 - Human Impact on Environment

Question 1

What is the definition of a human settlement?

Answer 1

An organized group of humans in a specific location.

Question 2

What are the common types of human settlements seen around the globe today?

Answer 2

• Urban
• Rural
• Suburban

Question 3

What factors determine the design of human settlements?

Answer 3

• Settlement geography.
• Community culture and needs.
• Available resources for each area.

Question 4

What are some examples of natural resources used in rural economies?

Answer 4

• Agricultural land
• Forests
• Water resources
• Minerals and ores
• Fisheries

Question 5

What percentage of people globally reside in urbanized locations today?

Answer 5

Approximately 55%.

Question 6

What are suburban human settlements?

Answer 6

Residential settlements located at the borders of cities.

Question 7

When did suburban human settlements grow in popularity?

Answer 7

After WWII in the 1950s.

Question 8

What are the functions of human settlements?

Answer 8

• Protection.
• Pooled economics.
• Shared natural resources.
• Socioemotional connections.

Question 9

What is the purpose of shared natural resources in human settlements?

Answer 9

To assure that everyone has access to necessary resources like food, water, and land.

Question 10

What does the term ‘population’ refer to?

Answer 10

The number of people who live in a country or other defined region at any given time.

Question 11

What factors contribute to changes in the U.S. population over time?

Answer 11

• Births
• Deaths
• Immigration
• Emigration

Question 12

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 12

The combination of all living and nonliving organisms and environments that contribute to the overall function and sustenance of the system as a whole.

An ecosystem includes plants, animals, land, soil, water, air, the biosphere, and everything within.

Question 13

What is the human impact on the environment?

Answer 13

The sum of all human activities and behaviors that create both positive and negative changes that affect the Earth’s sensitive ecosystem.

Question 14

What is the single greatest threat to biodiversity?

Answer 14

The human alteration of habitats.

Question 15

What are some other impactful human activities on the environment?

Answer 15

• Building new cities and dams.
• Oil spills.
• Mass ocean fishing.
• Dependence on fossil fuels.
• Emissions from cars, factories, mines, and landfills.

These activities contribute to negative changes in the environment.

Question 16

What are some negative impacts on the Earth’s climate due to human activities?

Answer 16

• Global warming
• Deforestation
• Pollution
• Rising sea levels
• Over-harvesting

These activities are aggravated by the growing human population.

Question 17

What has caused the global average temperature to increase by 0.2°C per decade since 1975?

Answer 17

Fossil fuel use.

Question 18

What are 4 consequences of rising temperatures on Earth’s ecosystem?

Answer 18

1. Forests at risk of dying due to temperature and moisture changes.
2. Deserts experiencing significant drought and famine.
3. Storms becoming more intense.
4. Changes in precipitation leading to drought, famine, and species extinctions.