Human Impact on the Environment

Question 1

What is happening to the worlds population and why?

Answer 1

It is increasing due to modern medicine and farming methods, which decreases death from disease and hunger.

Question 2

What does the increasing population do to the environment? (3 points)

Answer 2

1) puts pressure on the environment and we take the resources we need
2) higher standard of living means more extraction of raw materials, and energy is needed for manufacturing processes, so resources are disappearing quickly
3) many raw materials are being taken out quicker than they are being replaced, so they will run out one day

Question 3

How does the increasing population mean an increase in:

a) water pollution
b) land pollution
c) air pollution

Answer 3

a) sewage and toxic chemicals from industry and agriculture pollute lakes, rivers and oceans, affecting plants and animals that rely on them for survival
b) toxic chemicals are used for farming, nuclear waste is underground and household waste is in landfill sites
c) smoke and gases released into the atmosphere pollutes the air (sulfur dioxide = acid rain)

Question 4

Why does an increasing population mean there is less land? (4 points)

Answer 4

1) buildings
2) farming
3) dumping waste
4) quarrying for metal ores