UNIT 2: CHANGING CLIMATES, CHANGING MINDS

Question 1

affect

Question 2

globalisation

Answer 2

increasing business, cultural and other contacts between countries

Question 3

What causes acid rain?

Answer 3

Acid rain is caused by the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, where they react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to become sulfuric and nitric acid respectively.

Question 4

How can acid rain be prevented?

Answer 4

Great way to reduce acid rain is to produce energy without using fossil fuels.

Question 5

What causes air pollution?

Answer 5

Air pollution is caused by solid and liquid particles and certain gases that are suspended in the air. These particles and gases can come from car and truck exhaust, factories, dust, pollen, mold spores, volcanoes and wildfires.

Question 6

Effects of hazardous waste on human health:

Answer 6

Hazardous substances may irritate the skin or eyes, make it difficult to breathe, cause headaches and nausea, or result in other types of illness.

Question 7

Why ozone depletion is so harmful?

Answer 7

Ozone depletion can cause increased amounts of UV radiation to reach the Earth which can lead to more cases of skin cancer, cataracts, and impaired immune systems. Too much exposure to UV is believed to be contributing to the increase in melanoma, the most fatal of all skin cancers.

Question 8

How can you describe smog?

Answer 8

Smog is air pollution that reduces visibility. The word ‘smog’ is a mix of smoke and fog. The smoke usually came from burning coal. Smog was common in industrial areas, and remains a familiar sight in some cities today.
Smog is unhealthy to humans and animals, and it can kill plants. Smog is also ugly. It makes the sky brown or gray. Smog is common in big cities with a lot of industry and traffic.

Question 9

What do you do to reduce smog?

Answer 9

Everyone can do their part to reduce smog by changing a few behaviors, such as:
- Drive less. Walk, bike, carpool, and use public transportation whenever possible.
- Take care of cars. Getting regular tune-ups, changing oil when scheduled, and inflating tires to the proper level can improve gas mileage and thus reduce emissions.
- Fuel up during the cooler hours of the day—night or early morning. This prevents gas fumes from heating up and producing ozone.
- Avoid products that release high levels of VOCs. For example, use low-VOC paints.
- Avoid gas-powered yard equipment, like lawn mowers. Use electric appliances instead.