Coach Jed- Chapter 5 Lesson 3

________________ are one of the United States' major natural resources.

Forests

Identify three of the most significant ways human activity has harmed the environment and three of the most significant ways human activity is helping the environment. Why do you think these are the most significant?

Three of the most significant ways human activity has harmed the environment is through the destruction of wetlands, the production of smog, and the pollution of water. The destruction of wetlands ruins fisheries and destroys a buffer that can protect coastal areas in times of flooding. Smog harms people and plants, and causes acid rain. Water pollution is dangerous to marine life and contributes to the water shortage. The use of alternative energy sources lowers pollution and reduces our dependence on fossil fuel. Reducing waste and recycling limits pollution, and this is practiced in many cities and towns. Legislation such as the Clean Water Act and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement have done much to repair old damage and limit future damage.

Two human activities that can cause water pollution are ________________ and _______________, especially in the region of the _________________.

agriculture, industry, Great Lakes

Smog is a kind of atmospheric pollution caused mainly by exhaust and emissions from _______________ and _________________.

automobiles, industry

Removal of whole forests when harvesting timber, called ___________________, has damaged forest ecosystems and endangered wildlife.

clear-cutting

Two ways that acid rain affects human systems is that it _____________________, ________________, and pollutes the _________________.

damages crops, corrodes stone and metal buildings, soil

Three ways that acid rain causes damage in the Northeastern forests is that it _____________________, ________________________, and ______________________.

damages forests, poisons lakes, kills fish

The United States has taken many steps toward protecting the __________________.

environment

People in the United States use much more _________________ than people in any other country

fresh water

Another reason the United States is working to diversify energy sources and lessen its dependence on fossil fuels is in response to ___________________.

global warming

Renewable sources of energy such as _______________, ________________, and ______________ are growing in popularity.

hydroelectric, solar, wind

Wetlands are threatened or lost because of _______________ and because they are _________________.

pollution, being converted to agriculture or urban land uses

Wetlands are necessary because __________________________________________, and ________________________________.

they hold valuable water supplies and fisheries, they buffer coastal areas from storms