Altering the Environment Practice

Cutting "steps" or terraces into the sides of hills is one way to __________. A. increase arable land for farming B. decrease the risks of flooding C. store water during times of drought D. decrease agricultural yields

A. increase arable land for farming

Removing ground water in Mexico City is a problem because it causes __________. A. land to sink B. disputes over water C. floods to occur D. droughts to occur

A. land to sink

What happened in Mexico City in 1629? A. The city fell to Spanish invaders. B. The city was destroyed by a great flood. C. The city was destroyed by a great fire. D. The city suffered a devastating outbreak of plague.

B. The city was destroyed by a great flood.

Analyze the drawbacks of the technologies used to overcome environmental challenges in Dubai.

Both of the major technologies used to overcome environmental obstacles in Dubai require high investment of energy resources. Dubai's climate is regulated by the technologies of evaporative cooling and air conditioning. Both of these technologies rely on a significant amount of fossil fuels to produce the benefit of a more tolerable climate. Therefore, high energy costs and pollution are two drawbacks associated with these technologies. Dubai meets 90 percent of its freshwater needs through the technology of water desalination. Desalination plants also require significant energy resources to operate, creating both expense and pollution.

Water misters in outdoor spaces are designed to __________ in hot climates. A. increase water supplies for agriculture B. heat the air through increased humidity C. cool the air through evaporative cooling D. turn sea water into freshwater

C. cool the air through evaporative cooling

How much water was produced for the city of Dubai each day in 2009 using the desalination process? A. 1 million gallons B. 4 million gallons C. 40 million gallons D. 400 million gallons

D. 400 million gallons

Describe two technologies that humans have used to overcome environmental challenges in Dubai.

Humans face two major environmental challenges in Dubai. The first is the lack of freshwater resources. The second is the warm and dry climate, which exacerbates pressure on scarce freshwater resources. Rapid population growth due to the discovery of petroleum in the 1960s has dramatically increased the demand for freshwater. Two technologies have helped humans survive in Dubai despite these significant environmental challenges. The invention of climate control technologies like evaporative cooling and air conditioning have allowed humans to survive in a climate with an average daily temperature of 90 degrees. The technology of desalination, which transforms saltwater into freshwater resources through the process of reverse osmosis (the heating and filtering of saltwater), has provided Dubai with 90 percent of its freshwater needs.

Analyze the technologies that have allowed humans to survive and thrive in Mexico City.

Humans have survived and thrived in Mexico City by using technology to create greater access to land. When the Spanish conquered the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, in the 16th century, they built Mexico City by draining the lakes and filling in the lake water to create more arable land for agriculture. This technique of land reclamation has continued to be fundamental to human civilization in Mexico City. The construction of canals and tunnels to transport water out of the valley also has supported land reclamation. The construction of Chinampas, artificial islands to grow food and hillside terraces for water storage and agriculture, is an additional innovative technique that has created more productive land that allows for human survival.

Examine three technologies that have allowed humans to survive and thrive in the Nile River Valley.

Humans have survived and thrived in the Nile River Valley by using technology to alter the Nile River to meet their needs. Humans have used flood protection technologies like levees, embankments, canals, and aqueducts to control and divert the flow of water. Flood protection has created greater access to livable land and more transportation opportunities. Humans also have used technologies like dams and reservoirs to store water resources. These technologies have allowed for water conservation and recreational uses of water while also alleviating the threat of floods. Finally, humans have used the technology of dams to produce hydroelectricity from the Nile River and meet energy demands.

Analyze the benefits and costs of the construction of the Aswan Dam.

The construction of the Aswan Dam in Egypt has provided many benefits, but they have come with a cost. Benefits include the creation of Lake Nasser, one of the world's largest artificial lakes; the production of hydroelectricity to supply 15 percent or more of Egyptian energy needs; and the elimination of unpredictable seasonal flooding. Costs associated with the dam include the displacement of thousands of Nile Valley residents in Egypt and Sudan; the reduction of fertile soil deposits, which has changed native plant species and required the use of more artificial fertilizers in agricultural production; and the billion-dollar price tag of the dam's construction.