Use science ideas to protect Earth's environment - 5th Grade Science

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Question

From the Environmental Protection Agency, "Land cover represents the actual or physical presence of vegetation (or other materials where vegetation is nonexistent) on the land surface. Land cover is also often described as what can be seen on land viewed from above. It is one means to describe landscape patterns and characteristics that are critical in understanding aspects of the environment."

Based on the EPA's graph below which type of land cover needs the most protection?

Screen shot 2020 06 26 at 4.23.19 pm

Source: https://cfpub.epa.gov/roe/indicator.cfm?i=49#3

Answer

The land cover that appears to need the most protection is the forests. There was a significant reduction in the amount of area covered by forests. There was an increase in developed land, so there may be a connection, but further research would be needed to verify or support this inference. Humans are responsible for the protection of our land and Earth, so to stop this downward trend, we must step in.

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Question

From the Environmental Protection Agency, “Land cover represents the actual or physical presence of vegetation (or other materials where vegetation is nonexistent) on the land surface. Land cover is also often described as what can be seen on land viewed from above. It is one means to describe landscape patterns and characteristics that are critical in understanding aspects of the environment.”

The graph below shows the decrease in forests over the decade. Which answer choice(s) is a way that everyday people can help protect forests?

Screen shot 2020 06 26 at 4.23.19 pm

Source: https://cfpub.epa.gov/roe/indicator.cfm?i=49#3

Answer

The land cover that appears to need the most protection is the forests. There was a significant reduction in the amount of area covered by forests. There was an increase in developed land, so there may be a connection, but further research would be needed to verify or support this inference. Humans are responsible for the protection of our land and Earth, so to stop this downward trend, we must step in. Three simple ways that everyday citizens around the country can help forests are to go paperless, buy recycled items and then recycle them again, and to plant a tree! These are all easy changes to be made that can make a big difference.

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Question

The Environmental Protection Agency issues reports on many factors that impact the Earth's environment. The following graph highlights the area of growth in the United States and our emissions. The EPA explains the graph's data, "Between 1970 and 2018, the combined emissions of the six common pollutants (PM2.5 and PM10, SO2, NOx, VOCs, CO, and Pb) dropped by 74 percent. This progress occurred while the U.S. economy continued to grow, Americans drove more miles, and population and energy use increased."

Screen shot 2020 06 29 at 8.36.58 am

What is a reasonable idea for a way citizens can help protect our air?

Source: https://gispub.epa.gov/air/trendsreport/2019/#home

Answer

Clean air is essential for all citizens of the United States, and according to the EPA, many of our emissions have decreased in recent years, but there is still room for improvement. "Vehicle miles traveled" was one of the six areas where our growth has increased as well as the production of harmful pollutants. If each person used public transportation methods more often than driving individual vehicles, there could be a reduction in the vehicle-related emissions that are created. This is a reasonable change that citizens can make.

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Question

Lakeland, Ohio has seen an increase in hazardous waste materials building up in the water. The city thinks it is because of people using harmful pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals in their yards. The city council wants to make posters to hang around town and distribute with tips for residents to decrease the hazardous waste flowing into the sewer system. Which suggestion should the city council NOT include?

Answer

Hazardous waste entering the water system can be dangerous! The dangerous materials that seep into the groundwater, enter the sewer systems, and run-off into local lakes and rivers can be harmful to humans, animals, and plants. Three of the tips suggested would be beneficial for the town council to post on the handouts, and one would increase the problem the city is facing. "Apply fertilizers when desired, and at the amount, you see fit." is a piece of advice that could cause residents to use too much fertilizer too often. If they wanted to change this to a tip that would benefit their cause, it should read, "Apply fertilizers only when necessary and at the recommended amount."

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Question

Diana has been reading about deforestation in school and learned that the use of paper goods could lead to the need to cut down forests. She wants to encourage her friends, family, and schoolmates to use fewer paper goods to help protect the environment. Which tip(s) should she share?

Answer

Diana should share all of the tips with her friends, family, and schoolmates. Reusing and recycling paper products is an easy way to reduce the waste in landfills and the number of trees cut down to create new products. The EPA reported that in 2017 Americans recycled 66% of the paper that they purchased. This is an excellent start to reducing our impact on the environment.

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Question

Screen shot 2020 09 24 at 11.41.55 am

The chart above lists the time it takes for different household objects to decompose. One way to help the environment is to repurpose items instead of throwing them away. Which of the following is an example of this strategy?

Answer

Repurposing items that would typically be thrown away helps the environment. An example of repurposing an object is painting a glass bottle and using it for decoration in your home! Repurposing items reduces the amount of trash being taken to landfills, and the does not require machines like recycling at a recycling center. An example of repurposing an object is painting a glass bottle and using it for decoration in your home!

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Question

Consuming and producing non-renewable resources for human consumption can harm the environment. Which of the following could people do to reduce the use of non-renewable resources?

Answer

Gasoline is made of oil, which is a non-renewable resource. Consuming and producing gasoline can harm the environment. One way that people can reduce the use of non-renewable resources is to use less gasoline. This can be done by carpooling or riding a bike instead of driving to work individually each day.

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Question

Which of these items should NOT be flushed down the toilet or washed into the sewer system to protect our natural water sources?

Answer

Flushing non-biodegradable items down the toilet can pollute the local water supply. Things like bandages, cotton balls, cleaning products, and oil should not be flushed as they do not dissolve and can contaminate water sources.

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Question

Brian's auto shop has several spare tires that need to be disposed of before the next shipment of tires arrives. Which of the following is the most environmentally friendly option for disposal of the tires?

Answer

Repurposing the tires is an environmentally friendly option. By reusing the tires, less trash is littering the neighborhood and local landfills. Burning the tires would create air pollution, so it is not environmentally friendly.

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Question

Billions of bees are dying off, and their hives are collapsing. The main reason for the decrease in bumblebees is the use of insecticides and pesticides. Which of the following examples is a way that a community could help stop the killing of bees?

Answer

The community can help stop the killing of bees is by using safer pesticides and insecticides. Using fewer or safer pesticides can save bees and allow the food chain to stay intact.

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