Which statement offers the best critique of how humans have impacted the environment through agricultural activities?(1 point)
Responses
Human agricultural activities have always impacted the physical environment.
Human agricultural activities have always impacted the physical environment.
Humans did not impact the physical environment until the last 150 years.
Humans did not impact the physical environment until the last 150 years.
Chemicals applied on agricultural crops have led to the lessening of cultural eutrophication.
Chemicals applied on agricultural crops have led to the lessening of cultural eutrophication.
The agricultural practice of slash and burn does not impact the physical environment in modern times.
The critique of forestry's impact on the physical environment that is a positive effect is:
Recreational use can engage more people with forest conservation.
The term that best describes a process that supports human life and economies at no cost to humans is:
ecosystem service
Which option correctly identifies a result of agricultural practices? (1 point)
Responses
slash and burn agriculture
slash and burn agriculture
water diversion
water diversion
biodiversity
biodiversity
soil erosion
All of the given options correctly identify results of agricultural practices, but since only one option can be chosen, the correct answer would be: soil erosion.
Which of the following critiques of forestry’s impact on the physical environment is a positive effect?(1 point)
Responses
Recreational use can engage more people with forest conservation.
Recreational use can engage more people with forest conservation.
Forestry can lead to the removal of carbon sinks.
Forestry can lead to the removal of carbon sinks.
Deforestation can cause soil erosion and landslides.
Deforestation can cause soil erosion and landslides.
Low regulation of fires increases the amount of slash and burn agriculture that occurs.
Which statement best explains what happened to wetland resources and ecosystem services after the 1970s in the U.S.?(1 point)
Responses
Wetlands began to deplete groundwater, leading to policies that favored draining wetlands.
Wetlands began to deplete groundwater, leading to policies that favored draining wetlands.
Flooding due to wetlands led to a decrease in the number of wetlands.
Flooding due to wetlands led to a decrease in the number of wetlands.
The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, passed in 1980, required the destruction of all wetlands throughout the U.S.
The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, passed in 1980, required the destruction of all wetlands throughout the U.S.
Increased knowledge of the role of wetlands in preserving ecosystem services led to policies to restore and protect wetlands.
The statement that best explains what happened to wetland resources and ecosystem services after the 1970s in the U.S. is:
Increased knowledge of the role of wetlands in preserving ecosystem services led to policies to restore and protect wetlands.
Which term best describes a process that supports human life and economies at no cost to humans?(1 point)
Responses
biodiversity
biodiversity
ecosystem service
ecosystem service
natural resource
natural resource
externality
The statement that offers the best critique of how humans have impacted the environment through agricultural activities is:
Human agricultural activities have always impacted the physical environment.
To arrive at this answer, we need to analyze each option and consider the historical context of human agricultural activities.
Option 1: Humans did not impact the physical environment until the last 150 years.
This option suggests that human impact on the environment through agriculture only began relatively recently. However, this statement is not accurate as humans have been practicing agriculture for thousands of years, which has inevitably impacted the environment.
Option 2: Chemicals applied on agricultural crops have led to the lessening of cultural eutrophication.
While chemicals used in agriculture can have positive impacts on reducing cultural eutrophication (the excessive nutrients in water bodies), this statement does not address the overall impact of agricultural activities on the environment. It focuses on a specific aspect and does not provide a comprehensive critique.
Option 3: The agricultural practice of slash and burn does not impact the physical environment in modern times.
This statement implies that the agricultural practice of slash and burn does not have any impact on the physical environment in modern times. However, slash and burn agriculture involves clearing land by cutting down and burning vegetation, which has significant negative consequences for the environment, including deforestation and habitat loss.
Option 4: Human agricultural activities have always impacted the physical environment.
This statement acknowledges that human agricultural activities have always had an impact on the physical environment. Throughout history, humans have cleared land for farming, altered ecosystems, and used resources like water and soil for agricultural production. This option recognizes the long-standing and ongoing impact of agriculture on the environment.
Therefore, the best critique of how humans have impacted the environment through agricultural activities is option 4.
The statement that offers the best critique of how humans have impacted the environment through agricultural activities is:
Chemicals applied on agricultural crops have led to the lessening of cultural eutrophication.