Reading Quiz P 504-520

Rapid climate change over decades can lead to various consequences, including premature deaths from lack of food, reduction in Earth's biodiversity, and social and economic chaos. These effects are interconnected and can exacerbate each other. Lack of food due to changing weather patterns and extreme events can result in malnutrition and starvation, leading to premature deaths. Climate change also disrupts ecosystems, causing a decline in biodiversity as species struggle to adapt or face extinction. Additionally, the social and economic impacts of climate change, such as displacement, resource conflicts, and economic instability, can further contribute to chaos and instability. Therefore, all of these answers are correct in describing the consequences of rapid climate change.

Global warming can have several negative impacts on food production. Poorer soil in new crop-growing rotations can occur due to increased temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns. Increased insect populations can damage crops and reduce yields. Lack of irrigation water in some areas can result from changes in rainfall patterns and increased evaporation rates. However, increased ozone resulting from global warming can lead to decreased UV radiation, which can actually benefit crops by reducing the risk of damage from excessive UV exposure.

Global climate models have projected a 10% to 50% loss in current cropland area. This means that due to the effects of climate change, a significant portion of the land currently used for growing crops may become unsuitable or less productive for agriculture. Factors such as increased temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events can negatively impact the fertility and viability of cropland. This projected loss in cropland area could have significant implications for food production and may require the development of alternative strategies to ensure food security in the future.

The correct answer is "over 100" because at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, more than 100 nations committed themselves to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. This indicates that the number of nations that made this commitment exceeded 100.

The correct answer is "dispersing methane from landfills to prevent explosions." This is because dispersing methane from landfills is not a prevention approach to global warming. While it may prevent explosions, it does not directly address the issue of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. The other options mentioned, such as taxing gasoline and carbon dioxide emissions, shifting to renewable energy sources, and improving energy efficiency, are all prevention approaches that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global warming.

A rise in sea level is least likely to save the coral reefs because coral reefs are highly sensitive to changes in water temperature and salinity. As sea levels rise, the increased water volume can lead to higher water temperatures and increased sedimentation, which can stress and damage the coral reefs. Additionally, the rise in sea level can cause coral bleaching, where the corals expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, leading to their death. Therefore, it is unlikely that a rise in sea level would have a positive impact on the survival and preservation of coral reefs.

not-available-via-ai

The correct answer is to take action now based on the precautionary principle. This is because scientists believe that the global climate system is complex and uncertain, and waiting for more data may lead to irreversible damage. The precautionary principle suggests that it is better to take preventive action to avoid potential harm, even if the evidence is not conclusive. Therefore, decision makers should not wait for absolute certainty and instead take action to address global warming.

The 1997 Kyoto treaty aimed to reduce global warming and had provisions that addressed different aspects. One provision stated that developing countries were not required to make cuts in their greenhouse gas emissions unless they voluntarily chose to do so. Another provision allowed for emissions trading, which means that countries could buy and sell emission allowances to meet their targets. Additionally, forested countries were given the opportunity to receive a break in their quotas as a recognition of their efforts in preserving forests. Therefore, the correct answer is that all of these answers are true.