Natural Resources and Human Impact — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
Vehicle exhaust cause air pollution that harms our lungs and breathing.
Corrected: Vehicle exhaust causes air pollution that harms our lungs and breathing.
Cars and trucks release gases that dirty the air we share.
2. Fix the sentence:
Factory waste are sometimes dumped into rivers and pollute the water.
Corrected: Factory waste is sometimes dumped into rivers and pollutes the water.
Polluted water harms fish, plants, and people downstream.
3. Fix the sentence:
Plastic litter on the ground are an example of land pollution.
Corrected: Plastic litter on the ground is an example of land pollution.
Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down in soil.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Smoke from cars and trucks creates air pollution in cities.
Vehicle exhaust adds harmful gases to our atmosphere.
2. When trash and oil enter rivers, they cause water pollution downstream.
Polluted water is unsafe for animals and drinking.
3. Plastic bottles tossed in a park become land pollution on the ground.
Solid waste piles up in landfills and natural areas.
4. Factory waste that is dumped into streams can poison fish and frogs.
Industrial chemicals harm aquatic ecosystems quickly.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Name one source of air pollution and explain its effect.
Sample answer: Vehicle exhaust from cars adds smoke and gases to the air, which can make people cough and harm their lungs.
Reducing driving lowers air pollution in neighborhoods.
2. Why is plastic litter a problem for land and animals?
Sample answer: Plastic litter does not break down for hundreds of years and animals can choke on it or get tangled in pieces.
Recycling keeps plastic out of soil and habitats.