Question

rainforests around the world are being cleared at an alarming rate to make room for new communities, agriculture, mining, and roads, and to provide lumber for construction and furniture.
how might the destruction of rainforests affect the balance of gases in earth’s atmosphere?
○ by increasing carbon dioxide and decreasing oxygen
○ by increasing carbon dioxide and increasing oxygen
○ by decreasing carbon dioxide and increasing oxygen
○ by decreasing carbon dioxide and decreasing oxygen

Explanation:

Rainforests have trees that perform photosynthesis (absorb \( \text{CO}_2 \), release \( \text{O}_2 \)) and respiration (release \( \text{CO}_2 \), absorb \( \text{O}_2 \)), but photosynthesis dominates. When rainforests are destroyed, there are fewer trees to absorb \( \text{CO}_2 \) (so \( \text{CO}_2 \) increases) and fewer trees to produce \( \text{O}_2 \) (so \( \text{O}_2 \) decreases). This matches the first option.

Answer:

A. by increasing carbon dioxide and decreasing oxygen