Question

which of the following is the best example of a way human lifestyles affect environmental systems?
burning fossil fuels increases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
using radioactive materials causes ground pollution when chlorofluorocarbons (cfcs) seep into the ground.
deforestation causes water pollution by decreasing water vapor in nearby lakes and rivers.
using aerosol sprays increases the amount of ozone (o3) in the atmosphere.
question 11(multiple choice worth 4 points)
(04.04 mc)
an excess of greenhouse gases are warming the oceans. which of the following describes an effect of excess greenhouse gases?
sea levels will decrease due to thawing glaciers and ice sheets.
organisms that live in colder temperatures will continue to thrive in their environment.
melting of glaciers and ice sheets will cause coastlines to shrink and increase flooding.
the increase in temperatures will prevent disease vectors from spreading to other regions.

Explanation:

• For the first question:
• Burning fossil fuels (a human lifestyle) releases \(CO_2\) (a greenhouse gas). This is a well - known and direct impact of human activities on the atmosphere.
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are not radioactive materials. CFCs mainly affect the ozone layer.
• Deforestation mainly affects the water cycle through transpiration (not by decreasing water vapor in lakes and rivers in the way described). It also has soil - erosion and habitat - loss impacts.
• Aerosol sprays (containing CFCs) decrease the amount of ozone (\(O_3\)) in the atmosphere (they cause ozone depletion).
• For the second question:
• When there is an excess of greenhouse gases, the warming of the planet causes glaciers and ice sheets to melt. Melting glaciers and ice sheets add water to the oceans, which causes sea - level rise. This rise in sea - level leads to coastline shrinkage (as the sea encroaches on land) and increased flooding.
• Sea levels will increase (not decrease) due to melting glaciers and ice sheets.
• Organisms that live in colder temperatures will face challenges (their habitats may be lost or altered) as temperatures rise.
• The increase in temperatures will likely allow disease vectors (like mosquitoes) to spread to new regions (as they can survive in a wider range of temperatures).

Answer:

• First question: Burning fossil fuels increases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
• Second question: Melting of glaciers and ice sheets will cause coastlines to shrink and increase flooding.