Earth's Systems
A lake contains water. Which of Earth's four systems does the lake belong to?
Hydrosphere
What is the term for protecting and carefully managing Earth's natural resources?
Conservation
What is it called when water changes from a liquid into water vapor?
Evaporation
Name one natural resource farmers need to grow crops.
Soil (also acceptable: water, sunlight, or air, depending on the question).
What is the process of taking materials from discarded objects and using them to make new objects?
Recycling
Cotton grows on plants. Which Earth system provides the cotton used to make a T-shirt?
Biosphere
A community uses less water this year than last year. What does this demonstrate?
Water conservation.
Ellen wants less water to evaporate from her garden. Should she water at 2 p.m. when it is 86°F or 10 p.m. when it is 65°F?
10 p.m., because the cooler temperature slows evaporation.
A family buys too many groceries and cannot eat them all before they spoil. Name one action that can reduce this food waste.
Freeze extra food for later use.
Name one material from the articles that can be recycled to help reduce landfill waste.
Paper or plastic
A pencil contains graphite mined from Earth's crust. Which Earth system does the graphite come from?
Geosphere
A town plants trees where a forest was cut down. What is this effort called, and name one benefit.
Reforestation; it can restore habitats for plants and animals.
A school collects treated wastewater from toilets and reuses it for flushing. How does this conserve water?
It reduces the amount of fresh water the building needs.
Why can bare soil be damaged more easily by wind and rain than soil covered with plants?
Plants help hold soil in place and protect it from erosion.
Why can throwing old computers and televisions into ordinary trash be harmful?
Some electronic parts contain toxic substances, such as lead or mercury, that can pollute land and water.
A bus burns gasoline and releases exhaust into the air. Name the Earth system being polluted.
Atmosphere
Choose THREE goals of conservation:
A. Introduce new species.
B. Maintain natural resources.
C. Preserve biodiversity.
D. Protect habitats and wildlife.
E. Improve technology.
B.- Maintain natural resources, C- Preserve biodiversity, and D- Protect habitats and wildlife.
A city wants to conserve water. Which shows it is conserving water better than before: using groundwater, using a water-cleaning plant, or using less water than last year?
Using less water than last year.
Two students suggest ways to protect farm soil. Student 3 plants cover crops between growing seasons. Student 4 plants trees around fields to slow wind. Why are both strategies helpful?
Cover crops protect and hold the soil, while trees reduce wind that can carry soil away.
A school wants to send less trash to landfills. Which is the best strategy?
A. Add liners to the landfill.
B. Recycle paper and plastic.
C. Install solar panels at the landfill.
D. Use different fuel for garbage trucks.
B. Recycle paper and plastic.
After gym class, sweat evaporates from your skin and becomes water vapor in the air. Explain how this connects two Earth systems.
Water moves from the biosphere (a living human) into the atmosphere as water vapor.
A family turns off the faucet while brushing their teeth. Explain why this is conservation rather than recycling.
They are reducing water use and preventing waste, not turning used materials into new products.
Explain why reusing treated wastewater for toilet flushing is a stronger example of water conservation than simply building more bathrooms.
Reusing water reduces the demand for fresh water; building more bathrooms does not necessarily reduce water use.
Which pair best conserves soil?
A. Cover it with concrete and plow it to expose it to wind.
B. Expose it to wind and plant cover crops.
C. Plant cover crops and trees to reduce wind.
D. Dig deep holes and use many soil layers.
C. Plant cover crops and trees to reduce wind.
Recycling can help conserve nonrenewable resources. Explain why making new products from recycled materials can reduce the need to extract resources from Earth's crust.
Recycled materials can replace some newly mined or extracted raw materials, conserving limited resources and often reducing waste.