7A Reading Comprehension

Environmental Problems

• Human activities have caused many serious environmental problems, including global warming and climate change.
• The world's ecosystems are changing faster than ever before.

Environmental Hazards

• Millions of people are inhaling polluted air, drinking impure water, and consuming contaminated foods.
• This leads to many environmentally hazardous conditions.

Pollution and the Greenhouse Effect

• Pollution is directly linked to the greenhouse effect, which is responsible for life on Earth.
• The greenhouse effect is caused by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, fluorinated compounds, and water vapor.
• These gases trap some of the sun's heat and prevent it from escaping back into space, keeping the planet's temperature at a safe level (around 15.5°C).
• The amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is increasing due to human activities, making the greenhouse effect stronger and the planet warmer.

Types of Environmental Pollution

• There are five major types of environmental pollution: air, water, soil, noise, and light pollution.

Air Pollution

• Air pollution can be defined as 'the introduction of harmful substances into the air".
• It occurs due to human activities such as fuel burning, logging, farming, mining, manufacturing, and construction of roads and buildings.
• Natural events such as wildfires and volcanic eruptions also contribute to air pollution.
• Air pollution results in a rise in the amount of greenhouse gases, leading to an increase in global temperature and environmental problems such as floods, acid rain, and ozone depletion.

Noise Pollution

• Noise pollution can cause physical and emotional problems, such as hypertension, hearing loss, depression, aggression, irritation, frustration, and anxiety.
• Exposure to loud noise can accelerate heartbeat and respiration, constrict blood vessels, and cause the skin to pale and muscles to tense.

Light Pollution

• Light pollution can affect the body's natural rhythm and cause sleep disorders, stress, headaches, and increasing anxiety.
• Bright artificial night light can upset the food-hunting pattern of nocturnal animals.

This quiz assesses reading comprehension skills based on a passage about environmental problems. It covers the impact of human activities on the environment, including global warming and climate change.