The company that offered a cash reward for an ivory replacement made a. pianos b. billiard balls c. combs
Hyatt called his material a. cellulose b. celluloid c. cellular
The first truly synthetic plastic was made in a. 1863 b. 1907 c. 1960
Discussion/essay questions
Recycling is one way people try to reduce plastic waste. However, only a small percentage of plastics are actually recycled. What can people do to use less plastic? Do you think governments should ban certain plastics? Why or why not?
Transcript
Historically, items like combs, billiard balls, and piano keys were made of ivory. This was expensive, and many people became concerned about the elephant population. In 1863, a billiards company in New York offered a cash reward for a material to replace ivory. In response, an American inventor named John Wesley Hyatt created a plastic material by mixing and heating wood fibres. He called this material celluloid. Celluloid originally seemed like a solution to an environmental problem. When people around the world began to use electricity, the demand for plastics grew. Electrical wires needed insulators. In 1907, a Belgian-American chemist named Leo Baekeland used man-made chemicals to create the first truly synthetic plastic. Plastic manufacturing increased during and after both world wars. Scientists discovered the environmental impact of plastics in the 1960s, when they began to notice plastic waste in the ocean.
Solar cells use materials, like silicon, that are a. conductive b. semi-conductive c. insulating
The effect that converts sunlight into electricity is called the a. photographic effect b. photosynthetic effect c. photovoltaic effect
Solar power is an example of a. wasteful energy b. nuclear energy c. renewable energy
Discussion/essay questions
Would you ever consider using solar panels? Why or why not?
Using renewable energy sources is one good way to fight climate change. What are some other ways? What actions do you think individuals should take? What actions do you think governments and companies should take?
Transcript
A solar panel converts sunlight into energy. It is made up of parts called solar cells, which use semi-conductive materials to create electrical currents. This happens through a process called the photovoltaic effect. When light hits a semi-conductive material, like silicon, it causes electrons to jump around. The movement of the electrons creates a current. The first solar cells were invented in 1954. However, early solar panels were not very practical. They were expensive to build, and they only converted a small percentage of sunlight into power. Today, solar panels are cheaper and more effective. A solar panel is an example of renewable energy. Solar energy is collected at solar farms, which use large arrays of panels. Some homeowners also use solar panels on their roofs to save on electricity bills and protect the environment. Researchers have even suggested using solar panels from space to power the Earth.
El Niño is caused by a. human activity b. hurricanes c. weakened winds
During El Niño events, warmer winters occur a. in the north b. in the south c. globally
La Niña is the name for a. changes in air pressure in El Niño years b. a strong type of hurricane over the Atlantic c. the reverse effect to El Niño
Discussion/essay questions
El Niño is a natural phenomenon unrelated to global climate change. However, some scientists predict that El Niño events may become more extreme as temperatures continue to rise. Have you experienced weather changes where you live? What do they look like?
Transcript
El Niño is part of a natural weather pattern that begins in the Pacific Ocean. It happens when the west-travelling winds across the ocean grow weaker, causing surface waters to warm up in the east. This can affect ecosystems, storms, and temperatures around the world. During El Niño years, many northern places experience warmer winters. South American fishermen named the effect “El Niño,” or “the little boy,” after Jesus Christ, because they often observed changes in water temperature before Christmas. El Niño also has a reverse effect, called La Niña, which causes colder winters in the north and stronger hurricanes over the Atlantic. The full name that scientists use for the phenomenon is El Niño/Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. The Southern Oscillation is the change in air pressure connected to El Niño and La Niña. El Niño and La Niña events happen every two to seven years on average.
In the 1960s, a serious environmental concern was a. the ozone hole b. air and water pollution c. ocean acidification
Gaylord Nelson was a. a Wisconsin senator b. an environmental journalist c. a student anti-war activist
Most of the Earth Day demonstrations took place at a. government offices b. factories c. university campuses
Discussion/essay questions
What are environmental protections like where you live? Are there changes you would like to see?
Indigenous cultures around the world have respected and protected nature for a long time. Why do you think it took so long for many national governments to recognize environmental impacts?
Transcript
Before the 1960s, many people knew very little about environmental damage. There were few regulations, and companies could contaminate natural areas without facing consequences. By the end of the decade, air and water pollution were becoming serious problems. An American senator from Wisconsin named Gaylord Nelson wanted to implement policies to protect the environment. Inspired by the effectiveness of anti-war protests at the time, Nelson decided to organize a day of educational demonstrations at university campuses to start a conversation about the environment. On April 22nd, 1970, millions of people attended demonstrations. Earth Day was held on April 22nd every year after that. The growing interest in the environment caused several policy changes in the US and around the world.
The pH level of the oceans is a. increasing b. decreasing c. fluctuating rapidly
Ocean acidification is caused by a. plastic pollution b. fertilizer runoff c. dissolved carbon dioxide
Carbonic acid a. makes seawater poisonous to fish and whales b. makes seafood dangerous for humans to eat c. destroys the shells of clams, plankton, and coral
Discussion/essay questions
Do you think humans will be able to stop ocean acidification and climate change? What are some actions that people can take to help the environment?
Transcript
Ocean acidification is a dangerous environmental process. Over time, the pH level of the oceans is decreasing, which is likely to lead to the disruption of ecosystems and the endangerment of marine life. Like climate change, ocean acidification is caused by human activity. Excess carbon dioxide emissions disrupt the chemical balances of the Earth. While some carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere, causing a greenhouse effect, some dissolves in the ocean. Carbon dioxide molecules bond with water molecules to make carbonic acid, which can destroy the shells of marine animals like clams, coral, and plankton. The loss of these creatures would cause major consequences for underwater ecosystems, and for human life, too.
The ozone layer absorbs a. visible light b. ultraviolet radiation c. debris from space
Ozone is made up of a. bonded oxygen atoms b. bonded oxygen and chlorine atoms c. bonded oxygen and carbon atoms
The “hole” in the ozone layer is above a. Australia b. North America c. Antarctica
Discussion/essay questions
The quick action taken in 1987 prevented a global disaster. Do you think the world will be able to prevent climate change the same way?
Transcript
The ozone layer is a layer of gas in the Earth’s atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. The molecules that make up ozone gas are made of three bonded oxygen atoms. Ozone forms when photons break up molecules of oxygen gas. The ozone layer protects humans and animals from the harmful effects of UV radiation, including cancers. However, in the 1980s, scientists discovered a dangerously thin area in the ozone layer above Antarctica. This is commonly known as the “ozone hole”. Artificial emissions of chlorine gases had destroyed many of the ozone molecules in the atmosphere. In 1987, a global agreement known as the Montreal Protocol banned the use of certain chemicals in order to protect the ozone layer. Since then, the ozone hole has been shrinking.
Lake Hillier, a small lake on one of Australia’s , is a famous tourist attraction known for its unusual pink colour. The lake was first discovered in 1802. For years, even scientists were puzzled by the of a pink lake. However, most scientists now agree that the colour is probably caused by an abundance of bacteria. This bacteria doesn’t make the lake – it’s considered to be safe to swim in. In fact, swimming in Lake Hillier would be very effortless. This is because the high concentration of salt in the water would allow a person to easily on the surface. Not many people have been in the lake, though, because it is a protected area, and it’s difficult for the average tourist to access. Most tourists take a helicopter so that they can view the lake from the air.
Comprehension questions
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Discussion/essay questions
A similar lake in Australia, known simply as Pink Lake, was also once a popular tourist attraction. However, it lost its pink colour years ago due to human activities. Do you think this could happen to Lake Hillier? How could this be prevented?
Transcript
Lake Hillier, a small lake on one of Australia’s islands, is a famous tourist attraction known for its unusual pink colour. The lake was first discovered in 1802. For years, even scientists were puzzled by the idea of a pink lake. However, most scientists now agree that the colour is probably caused by an abundance of bacteria. This bacteria doesn’t make the lake unsafe – it’s considered to be safe to swim in. In fact, swimming in Lake Hillier would be very effortless. This is because the high concentration of salt in the water would allow a person to easily float on the surface. Not many people have been in the lake, though, because it is a protected area, and it’s difficult for the average tourist to access. Most tourists take a helicopter tour so that they can view the lake from the air.
In 1992, a cargo ship on its way from Hong Kong to the United States lost a crate in the Pacific Ocean. That crate over 28,000 rubber ducks, most of which are still in the ocean today. At first, this was simply seen as a small financial loss. However, a few of these ducks made their way to the of Alaska, where they were found by scavengers. After this discovery, a team of oceanographers decided to track the ducks as they moved around the world. The oceanographers offered $100 rewards to anyone who found one of these ducks, so that they could make a map of the ducks’ . Rubber ducks began to appear in Japan and Australia. Some even travelled across the Arctic Ocean, ending up on the coasts of North America and Europe. The oceanographers used the they’d gathered from studying the ducks to confirm their predictions about the paths of major ocean currents. The story of the ducks was also used to raise awareness about the dangers of dumping in the ocean. Today, these rubber ducks are still being found on shores. They have even become highly valued collectibles – often being sold for up to $1000.
Comprehension questions
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Discussion/essay questions
The now-famous rubber ducks were originally found by scavengers looking for interesting items along the shore. Have you ever found anything interesting on a beach?
Transcript
In 1992, a cargo ship on its way from Hong Kong to the United States lost a crate in the Pacific Ocean. That crate contained over 28,000 rubber ducks, most of which are still in the ocean today. At first, this was simply seen as a small financial loss. However, a few of these ducks made their way to the coast of Alaska, where they were found by scavengers. After this discovery, a team of oceanographers decided to track the ducks as they moved around the world. The oceanographers offered $100 rewards to anyone who found one of these ducks, so that they could make a map of the ducks’ journey. Rubber ducks began to appear in Japan and Australia. Some even travelled across the Arctic Ocean, ending up on the coasts of North America and Europe. The oceanographers used the information they’d gathered from studying the ducks to confirm their predictions about the paths of major ocean currents. The story of the ducks was also used to raise awareness about the dangers of dumping plastic in the ocean. Today, these rubber ducks are still being found on shores. They have even become highly valued collectibles – often being sold for up to $1000.
As mentioned above, some of the best ways to help prevent climate change are using less energy, taking public transportation and eating meat less. Have you made any of these changes in your life? What else do you do to help prevent climate change?
Transcript
Climate change is a major problem in the world today. Scientists believe that climate change is mainly caused by an excess of greenhouse gases, like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. Humans put these into the atmosphere with our everyday activities. The excess of atmospheric carbon dioxide is caused by burning fossil fuels, which we use to power our cars. Climate change is expected to cause many issues in the future, such as droughts, strong storms, and the loss of ecosystems. Scientists predict that the Arctic ice will be completely melted by 2050. However, there are lots of simple ways to help prevent this. Using less energy, taking public transportation often and eating meat less are all easy ways to fight climate change.
Image credit: Cambridge Dictionary