Environmental Issues of Latin America

What are the 2 main causes of air pollution in Mexico City?

• Vehicle emissions and industrial (factory) emissions

• Oil spills and nuclear waste
• Agricultural activities and construction dust
• Burning of trash and deforestation

How does geography play a role in the air pollution problem in Mexico City?

• The geography of Mexico City (being surrounded by the Sierra Madre Mountains) traps pollutants and prevents them from dispersing, leading to higher levels of air pollution.

• The geography of Mexico City causes air pollution to be evenly distributed.
• The geography of Mexico City has no impact on air pollution.
• The geography of Mexico City allows pollutants to disperse easily, reducing air pollution levels.

What is "Hoy No Circula?"

• A program in Mexico City aimed at reducing air pollution by restricting the use of vehicles based on their license plate numbers

• A famous Mexican holiday
• A popular Mexican food dish
• A type of traditional Mexican dance

What opened the Amazon Rainforest to loggers in the 1960's?

• Trans-Amazonian Highway
• Suez Canal
• Pan-American Highway
• Amazon River

What are three things leading to destruction of the Amazon Rainforest?

• Deforestation, farming, and illegal logging

• Hunting, tourism, and natural disasters
• Climate change, industrialization, and overpopulation
• Urbanization, mining, and pollution

What problems has mining created in the Amazon Rainforest?

• Promotion of biodiversity conservation
• Increase in wildlife population
• Improvement in air quality
• Deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution (mainly mercury in groundwater)

What is slash and burn farming?

• A technique of farming that involves using chemical fertilizers to improve soil quality
• A method of agriculture that focuses on preserving existing vegetation for cultivation
• A type of farming that involves using advanced machinery to clear land for cultivation
• A method of agriculture involving cutting down and burning existing vegetation to clear land for cultivation.

How does the destruction of the Amazon rainforest impact climate?

• It has no impact on climate
• It decreases greenhouse gas levels and global warming
• It leads to more rainfall and cooler temperatures
• It increases greenhouse gas levels (carbon dioxide) and global warming.