What are two reasons for organisms becoming endangered?
- habitat destruction
- monitoring
- education
- pollution
- captive breeding programmes
A) 1 and 4
B) 1 and 5
C) 2 and 3
D) 3 and 4
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Answer: A) 1 and 4
Explanation:
- 1. Habitat destruction – Destruction of natural habitats due to human activities (like deforestation, urbanization, or agriculture) leads to loss of shelter and food sources for many species, contributing to endangerment.
- 4. Pollution – Pollution (e.g., water pollution, air pollution, or soil contamination) can harm ecosystems, poison species, or destroy habitats, contributing to the endangerment of organisms.
Why other options are incorrect:
B) 1 and 5 – Captive breeding programs help to conserve species but do not directly cause endangerment.
C) 2 and 3 – Monitoring and education are strategies to prevent species from becoming endangered but do not contribute to their endangerment.
D) 3 and 4 – Education helps to reduce endangerment, and pollution contributes to it, so this is a mix of correct and incorrect reasons.
Detailed Solution: The primary causes of species endangerment are habitat destruction (1) and pollution (4), as they directly harm ecosystems and wildlife. Monitoring (2), education (3), and captive breeding (5) are conservation efforts, not causes of endangerment. Therefore, the correct answer is A (1 and 4).
How will these natural processes be affected by deforestation?
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
1. Transpiration decreases: Deforestation removes trees, reducing the number of leaves available for water vapor release, thus lowering transpiration rates.
2. Soil erosion increases: Tree roots no longer stabilize soil, making it vulnerable to being washed away by rain or wind.
3. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases: Fewer trees mean less CO₂ absorption via photosynthesis, while decomposing cut trees release stored CO₂.
The diagram likely illustrates these interconnected effects, confirming D as the correct answer.