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What Effect Does Human Activity Have On Many Ecosystems? — Reading Comprehension

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This educational content explores the significant effects of human activities on various ecosystems. Designed for a Grade 6 reading level, it aligns with NGSS Standard MS-ESS3-3 by encouraging students to understand how human actions, such as pollution, deforestation, and urbanization, lead to environmental changes like habitat loss and climate change. The passage defines key terms and provides real-world examples, helping students grasp the concepts of environmental degradation and the importance of conservation. It includes audio-integrated reading passages, multiple-choice questions, a glossary, and short-answer prompts to enhance comprehension and critical thinking about monitoring and minimizing human impacts on the environment.

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Wide scene showing pollution, deforestation, climate change, and eco-friendly actions affecting ecosystems — Human impact on ecosystems: pollution, deforestation, climate change, and solutions for a healthier planet.

Our planet is full of amazing ecosystems, which are communities of living things (like plants and animals) and their non-living environment (like water, soil, and air). But what happens when humans interact with these delicate systems? Our actions, both big and small, can have a huge impact.

One major impact is pollution. When we drive cars, factories release smoke, or even when we throw away trash incorrectly, harmful substances can enter the air, water, and soil. Air pollution can make it hard for animals to breathe and damage plants. Water pollution, often from chemicals or plastic waste, harms fish and other aquatic life. For example, plastic bags in the ocean can be mistaken for food by sea turtles, causing them to get sick.

Another significant human activity is deforestation, which is the clearing of forests. We cut down trees for timber, to make space for farms, or to build cities. Forests are vital ecosystems; they provide homes for countless species, produce oxygen, and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When forests are cut down, animals lose their habitat, which is their natural home. This can lead to a decrease in the number of different types of plants and animals, also known as a loss of biodiversity.

Human activities also contribute to climate change. When we burn fossil fuels for energy (like coal, oil, and natural gas), we release gases into the atmosphere that trap heat. This makes the Earth's temperature rise, leading to changes in weather patterns, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels. These changes can severely disrupt ecosystems, forcing animals to move or even threatening their survival.

So, what can we do? We can make choices that minimize our impact. This includes reducing waste, recycling, using less energy, and supporting efforts to protect natural areas. Understanding how our actions affect the environment is the first step towards creating a healthier planet for everyone.

Interesting Fact: A single plastic bottle can take up to 450 years to decompose, meaning plastic from hundreds of years ago is still in our environment today!

What are ecosystems made of?

Living and non-living thingsOnly plants and animalsJust water and soilOnly human activities

What is deforestation?

Clearing of forestsPlanting new treesStudying tree typesBuilding treehouses

How does water pollution harm sea turtles?

Mistake plastic for foodMakes water too coldIncreases oxygen levelsChanges their swim path

What is a habitat?

An animal's natural homeA type of pollutionA cut-down forestA human activity

Why are forests important for the atmosphere?

Produce oxygen, absorb CO2Create more fossil fuelsTrap heat for the EarthRelease harmful chemicals

Which activity contributes to climate change?

Burning fossil fuelsRecycling plastic bottlesPlanting new treesCleaning up rivers