GEOGRAPHY - AMAZON RAINFOREST EXAM QUESTIONS

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GEOGRAPHY - AMAZON RAINFOREST EXAM QUESTIONS

Actual Qs and Ans Expert-Verified Explanation

This Exam contains:

-Guarantee passing score -17 Questions and Answers -format set of multiple-choice -Expert-Verified Explanation

Question 1: Why have the rates of loss decreased in Brazil?

Answer:

-Brazil's government have cracked down on illegal deforestation -Brazil leads the world in conservation (protecting half of the Amazon) -Brazil is committed to reducing carbon emissions to tackle climate change -Consumer pressure not to use products from deforested areas has led to a decline in cattle ranching

Question 2: Why will loss of biodiversity occur?

Answer:

Many different species of plants and animals die because of deforestation. As plants and animals are closely connected through the food web, deforestation this reduces the biodiversity, or variety of species found in the tropical rainforest.

Question 3: Why will soil erosion be an impact?

Answer:

Once the land is cleared of rainforest vegetation the soil is left bare. When it rains, the nutrients in the soil are washed away. The nutrient cycle stops because there are no plants or trees shedding leaves to replace the nutrients in the soil. The soil is no longer able to support plant life because it is not fertile.The roots of plants and trees no longer hold the soil together so it is easily eroded.

Question 4: Why will economic development occur?

Answer:

The creation of mines, farms and roads - which caused deforestation - has also led to economic development. The money created from these enterprises allows a country to generate foreign income, which can then be used to pay off debts or be invested in further development projects.

Question 5: How many species of plants and animals are at risk of extinction?

Answer:

10,000

Question 6: Where is the Amazon Rainforest located?

Answer:

The Amazon is the largest tropical rainforest on Earth. It sits within the Amazon River basin, covers some 40% of the South American continent: includes parts of eight South American countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname.

Question 7: How is hydroelectric power a threat?

Answer:

Hydroelectric power (HEP) - The creation of HEP stations in the Amazon Basin has resulted in large areas of forest being flooded to create the reservoirs and dams. The flooding of the Balbina dam in Brazil resulted in the loss of 920 square miles of tropical rainforest.

Question 8: What are the impacts of tropical rainforest loss?

Answer:

-Soil erosion -Loss of biodiversity -Climate change -Economic development

Question 9: How is mining a threat?

Answer:

Mining - the Amazon Basin is rich in natural resources such as iron ore, copper, tin, aluminium, manganese and gold. This has led to the development of mines which results in the clearance of tropical rainforest. The Carajas mine in Brazil is the world's largest iron ore mine.

Question 10: Why is climate change an impact?

Answer:

The trees and plants of the Amazon Basin absorb carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis.If there are fewer trees and plants, due to deforestation, then less carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere. In this way deforestation contributes to global warming and therefore climate change.

Question 11: Why should we protect tropical rainforests?

Answer:

-Biodiversity (tropical rainforests contain more than half of all the plants and animals in the world) -Climate change (rainforests absorb and store CO2) -Climate (rainforests prevent the climate from becoming too hot and dry - and produce 28% of the world's oxygen) -People (indigenous tribes live sustainably) -Water (rainforests are important sources for clean water) -Resources (valuable hardwoods, nuts, fruits and rubber can be found) -Medicine (around 25% of all medicines come from rainforest plants)

Question 12: What is pastoral farming?

Answer:

When animals are reared e.g. cows for meat

Question 13: What threat does farming have on the Amazon?

Answer:

Farming - large areas are cleared for pastoral farming. As the global demand for meat has increased many cattle farms have opened in the Amazon Basin for beef farming. Arable farming is also responsible for the loss of tropical rainforest as many farmers are clearing land to grow cash crops, such as soya beans.

Question 14: How has the population threatened the rainforest?

Answer:

Population - population growth has resulted in the loss of tropical rainforest as land is cleared to build houses and infrastructure.

Question 15: What is arable farming?

Answer:

growing crops

Question 16: How are roads a threat?

Answer:

Roads - the construction of access roads for farmers, loggers and miners results in large parts of the tropical rainforest being destroyed.

Question 17: How is logging a threat to the rainforest?

Answer:

Logging - tropical rainforests are cut down so that valuable trees like mahogany can be accessed and sold for timber to make furniture. Other trees are cut down for making paper products.