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Text:
" Urbanization is a common phenomenon of the 21st century, but it still brings its share of new problems. For example, the recently new trend of Urban heat islands is becoming a growing concern as incidences have increased over the years. An urban heat island is formed when industrial and urban areas are developed resulting in greater production and retention of heat. A large proportion of solar energy that affects rural areas is consumed evaporating water from vegetation and soil. In cities, where there is less vegetation and exposed soil, the majority of the sun's energy is absorbed by urban structures and asphalt. Hence, during warm daylight hours, less evaporative cooling in cities results in higher surface temperatures than in rural areas. Vehicles and factories release additional city heat, as do industrial and domestic heating and cooling units. As a result, cities are often 1 to 6 °C warmer than surrounding landscapes. Impacts also include reducing soil moisture and a reduction in re-uptake of carbon dioxide emissions.
Some authors, namely Stewart Brand, argue that the effects of urbanization are primarily positive for the environment. Firstly, the birth rate of new urban dwellers falls immediately to replacement rate, and keeps falling, reducing the risk of environmental stresses caused by population growth. Secondly, migration away from rural areas reduces the prevalence of destructive subsistence farming techniques, such as improperly implemented slash and burn agriculture.
However, with the growing population of the world, namely an additional 2.4 billion people by 2050 according to a report issued by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the amount of food produced will have to increase by 70 percent straining food resources, especially in countries already facing food insecurity due to changing environmental conditions. The mix of changing environmental conditions and the growing number of people living in urban regions, according to UN experts, will strain basic sanitation systems, health care, and potentially cause a humanitarian and environmental nightmare."
Questions:
1. What is a new problem brought by urbanization?
a) Population Growth b) Urban Heat Islands c)Reduced Carbon Dioxide Emissions
2. The reason evaporation is weaker in urban areas is because...
a) Population Growth b) Straining Food Sources c) Less Vegetation & Soil
3. According to Steward Brand, effects of urbanization are positive because...
a) It creates a better health care system b) There's less space for vehicles c) It limits population growth
4. True or False. According to this lecture, by 2050, food resources will be strained.
a)True b)False
5. True or False. Farming techniques can be destructive if not implemented properly.
a)True b)False
*ANSWERS*
1) B
2) C
3) C
4) A
5) A
