Question

over time, human decisions and activities have majorly affected the environment. farming has had an especially big impact. farming changes the land that’s being used. we plow under native species and reduce the diversity of species; we use fertilizers and pesticides that may kill certain organisms or allow others to grow in larger numbers than is normal. another human activity with a big environmental impact is construction. this uses up space and many materials. our homes require energy for heat in the winter and for cooling in the summer. whole forests are cut down to provide lumber for construction. transportation also has a big impact. we travel by car, train, plane, and boat—all of which need energy to move. manufacturing is yet another big impact activity. we bury, dump, or leave the wastes in landfills, burn them, or flush them into waterways.
construction has a big impact on the environment because ______.
choose one option
a the waste it creates fills landfills and waterways with a large amount of dangerous pollution
b it changes the way landscapes look, sometimes in ways that are not visually appealing
c it uses fertilizers and pesticides that kill certain organisms or makes some grow in larger than normal numbers
d it requires trees to be cut down, it takes up land that belongs to other organisms and it uses a lot of energy

Explanation:

• Option A: The text says waste from manufacturing is buried/dumped in landfills or flushed into waterways, not construction. Eliminate A.
• Option B: The passage doesn't mention visual appeal of landscapes related to construction. Eliminate B.
• Option C: The text states fertilizers/pesticides are used in farming, not construction. Eliminate C.
• Option D: The passage says construction uses up space, cuts down forests for lumber, and homes (part of construction) need energy for heating/cooling. This matches D.

Answer:

D. it requires trees to be cut down, it takes up land that belongs to other organisms and it uses a lot of energy