Question

read & respond
use the text below to answer the question.

as smoke rises from a factory, chimney, or exhaust pipe into the air, it causes an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and changes the ph level or acidity of water in clouds that make rain and snow. what results is acid rain, which can fall hundreds of miles from the source of the pollution. acid rain kills plants, fish and many aquatic animals. ozone depletion is the destruction of a small layer of ozone gas that is high above the earth. the ozone layer blocks harmful radiation; life on earth would be in great danger if the ozone layer were to disappear. the survival of living things on our planet depends upon the conservation and protection of this thin layer of atmosphere.

which of these best describes the relationship between smoke from factories and acid rain?
choose one option
a smoke travels directly into storm clouds, creating acid rain.
b smoke changes the color of clouds, which makes the rain acidic. this is what is known as acid rain.
c smoke causes greenhouse gases to increase, which changes the acidity of the water in clouds, creating acid rain.
d smoke from factories depletes the ozone layer, and without the ozone layer, the ph level of rainwater becomes acidic.

Explanation:

• Option A: The text says smoke causes an increase in greenhouse gases and changes cloud water's pH, not that smoke travels directly into storm clouds to create acid rain. Eliminate A.
• Option B: The text does not mention smoke changing the color of clouds. Eliminate B.
• Option C: The text states "As smoke rises... it causes an increase in greenhouse gases... and changes the pH level or acidity of water in clouds that make rain and snow. What results is acid rain". This matches option C.
• Option D: The text says ozone depletion is a separate issue from acid rain (smoke causes acid rain, and also ozone depletion is mentioned as another effect of pollution, but not that ozone depletion causes acid rain's acidity). Eliminate D.

Answer:

C. Smoke causes greenhouse gases to increase, which changes the acidity of the water in clouds, creating acid rain.