Question

how can intensive agricultural practices contribute to climate change? a. large herds of livestock give off greenhouse gases. b. the loss of trees to agriculture reduces the land’s albedo. c. livestock manure absorbs greenhouse gases. d. fewer trees are available to fossilize into petroleum.

Explanation:

• Option A: Intensive agriculture often involves large livestock herds. Livestock (like cows) produce methane, a greenhouse gas, contributing to climate change.
• Option B: Albedo refers to reflectivity; deforestation for agriculture affects carbon sequestration more than albedo in this context, so this is incorrect.
• Option C: Livestock manure releases (not absorbs) greenhouse gases, so this is wrong.
• Option D: Trees don't fossilize into petroleum (fossilization of organic matter over millions of years in specific conditions forms petroleum, not trees directly), so this is incorrect.

Answer:

A. Large herds of livestock give off greenhouse gases.