Task 2. 5 minutes Read the poem and answer the following questions. I Am a Scientist by Brian Crawford I am a scientist. What do I do? I study the nature of things, old and new. I take a close look at the things that I see And make guesses about all the ways they might be. When I find something neat, sometimes I will ponder, "Why does that thing behave like that, I wonder?" I'll come up with ideas - I'll take a good guess , And I'll call my guess a "hypothesis". The next thing I'll do is conduct a short test To see what answers my question best. 1
Answer (1)
Human activities are disrupting the natural balance of the carbon cycle, especially by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere.Key Ways:Burning fossil fuelsHumans burn coal, oil, and gas for energy in transportation, factories, and power plants. This releases billions of tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere every year. Normally, carbon is stored underground in fossil fuels—but when we burn them, that stored carbon is released quickly.DeforestationCutting down trees reduces the Earth's ability to absorb CO₂. Trees act like carbon “sinks” because they store carbon during photosynthesis. When forests are cleared and burned, the carbon they stored is released, and fewer trees are left to absorb CO₂.Agriculture and livestockFarming practices such as rice production and raising cattle produce methane (CH₄), a powerful greenhouse gas. Soil disturbance from plowing can also release stored carbon.Industrial processesFactories that produce cement, steel, and other materials also emit large amounts of CO₂ during production.Consequences:Climate change and global warming because the extra CO₂ traps heat.Melting glaciers, stronger storms, and rising sea levels due to higher global temperatures.Ocean acidification, where oceans absorb too much CO₂ and harm marine life.
