Climate Change and Biodiversity
Reading Passage
Climate change has become a pressing global issue that not only affects the environment but also has severe consequences on biodiversity. Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth, encompassing all living organisms from microscopic bacteria to large mammals. The intricate web of interactions between species and their environments is delicately balanced, and any disruption can have cascading effects on ecosystems. In recent decades, scientists have observed significant shifts in biodiversity patterns due to changing climatic conditions. One of the most evident impacts of climate change on biodiversity is the alteration of species distributions. As temperatures rise, many species are forced to migrate to higher latitudes or elevations in search of suitable habitats. This migration can lead to the displacement of native species and the introduction of invasive species, disrupting the existing ecosystem dynamics. Additionally, changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can affect the timing of biological events such as flowering, migration, and hibernation. These shifts can result in mismatches between species interactions, influencing food availability and reproductive success. The loss of biodiversity not only threatens the stability of ecosystems but also jeopardizes essential ecosystem services that support human well-being.
Questions
1. What does biodiversity refer to?
A) Only large mammals
B) All living organisms
C) Only microscopic bacteria
D) None of the above
Answer: (B)
2. How does climate change impact species distributions?
A) It has no impact
B) It causes species to shrink in size
C) It forces species to migrate
D) It increases species' population
Answer: (C)
3. Which biological events can be affected by changes in temperature and precipitation patterns?
A) Mating rituals
B) Hibernation
C) Nest building
D) All of the above
Answer: (D)
4. What is one consequence of species migration due to climate change?
A) Decrease in invasive species
B) Improvement in ecosystem dynamics
C) Displacement of native species
D) None of the above
Answer: (C)
5. Based on the passage, what can be inferred about the relationship between biodiversity and climate change?
A) Biodiversity remains unaffected by climate change
B) Climate change has a positive impact on biodiversity
C) Climate change poses threats to biodiversity
D) None of the above
Answer: (C)
6. What is the rhetorical purpose of mentioning ecosystem services in the passage?
A) To confuse readers
B) To provide a solution
C) To emphasize the importance of biodiversity
D) To introduce a new concept
Answer: (C)
7. Where would the following sentence fit best in the passage? 'Some species may adapt to new conditions, while others face extinction.'
A) After the first paragraph
B) After the second paragraph
C) After the third paragraph
D) After the fourth paragraph
Answer: (B)
8. Which of the following statements is NOT supported by the passage?
A) Climate change disrupts ecosystems
B) Biodiversity is unaffected by temperature changes
C) Climate change alters species distributions
D) Changes in temperature affect biological events
Answer: (B)
9. Write a one-sentence summary of the passage.
Answer: Climate change poses significant threats to biodiversity, leading to shifts in species distributions and disruptions in ecosystem dynamics.
Answer Key
1. (B) 2. (C) 3. (D) 4. (C) 5. (C) 6. (C) 7. (B) 8. (B) 9. Climate change poses significant threats to biodiversity, leading to shifts in species distributions and disruptions in ecosystem dynamics.
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