44. The Rapid Changes in the North Arctic

According to the essay, why is the Arctic considered crucial for the entire planet?
1. It contains the majority of the world's fresh water.
2. Its changes in ice cover affect global temperatures and sea levels.
3. It is the primary source of the world's oil and gas.
4. It is the most densely populated polar region.
What is the "feedback loop" described in the second paragraph?
1. Melting ice cools the ocean, which then causes more snow to fall.
2. The dark ocean water absorbs heat that white ice would have reflected, leading to more melting.
3. Thawing permafrost releases gases that directly form new ice sheets.
4. New shipping routes increase trade, which funds scientific research on the ice.
How does the loss of sea ice directly affect polar bears?
1. It pollutes their primary sources of food.
2. It forces them to swim longer distances to hunt.
3. It causes them to overpopulate other areas.
4. It exposes them to new predators from the ocean.
Besides making traditional hunting difficult, what is another problem the thawing ground creates for local people?
1. It creates new, dangerous shipping routes.
2. It decreases the amount of oil and gas available.
3. It causes damage to roads and buildings.
4. It causes more whales to leave the region.
The essay states that the melting Arctic is important to world business and politics because
1. it is causing a rapid decrease in global trade.
2. it is creating new, shorter shipping routes and access to resources.
3. it is making the weather in all cities much colder.
4. it is helping to slow down the overall rate of global warming.