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Chapter 3
the safety of nuclear energy. Shouldwe use
nuclear fuel to produce electricity?
Industrial factories that make electricity
also release heated water into our rivers.
Scientists are checking to make sure that
our rivers do not become toowarm for the
living things in thewater.
Another concernof people is howwe use
our agricultural land.Our cities and suburbs
have grown. This means that large
shoppingmalls, churches, schools, prisons,
and businesses take up land space. Inmany
places, people are concerned that this
results in the loss of good soil for farming.
Can you think of other things that take up
or use agricultural soil?
Agriculture is still a very important
industry in our state. In Lancaster County,
over three-fourths of the land is used for
farming. However, the number of farms in
Pennsylvania has been slowly decreasing
over the past 20 years. One solution is that
our state government is buying and setting
aside farm land. It is called the Farmland
PreservationAct. A
preservation
is aplace
or area that is saved for future use.
Lancaster County has placed 18,000 acres
of land into preservation.
In the 2000s, we all need to be more
aware of our environment. Protecting the
environment isnot just our government’s
responsibility. All of us are responsible for
keeping our environment safe and
healthy for your future.We need towork
together to solve our environmental
problems. This will help to provide a
brighter future for all of us.
ReviewQuestions
1. Name three things thatmake up our environment.
2. Why is it important to keep our environment clean?
3. How is acid rain formed?
4. According to scientists, why is acid rain dangerous?
5. What is wastewater?
6. What happens towastewater once it reaches awater treatment plant?
7. Give at least two reasons whywe should be concerned about our landfills?
8. Give three reasons why recycling is important?
9. Why is themaking of electricity an environmental concern in our state?
10. What is the danger of using nuclear energy?
11. What is the importance of the Farmland PreservationAct?
12. What can you do to keep our environment healthy?
