“We need trees for...”
True or False
1) Rivers and creeks are more polluted today than 30 years ago? T F
2) Experts estimate that there are more trees in North America than when Columbus landed? T F
3) There is hunger in the World due to overpopulation? T F
4) In the past 100 years the average length of a person’s life has increased by 50%? T F
5) Air quality in big cities has gotten worst? T F
6) Energy use has grown more wasteful? T F
7) The United States consumes more than its share of the world’s food? T F
Answers
1) False. In 1972 only 36% of Americas rivers and streams were safe for fishing and swimming. In 1994 86% were safe for both.
2) True. Despite intense use the forest still covers 1/3 of the land area of the U.S.
3) False. In the past 50 years food production has increased by over 40% while the number of the people on the earth has only doubled.
4) True. From 1900 to 2000 the average human life expectancy rose from 50 years to 77 years year’s of age.
5) False. The average smog levels in the U.S. has fell by half from 1900 to 2000.
6) False. Compared to the first half of the century by 1990 we do twice as much with the same unit of energy.
7) False. The U.S. has less than 20% of the worlds population yet we produce almost 25% of the worlds food.