Earth Lakes Are Under Threat Reading Answers [repack] -

This section tests your ability to discern if a statement is (agrees with the passage), FALSE (contradicts it), or NOT GIVEN (not mentioned).

70–80%.

The reduction in the number or quantity of something. earth lakes are under threat reading answers

Paragraph 1 cites the Science study, providing this specific figure to emphasize the magnitude of loss. This is a numerical detail question, commonly tested in reading comprehension exams.

(Lake Poopo covered about 1,000 square kilometres in the dry season) (It can no longer support people, fish, or visiting birds) This section tests your ability to discern if

are becoming less resilient to disturbances. Over-extraction for agriculture and industrial pollution are treating these vital resources like "dumping grounds". We aren't just losing water; we are losing a source of food, a climate regulator, and a home for thousands of species—including over 300 new freshwater fish species described just last year. Is There a Way Back?

Excessive runoff of fertilizers introduces nutrients like phosphorus, leading to a destructive process called [eutrophication] . Paragraph 1 cites the Science study, providing this

Explanation: The passage mentions that lakes are freezing later and thawing earlier. Without a protective layer of ice, the water remains exposed to wind and sun, driving up winter evaporation rates.

Lakes act as vital planetary organs. They host immense biodiversity, regulate local climates, support agricultural irrigation, and provide drinking water to hundreds of millions of people. Despite their importance, they are far more vulnerable than oceans because their waters are landlocked and renew at a much slower rate. 2. Major Threat Drivers

As the water grew shallower and saltier, it underwent a dramatic aesthetic shift, turning a deep blood red. This shift was driven by a massive boom in specialized salt-loving and algae that thrive in hypersaline conditions. The resulting foul odors, loss of biodiversity, and altered landscape caused a severe decline in regional tourism , which was once a major economic driver for the area. Core Structural Dynamics of Lake Degradation