Global warming is a gradual increase in the average temperature of the earth’s lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. Much of the recent observed and projected global warming is human-induced. People across the world are worried about what a warmer planet will mean for human beings, plants and animals, and nations have met at international conferences to look for ways to fight it.
Increased cattle production is one of the factors that may be contributing to global warming. In which of the following ways does it contribute?
(A) It contributes to deforestation.
(B) It contributes to methane production.
(C) It contributes to the use of fossil fuels.
(D) It contributes to the release of chlorine compounds into the stratosphere.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A), (B) and (C) only
Increased cattle production adds to global warming in three ways.
(A) It contributes to deforestation. — Correct. Deforestation raises the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.
(B) It contributes to methane production. — Correct. Animal waste releases methane, a greenhouse gas.
(C) It contributes to the use of fossil fuels. — Correct. It adds to the use of fossil fuels.
(D) It contributes to the release of chlorine compounds into the stratosphere. — Incorrect. Chlorine compounds in the stratosphere come from CFCs and cause ozone depletion, not global warming.
NCERT (2026-27): “Box 7.1: Global Warming … Among factors that may be contributing to global warming are the burning of coal and petroleum products (sources of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone); deforestation, which increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; methane gas released in animal waste; and increased cattle production, which contributes to deforestation, methane production, and use of fossil fuels. …” “Box 7.2: Ozone Depletion … The problem of ozone depletion is caused by high levels of chlorine and bromine compounds in the stratosphere. The origins of these compounds are chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), used as cooling substances in air-conditioners and refrigerators, or as aerosol propellants, …” |