Air Quality Quiz
Grade Level: 4 - 6
Instructions: For a quick start to teaching about environmental issues, give this brief
quiz to your students to determine their knowledge.
True
1. Air pollution is only a problem in big cities
2. Dirty air is costly to each Canadian
3. When the air is polluted, you can always see and smell it
4. Clean air is the responsibility of industry alone
5. The only effect of ozone air pollution is on the human
body
6. Cars contribute little to the air pollution problem
7. Air pollution is now under control and will not be a
problem in the future
False
Answers:
1. Air pollution is only a problem in big cities.
False. Everyone is affected by air pollution. The air we breathe does not hover over us.
It moves. Wind carries pollution to us from all over the world as weather systems travel.
Likewise, the pollution that we produce, no matter how small an amount it may seem, is
significant when we combine it with other cities/communities.
2. Dirty air is costly to each Canadian.
True. We pay in health problems caused by air pollution. As consumers, we pay costs
hidden in the prices of the things we buy- the costs of new technology to prevent air
pollution.
3. When the air is polluted, you can always see and smell it.
False. Some pollutants are odourless and colourless. That is why it is important to look
in the newspaper, listen to or watch your favourite station in order to find out when smog
alert days are called in the summer.
4. Clean air is the responsibility of industry alone.
False. We all have an important role to play in cleaning our air. Using our car, mowing
the lawn, heating our homes, using an air conditioner, and many other everyday actions
all require energy to operate. Whether we burn fossil fuels or use electricity to generate
power, there are resulting emissions that enter the air. We need to do our share to
spare the air all year round.
5. The only effect of ozone air pollution is on the human body.
False. Ozone pollution affects our lungs and can irritate our eyes. It also deteriorates
materials and damages vegetation.
6. Cars contribute little to the air pollution problem.
False. The automobile industry has made great strides in pollution control devices –
individual cars and buses emit fewer hydrocarbon emissions into the air today than ever
before. However there are more people driving that clog up our highways and put more
emissions into the air.
7. Air pollution is now under control and will not be a problem in the future.
False. Although there have been great strides made in technologies that reduce
pollution from cars and industries, there
is still a long way to go to reduce air pollution where it has no effect on the environment
and on our health. We must all
try to do our part to reduce harmful air emissions.