Question

Chlorine is the main factor damaging the ozone layer. CFC is considered responsible for 80% of the total decrease in ozone layer.
If the pollution in the atmosphere increases, which of the following is possible in future?
P. The ice at poles will melt and all the organisms will die living at the island.
Q. Many organisms living on the island may migrate.
R. The existence of forests on the Earth will be no more.
(A) Only Q
(B) Only P and Q
(C) All P,Q and R
(D) Only Q and R

Answer 1

Hint: This question can be solved by understanding the action of CFC on the environment. You need to know the consequences of increased pollution in order to answer this question without confusion.

Complete answer:
We will try to understand the action of Chlorofluorocarbons also called CFCs.
> The stratospheric ozone layer makes life possible by shielding the earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays generated from the sun.
> Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which are man made compounds destroy ozone in the upper atmosphere (stratosphere).
> Stratospheric ozone loss can result in harm to the environment and eventually to human health as well as it,
i) increases the incidence of skin cancer and cataracts.
ii) damage the immune system.
iii) damage the terrestrial and marine life.
iv) increase the formation of smog.
CFCs along with destroying ozone also affect the climate. They trap the heat present in the atmosphere also referred to as global warming, causing the earth to warm and cause a change in the climate and weather.
We will now try to match the options given in the question with our understanding of the consequences.
> Point P holds good as CFCs cause global warming which result in melting of polar ice caps and increasing the level of water in oceans leading to low lying islands being submerged.
Hence point P is correct.
> Now coming to point This point holds good too. This is because the level of water will increase and also there is an increase in temperature hence making the conditions unfavorable for organisms living on islands, thereby forcing them to migrate to favorable lands.
> Point R does not match with our understanding of CFCs as there is no direct connection between the effects of CFCs and nonexistence of forests.

Therefore, the correct answer is Only P and Q i.e. Option (B).

Note: At times students tend to think that eventually forests will vanish and mark the wrong option. We need to understand that the question asks only about the consequences of increased pollution due to CFCs and not to form an indirect link to any other phenomenon.