Background: One result of air pollution is acid rain. Acid rain is precipitation with a low (acidic) pH. This rain can be very destructive to wildlife. When acid rain falls in forests, freshwater habitats, or soils, it can kill insects and aquatic life. It causes this damage because of its very low pH. Sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides in the air both cause acid rain to form ( Figure below ). Sulfur oxides are chemicals that are released from coal-fired power plants. Nitrogen oxides are released from motor vehicle exhaust.

Situation: Beijing recently opened several new coal-fired power plants over the last few months. In Montreal, there have been large reductions in sulfur oxides produced by manufacturing plants after a recent referendum.

Question: Which area is more likely to have acid rain?
Answer: Beijing

Situation: Beijing recently opened several new coal-fired power plants over the last few months. In Montreal, there have been large reductions in sulfur oxides produced by manufacturing plants after a recent referendum.

Question: Which area is less likely to have acid rain?
Answer: Montreal

Situation: Beijing recently opened several new coal-fired power plants over the last few months. In Montreal, there have been large reductions in sulfur oxides produced by manufacturing plants after a recent referendum.

Question: Aquatic life in the freshwater habitats of which area is more at risk of dying?
Answer: Beijing

Situation: Beijing recently opened several new coal-fired power plants over the last few months. In Montreal, there have been large reductions in sulfur oxides produced by manufacturing plants after a recent referendum.

Question: Aquatic life in the freshwater habitats of which area is less at risk of dying?
Answer: Montreal

Situation: Beijing recently significantly increased the amount of cars on the roads there through mandatory price cuts for all motor vehicles.  In Montreal, the number of cars on the roads has decreased drastically recently through public transportation initiatives and public advertising campaigns encouraging biking and walking.

Question: Which area will produce more nitrogen oxides?
Answer: Beijing

Situation: Beijing recently significantly increased the amount of cars on the roads there through mandatory price cuts for all motor vehicles.  In Montreal, the number of cars on the roads has decreased drastically recently through public transportation initiatives and public advertising campaigns encouraging biking and walking.

Question: Which area will produce fewer nitrogen oxides?
Answer: Montreal

Situation: Beijing recently significantly increased the amount of cars on the roads there through mandatory price cuts for all motor vehicles.  In Montreal, the number of cars on the roads has decreased drastically recently through public transportation initiatives and public advertising campaigns encouraging biking and walking.

Question: Which area will produce rain with lower pH?
Answer: Beijing

Situation: Beijing recently significantly increased the amount of cars on the roads there through mandatory price cuts for all motor vehicles.  In Montreal, the number of cars on the roads has decreased drastically recently through public transportation initiatives and public advertising campaigns encouraging biking and walking.

Question: Which area will produce rain with higher pH?
Answer: Montreal