Question: Q: I read this background article the other day: When the subtropical ridge in the Northwest Pacific is stronger than normal, it leads to a wet monsoon season for Asia.[18] The subtropical ridge position is linked to how far northward monsoon moisture and thunderstorms extend into the United States. Typically, the subtropical ridge across North America migrates far enough northward to begin monsoon conditions across the Desert Southwest from July to September.[19] When the subtropical ridge is farther north than normal towards the Four Corners, monsoon thunderstorms can spread northward into Arizona. When suppressed to the south, the atmosphere dries out across the Desert Southwest, causing a break in the monsoon regime.[20]  I am facing a new situation today: In 2016, the subtropical ridge across North America migrated far enough northward to begin monsoon conditions across the Desert Southwest from July to September, but in 2017 the atmosphere dried out across the Desert Southwest, causing a break in the monsoon regime. Therefore a wet year was followed buy a dry one, and the fires started again.  Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which year had more fires because of drought, 2017 or 2016?
A: 2017

Q: I read this background article the other day: In the U.S., the majority of electricity is produced by burning coal or other fossil fuels. This causes air pollution that harms the health of living things. The air pollution also causes acid rain and contributes to global warming. In addition, fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources, so if we keep using them, they will eventually run out. The main advantage of nuclear energy is that it doesn’t release air pollution or cause the other environmental problems associated with the burning of fossil fuels. On the other other hand, radioactive elements are nonrenewable like fossil fuels and could eventually be used up.  I am facing a new situation today: Thorn county used fossil fuels for their energy needs, while Plant county used nuclear power. They both polluted the environment in different ways.  Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which county contributed less to global warming?
A: Plant

Q: I read this background article the other day: In many ways, bacterial metabolism provides traits that are useful for ecological stability and for human society. One example is that some bacteria have the ability to fix nitrogen gas using the enzyme nitrogenase. This environmentally important trait can be found in bacteria of most metabolic types listed above. This leads to the ecologically important processes of denitrification, sulfate reduction, and acetogenesis, respectively. Bacterial metabolic processes are also important in biological responses to pollution; for example, sulfate-reducing bacteria are largely responsible for the production of the highly toxic forms of mercury (methyl- and dimethylmercury) in the environment. Non-respiratory anaerobes use fermentation to generate energy and reducing power, secreting metabolic by-products (such as ethanol in brewing) as waste. Facultative anaerobes can switch between fermentation and different terminal electron acceptors depending on the environmental conditions in which they find themselves.  I am facing a new situation today: Brett and Scott were both studying bacteria for their exam. Scott read more about nitrogen-fixating and sulfate-reducing bacteria, while his colleague Brett read more about non-respiratory anaerobe bacteria and facultative anaerobes.  Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which student read less about the production of the highly toxic methylmercury?
A: Brett

Q: I read this background article the other day: When humans dig up and use fossil fuels, we have an impact on the carbon cycle ( Figure below ). This carbon is not recycled until it is used by humans. The burning of fossil fuels releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than is used by photosynthesis. So, there is more carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere than is coming out of it. Carbon dioxide is known as a greenhouse gas , since it lets in light energy but does not let heat escape, much like the panes of a greenhouse. The increase of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere is contributing to a global rise in Earth’s temperature, known as global warming or global climate change.  I am facing a new situation today: Two villages were focused mostly on mining operation. Brown village extracted fossil fuels such as coal from their mountains, while Yellow village was mostly focused on extracting gold the old fashioned way.  Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which village has more of an impact on Earth's temperature?
A:
Answer: Brown