The global climate is changing, and this change is apparent across many of Earth’s subsystems. Multiple sources attribute the global warming of the past 50 years to human activity and influence. Activities such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas release carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. These heat-trapping “greenhouse gases” have increased global temperatures and caused changes such as melting glaciers and powerful storms. These changes are happening because Earth's air, water, and land are all linked to its climate. How do you think greenhouse gas emissions and global climate will change during the next 50 years? If greenhouse gas emissions and global temperatures continue rising, what other changes might you expect to see throughout the world? Humans are working to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, but are their current solutions going to make a big enough impact? In addition to reducing human dependence on fossil fuels, what other solutions could help combat greenhouse gas emissions and global warming?

Ecologist: the scottish highlands were once the site of extensive forests, but these forests have mostly disappeared and been replaced by peat bogs. the common view is that the highlands’ deforestation was caused by human activity, especially agriculture. however, [agriculture began in the highlands less than 2,000 years ago]. peat bogs, which consist of compressed decayed vegetable matter, build up by only about one footper 1,000 years and, [throughout the highlands, remains of trees in peat bogs are almost all at depths great than four feet]. since climate changes that occurred between 7,000 and 4,000 years ago favored the development of peat bogs rather than the survival of forests, the deforestation was more likely the result of natural processes than of human activity.in the ecologist’s argument the two portions in [parenthesis] play which of the following roles? a. the first is evidence that has been used in support of a position that the ecologist rejects; the second is a finding that the ecologist uses to counter that evidence.b. the first is evidence that, in light of the evidence provided in the second, serves as grounds for the ecologist’s rejection of a certain position.c. the first is a position that the ecologist rejects; the second is evidence that has been used in support of that position.d. the first is a position that the ecologist rejects; the second provides evidence in support of that rejection.e. the first is a position for which the ecologist argues; the second provides evidence to support that position.