Question

How does the atmosphere protect life on Earth? Check all that apply.

It provides oxygen for living things.
It prevents Earth from being hit by meteoroids.
It allows water to exist as a liquid.
It purifies water that falls as snow and rain.
It blocks the Sun’s harmful rays.

Answer 1

Correct answers:
- It provides oxygen for living things. — The atmosphere contains oxygen needed for respiration.
- It prevents Earth from being hit by meteoroids. — The air causes many small meteoroids to burn up before reaching the surface.
- It allows water to exist as a liquid. — Atmospheric pressure and greenhouse warming help keep Earth’s temperature and pressure suitable for liquid water.
- It blocks the Sun’s harmful rays. — The ozone layer and gases absorb much of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Not correct:
- It purifies water that falls as snow and rain. — Evaporation helps remove many impurities before condensation, but precipitation itself can carry pollutants (acid rain, dust), so the atmosphere does not reliably “purify” rain and snow.