What is urban sprawl, and what are two environmental impacts associated with it?

• A. The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into rural land; habitat loss and increased car dependence and air pollution.
• B. The deliberate preservation of farmland and reduce traffic.
• C. The growth of cities within dense cores only; improved air quality.
• D. A planned suburban density increase; reduced energy use.

Answer: (D)

Urban sprawl is the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural land. This pattern typically involves low-density housing, spread-out development, and greater reliance on automobiles, which together increase total vehicle use and air pollution. As land that once provided habitat is developed, wildlife loses space and ecosystems become fragmented, leading to habitat loss.

The description that best matches this is the one that emphasizes uncontrolled expansion into rural land and links it to habitat loss and more car dependence and air pollution. The other descriptions describe preservation, growth limited to dense cores, or planned density with energy reductions—situations that are not characteristic of sprawl.