Trail

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/trail

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary purpose?Facilitate non-motorized access, recreation, and ecological connectivity
2. What is the economic impact?Drive tourism, support local economies, and enhance regional attractiveness
3. Why do trails help animals and plants?Trails act like natural highways for wildlife, letting animals move from one place to another and helping plants spread their seeds along the path.
4. How do people make sure trails don’t hurt the environment?Trail builders choose routes that avoid sensitive spots, use techniques like water bars and outsloping, and add bridges or boardwalks to keep the land safe.

Topography: The arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area.
Hydrology: The scientific study of the movement, distribution, and management of water on Earth.
Fragmentation: The process by which large, continuous habitats are broken down into smaller, isolated patches.