Final answer:
The option that is NOT an environmental benefit of plants is B. Increase erosion. Plants provide shade, cooler temperatures, and filter air, but they generally prevent erosion, not increase it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to which of the following is NOT an environmental benefit of plants is B. Increase erosion. Plants have numerous environmental benefits, some of which include:
- A. Provide shade - Trees and plants offer shade, which can cool down areas and provide protection from the sun.
- C. Provide cooler temperatures - Through the process of transpiration, plants release water into the atmosphere, which helps cool the environment.
- D. Filter air - Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, and they can also filter out pollutants from the air.
However, plants generally do not increase erosion; in fact, they often prevent erosion by stabilizing the soil with their root systems. Therefore, option B, Increase erosion, is the correct answer as it is not an environmental benefit of plants.