O Level Geography Resources Sustainability Quiz

Answer Key - O-Level Geography Quiz: Resources Sustainability

Section A

1. Sustainable Development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (2m)
2. Anthropocentric vs Ecocentric: Anthropocentric views humans as the center of the universe/nature exists for human use; Ecocentric views nature as having intrinsic value regardless of human utility. (2m)
3. Renewable Energy: Solar, Wind, Hydroelectric, Geothermal, Biomass (Any two). (2m)
4. Food Security: When all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. (2m)
5. Increasing Yield: Use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, High-Yielding Varieties (HYVs) of seeds, irrigation. (Any one). (2m)

Section B

6. Eutrophication: Fertilizers contain nitrates/phosphates $\rightarrow$ runoff into water bodies $\rightarrow$ stimulates rapid algal growth (algal bloom) $\rightarrow$ algae block sunlight/die and decompose $\rightarrow$ bacteria use up dissolved oxygen $\rightarrow$ aquatic organisms suffocate/die. (4m)
7. Clean Water & Life Expectancy: Access to clean water reduces waterborne diseases (e.g., cholera, dysentery) $\rightarrow$ lowers infant and child mortality rates $\rightarrow$ improved hygiene reduces spread of infections $\rightarrow$ overall increase in average life expectancy. (4m)
8. Renewable Energy Transition: High initial capital cost for infrastructure (solar farms/wind turbines) $\rightarrow$ lack of technical expertise/specialized labor $\rightarrow$ reliance on cheaper, existing fossil fuel infrastructure. (4m)
9. Trade-offs: Economic growth provides immediate jobs and GDP increase $\rightarrow$ poverty reduction for local population $\rightarrow$ government may accept short-term environmental degradation (e.g., deforestation) for long-term economic stability. (4m)
10. Multiplier Effect: Tourists spend money at eco-lodges (direct) $\rightarrow$ lodges buy local organic produce from farmers (indirect) $\rightarrow$ farmers spend income at local markets (induced) $\rightarrow$ overall increase in local wealth and sustainability. (4m)
11. Climate Change & Food: (1) Altered rainfall patterns (droughts/floods) lead to crop failure. (2) Rising temperatures shift suitable growing zones or cause heat stress in livestock/crops. (4m)
12. Population & Water: Higher population $\rightarrow$ increased domestic demand for drinking/sanitation $\rightarrow$ increased demand for agricultural irrigation to feed more people $\rightarrow$ depletion of aquifers/over-extraction of rivers. (4m)
13. Farming Contrast: Subsistence: Low input, low yield, generally lower chemical pollution but may cause localized deforestation (slash-and-burn). Commercial: High input (chemicals), high yield, leads to widespread soil degradation, eutrophication, and loss of biodiversity. (4m)
14. Vertical Farming: Stacks crops in layers $\rightarrow$ maximizes output per square meter of land $\rightarrow$ reduces need for horizontal land expansion $\rightarrow$ allows food production in urban centers, reducing transport distance. (4m)
15. Four National Taps: Diversifies water sources (Local catchment, Imported water, NEWater, Desalinated water) $\rightarrow$ reduces reliance on any single source (e.g., Malaysia) $\rightarrow$ ensures resilience against climate change/drought. (4m)

Section C

16. Technological Innovation:
    • Agree: GMOs, vertical farming, and precision agriculture increase yields and resilience.
    • Disagree: Social factors (distribution, poverty, waste) and political stability are equally important.
    • Conclusion: Technology is a tool, but systemic change in distribution is necessary. (6m)
17. Ecotourism:
    • Environmental: Funds conservation, raises awareness, protects habitats.
    • Economic: Provides alternative livelihoods for locals, reduces reliance on poaching/logging.
    • Evaluation: Effective if managed strictly; otherwise, "greenwashing" or overcrowding can degrade the very nature it seeks to protect. (6m)
18. Water Security Threats:
    • Climate Change: Glacial melt, altered rainfall, saltwater intrusion.
    • Other Threats: Pollution (industrial/agricultural), over-consumption/waste, political conflict over transboundary rivers.
    • Judgment: Climate change is a "threat multiplier" that exacerbates other issues. (6m)
19. Circular Economy:
    • Possibility: Recycling, repurposing, and designing for longevity reduce waste.
    • Constraints: Economic costs of recycling, consumer behavior (throw-away culture), some materials cannot be infinitely recycled.
    • Conclusion: "Zero waste" is an ideal; "near-zero" is achievable with systemic policy and behavioral change. (6m)
20. Intensification Benefits vs Costs:
    • Benefits: Ability to feed a growing global population, lower food prices, reduced need to clear more forest for land.
    • Costs: Soil exhaustion, chemical pollution, loss of genetic diversity in crops.
    • Judgment: Benefits outweigh costs in terms of survival/hunger, but are unsustainable long-term without "sustainable intensification" practices. (6m)