Secondary 1 Geography Resources Sustainability Quiz

Secondary 1 Geography Quiz - Resources Sustainability (Answer Key)

Total Marks: 40
Topic: Resources & Sustainability

Section A: Short Recall (1 mark each)

Q1. Accept any one: Local catchment water / Imported water / NEWater / Desalination.
Teaching note: Singapore’s Four National Taps diversify supply so we are not dependent on one source.

Q2. Solid (ice) or gas (water vapour).
Teaching note: Water exists as solid, liquid, gas in the natural environment.

Q3. The hydrological cycle (or water cycle).
Teaching note: This cycle moves water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation.

Q4. Accept: Coastal erosion protection / Habitat for wildlife / Carbon storage / Wave buffer.
Teaching note: Mangrove roots trap soil and reduce wave energy.

Q5. Accept: Factory waste discharge / Agriculture runoff / Littering / Sewage leak.
Teaching note: Human actions can introduce pollutants into water stores.

Q6. Desalination.
Teaching note: Desalination uses technology to turn seawater into drinking water.

Q7. Emergent layer / Canopy / Understorey (undergrowth).
Teaching note: Rainforests have vertical layers with different species.

Q8. Accept: High temperatures / High rainfall near Equator / Tropical climate.
Teaching note: Tropics receive consistent sunlight and rain, supporting rainforests.

Q9. Carbon dioxide (CO₂).
Teaching note: Burning forests releases stored carbon as CO₂, a greenhouse gas.

Q10. Accept: Turn off tap when brushing teeth / Report leaks / Use half-flush.
Teaching note: Small actions reduce total consumption.

Section B: Structured Response

Q11. (2 marks: 1 mark per use)

• Domestic use (drinking, washing)
• Industrial use (manufacturing)
• Agricultural use (irrigation)
• Recreational use (reservoir activities)
  Marking: Any two correct uses = 2 marks.

Q12. (2 marks)

• Mangrove roots bind soil and slow water flow (1)
• This reduces wave energy and prevents coastal erosion (1).
  Teaching note: The dense root network acts as a natural barrier.

Q13. (2 marks)

• Daily water use per person fell from 155 L (2010) to 143 L (2020) (1).
• The trend shows a steady decrease over the 10 years (1).
  Teaching note: Describe the pattern using numbers, not just one value.

Q14. (2 marks)

• Stores carbon (1)
• Provides habitat / oxygen / regulates climate (1).
  Teaching note: Rainforests are “lungs of Earth” and biodiversity hotspots.

Q15. (3 marks)

• Site Y is healthier (1).
• Low turbidity means clearer water with less suspended sediment (1).
• Clearer water allows light penetration and better oxygen for aquatic life (1).
  Teaching note: Turbidity is a water quality indicator; high turbidity harms ecosystems.

Q16. (2 marks)

• Reforestation / protected areas / sustainable logging / education.
  Marking: Any two = 2 marks.

Section C: Extended Response

Q17. (3 marks)

• Singapore has limited land for local catchments (1).
• Imported water depends on another country (1).
• NEWater and desalination add reliable, weather-independent sources (1).
  Visual needed: Diagram shows four taps and land constraint; answer references these.

Q18. (4 marks)

• Evaporation: sun heats water, turning it to vapour (1).
• Condensation: vapour cools and forms clouds (1).
• Precipitation: water falls as rain into rivers/lakes (1).
• Cycle repeats, renewing freshwater stores (1).
  Teaching note: This natural system makes water a renewable but finite resource.

Q19. (4 marks)

• Mangroves: protect coasts, store carbon, nursery for fish (2).
• Rainforests: store more carbon, habitat, climate regulation (2).
  Marking: Two benefits each = 4 marks; compare by listing both.

Q20. (5 marks)

• Trees store carbon; clearing releases CO₂ (2).
• Less forest means less CO₂ absorbed (2).
• More CO₂ traps heat, enhancing greenhouse effect (1).
  Teaching note: Link deforestation → emission → reduced sink → warming.