Secondary 2 Geography Resources Sustainability Quiz

Secondary 2 Geography Quiz - Resources Sustainability (Answer Key)

Total Marks: 40
Topic: Resources Sustainability
Note: Syllabus-first content from LLM-inferred templates; not past-year derived.

Section A Answers

Q1 [1 mark]
Answer: 0304 (or 0340 if using easting-northing as 03 easting, 04 northing → four-figure 0304).
Teaching note: Four-figure grid reference is read as easting first (horizontal, left-to-right), then northing (vertical, bottom-to-top). The reservoir is in square easting 03–04, northing 04–05, so reference is 0304. Common mistake: reversing to northing-first (0403).

Q2 [2 marks]
(a) [1] Mangrove forest (or mangroves).
(b) [1] Aerial roots (prop roots) that support tree in soft mud and allow gas exchange.
Teaching note: Mangroves are coastal ecosystems; aerial roots are a visible adaptation to waterlogged, low-oxygen soil.

Q3 [3 marks]
Working: February rainfall = 80 mm, evapotranspiration = 100 mm.
Water balance = Rainfall − Evapotranspiration = 80 − 100 = −20 mm.
Answer: Deficit of 20 mm. This means more water is lost than gained, so storage in reservoirs/soil drops; could lead to water shortage if repeated.
Mark breakdown: 1 for correct subtraction, 1 for deficit sign/label, 1 for interpretation.

Q4 [2 marks]
Answer: Tropical forest loss generally increased from 9.0 million ha in 2010 to 12.3 million ha in 2020, with a dip in 2018 (10.2) then rise. Overall upward trend.
Teaching note: Use data points; describe overall trend and mention anomaly.

Q5 [1 mark]
Answer: D) River water from Malaysia.
Teaching note: Four National Taps: local catchment, imported water, NEWater, desalination. Imported water is from Johor, not “river water from Malaysia” as a separate tap.

Q6 [2 marks]
(1) Evaporation (2) Transpiration (if shown) or condensation returns vapour to clouds but not atmosphere directly; correct from diagram: Evaporation and Transpiration (if present). In given diagram: Evaporation only labelled; also condensation is atmosphere process. Accept: Evaporation and (any other atmospheric return like evapotranspiration). Per diagram: Evaporation and (if arrow from land to air) transpiration. Mark: 1 each.
Teaching note: Processes returning water to atmosphere: evaporation (ocean/land), transpiration (plants).

Q7 [3 marks]
(a) [1] 0.2% + 0.6% = 0.8% (usable freshwater stores).
(b) [2] Most water is salty ocean (97.5%) or locked in ice (1.7%); only 0.8% is accessible freshwater, and much is unevenly distributed or polluted, causing scarcity.
Marking: 1 for sum, 2 for explanation with reference to percentages.

Q8 [2 marks]
Answer: Soil erosion / landslides due to removal of vegetation on slope; or pollution from lack of sanitation.
Teaching note: Informal housing often clears vegetation, exposing soil to rain, causing erosion.

Section B Answers

Q9 [3 marks]
Answer: Evaporation from oceans/heated by sun forms water vapour → cools, condenses into clouds → precipitates over Singapore’s catchment → fills reservoirs (local tap). Without evaporation, no rain, no catchment supply.
Marking: 1 process, 1 link to catchment, 1 importance.

Q10 [3 marks]
(1) Aerial roots: allow oxygen intake in waterlogged soil. (2) Salt-secreting leaves: remove excess salt.
Marking: 1 adaptation + 1 explanation each = 3 total (1+1, 1+1, but capped at 3; allocate 1.5 each).

Q11 [4 marks]
Chain: Trees absorb CO2 → logging stops absorption and releases stored carbon via burning/decomp → less CO2 taken up → atmospheric CO2 rises → enhanced greenhouse effect.
Marking: 1 each step (max 4). Teaching: Deforestation reduces carbon sink, increases GHG.

Q12 [3 marks]
Desalination removes salt from seawater using reverse osmosis/membranes. It provides weather-independent supply, reducing reliance on rain/imports → sustainable.
Marking: 1 process, 1 independence, 1 sustainability link.

Q13 [2 marks]
(1) Store carbon (reduce warming) (2) Produce oxygen / regulate rainfall.
1 mark each.

Q14 [3 marks]
Proper housing reduces illegal clearing, sanitation prevents river pollution, improves health and reduces environmental degradation.
Marking: 1 each for housing, sanitation, overall sustainability.

Q15 [3 marks]
Less demand on supply, delays reservoir depletion, lowers energy for treatment, frees water for ecosystems.
Marking: 1 each for demand, storage, environment.

Section C Answers

Q16 [3 marks]
Mangrove loss → less nursery habitat for fish → fewer adult fish → lower catches. Also, farm pollution reduces water quality.
Marking: 1 link habitat, 1 fish decline, 1 fisher impact.

Q17 [4 marks]
(a) [2] City B: lower rainfall (200 vs 500), higher pop (5 vs 2) → more stress.
(b) [2] Desalination supplies 40% from sea, offsetting low rain, ensures supply.
Marking: 2 + 2.

Q18 [4 marks]
Effective: restores habitat, absorbs CO2, prevents erosion. Limited: takes time, may not match original biodiversity. Evaluate both.
Marking: 2 for two points, 2 for evaluation.

Q19 [3 marks]
Problem: Long deficit (8 months) → drought risk. Strategy: Build reservoirs / import / desalinate.
Marking: 1 describe, 2 strategy.

Q20 [4 marks]
Agree: Tech (NEWater, desalination) + behaviour (less use, protect forests). Examples show combined need.
Marking: 1 stance, 1 water eg, 1 forest eg, 1 synthesis.