CTA SVN3M Environmental Science Past Paper PDF 2024-2025

CENTRAL TORONTO ACADEMY FINAL EXAMINATION REVIEW Grade 11 Environmental Science (SVN 3M1) Semester 1: 2024-2025...

CENTRAL TORONTO ACADEMY FINAL EXAMINATION REVIEW Grade 11 Environmental Science (SVN 3M1) Semester 1: 2024-2025 EXAM DATE: January 23rd, 2025 Your Name: Length: 1.5 hours Total Marks: 75 marks Total Number of Pages: 8 pages Teacher: Ms. Sulej Materials Required: Scientific calculator, pencil, eraser Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs), graphing and programmable Materials Prohibited: calculators, smart watches, phones Instructions: 1. Put all belongings (books/jackets etc.) at the front of the room. 2. Do not start the exam until instructed to do so. 3. Make sure that there are 8 pages in this booklet. Put your initials on ALL papers that are handed-in. 4. You may keep pens/pencils/erasers on your desk. All other items must be put away. Only materials approved by your teacher may be kept on your desk. 5. Calculators must be without a cover or case. 6. All pages must be handed in. 7. Answer all multiple-choice questions in the chart provided by writing the correct letter selected. Ensure that any revisions in that chart are fully erased. 8. Attempt all questions. Leave none blank. 9. Always show your work. 10. Use your time wisely. Do not spend too much time on one question. Exam Format: Question Type Category Mark Value Recommended Time Multiple Choice K/U /25 25 minutes Diagram or Data A /20 25 minutes Interpretation Solutions Short T/I /20 25 minutes Answers Long Answer C /10 15 minutes TOTAL /75 90 minutes This examination is worth 20% of your grade Page 9 Review by Unit: Unit 1: Thinking Environmentally Intro. To Environmental Science q What is environmental science? What is it not? Climate Change q What is the difference between shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) radiation? q What is the difference between the terms ‘global warming’ and ‘climate change?’ q What is the albedo effect? How does it relate to polar regions and climate change? q What are positive feedback loops? Negative feedback loops? q What are greenhouse gases? What are their sources? Why are they important to life on Earth? q Why is carbon dioxide the gas that is heating the planet the most, despite its low warming potential (ability to trap heat)? q Compare and contrast the natural greenhouse gas effect and the enhanced greenhouse gas effect. Environmental Economics q Define natural capital. How does it relate to the invisible economy? q What are ecosystem services? What is their worth? q What is weak sustainability? What is strong sustainability? Compare and contrast the two. Biodiversity Crisis q What is diversity? Types? q What is natural selection? Example? q How many species are there on Earth? q What are the main reasons for biodiversity loss? Conservation Techniques q What is conservation? q What is in-situ/ex-situ conservation? Advantages/disadvantages? q What are various in-situ conservation tactics? q What is a charismatic/flagship/umbrella species? q What is fragmentation? What does it lead to? q What are some ex-situ conservation tactics? Unit 2: Environment and Human Health Intro. To Pollution q What is the concept behind ‘One Health?’ What does it mean? q What is pollution? What are the sources? q What is the difference between pollutants and contaminants? q What is the difference between point source and non-point source pollution? Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification q What is the energy pyramid? What does it describe? q How are bioaccumulation and biomagnification related? Different? Examples? q Why is it unsafe to consume more than one can of tuna a week? q What are heavy metals? POPs? Examples of each? q How is elemental mercury transformed into monomethyl mercury? Air Quality q What is stationary vs. mobile pollution? q What are area vs. fugitive sources of stationary pollution? q What are primary and secondary pollutants? Page 9  q Why is CO the ‘silent killer?’ q What is the difference between PM10 and PM2.5? q What is the source of NO2 from primarily? q What is the source of SO2 from primarily? q What are VOCs? Where do they come from? q What are the types of ozone? Similarities? Differences? q How was the hole in the ozone layer successfully mitigated? q What is the AQHI? How is it measured and determined? Water Quality q What do the following tests measure and indicate about the health of a water body: o Dissolved oxygen o Conductivity o pH o Alkalinity o Hardness o Air and water temperature o Chlorine o Water clarity/turbidity Wastewater Treatment q What are the general steps in wastewater treatment? q What is effluent? q What is sludge or biosolids? What can be done with it? q What chemical is mainly used to disinfect harmful bacteria in water? Acid Rain q Which two gases are associated with acid rain? What are their sources? q How are they examples of secondary pollutants? Explain. q What agreement was vital to curbing the causes of acid rain? What did both nations promise to do? What was the result? Built Environment and Smog q How is city design connected to the health and life expectancy of humans? q What are some programs in Toronto that aim to decrease car use and obesity rates? q Why are mixed use communities/areas healthier for people? q What is photochemical versus industrial smog? q Which health issues are worsened with exposure to smog? Unit 3: Sustainable Forestry and Agriculture Soil Quality q What is soil made of? q How do you determine soil texture? q How do you use the soil textural triangle? q What is organic matter/humus? Why is it important? q What is loam? Why is it important in agriculture? q Describe the water holding capacity of clay, silt and sand. Why are they so different? q What are the layers of soil/ horizons? q What are the three most common nutrient deficiencies in plants? q What is fertilizer? What does it do? q Know how to complete fertilizer calculations q What is Liebig’s Law of the Minimum? How does it apply to crop yield? q Why is soil pH important? Page 9 Silviculture Basics q What is silviculture? q What is a stand? q What is an even versus an uneven-aged stand? q Why is an old growth forest better to have than a secondary growth forest or plantation? q Know the different silvicultural practices (clearcutting, shelterwood/strip cutting, patch cutting, seed tree cutting, coppicing, retention systems like single tree selection, salvage logging) and when to use them Issues in Canadian Forestry q What is happening to the fire season in Canada? Why is this the case? q What is happening to the habitat ranges of tree species? What is a potential adaptive strategy that can be implemented to help trees? q How is inclusion of Indigenous Nations in forestry changing in Canada? q What is an example of a ‘tree killer?’ Kiss the Ground q What happens when the soil is tilled? q What is a multi-species cover crop? How is it better than a monoculture? q What is regenerative agriculture? What are the four (4) main practices? Why is it important to our climate crisis today? Unit 4: Reducing and Managing Waste Anatomy of a Landfill q What is a cell? How is it created? q What is leachate? How is leachate prevented from leaking into the soil around a landfill? q How is groundwater kept safe as a landfill is built and added to? q Methane gas is naturally produced by decomposing waste. How is it dealt with? Microplastics q How prevalent are microplastics in food items like salt? q What are the concerns of microplastics in the environment? Ecosystems? q What are the concerns of microplastics to human health? Compost Ecology q What is the compost food web? What kinds of macroorganisms and microorganisms sit within each trophic level? q Why are microbes important in the composting process? q What can be done to create optimum microbe conditions in a compost pile? Waste Diversion Techniques q Choose a waste diversion technique (e.g. glass recycling, plastic recycling, aluminum can recycling, composting, etc.) and the steps taken to achieve the process q How does your technique divert waste from landfills? Unit 5: Conservation of Energy Energy Sources Carousel q What is renewable versus nonrenewable energy? What are some examples? q What is the difference between mining and fracking? q What is biomass? Biofuel? Why are they a promising energy source? q Kkk q Lll q Kkk Page 9 Sample Questions: 1. Compare in-situ and ex-situ conservation techniques with advantages, disadvantages and examples in the chart below. Point form is acceptable. IN-SITU EX-SITU Aims to protect and conserve Threatened animals and plants a species in its natural are taken out of their natural ecosystem habitat and placed in a unique Allows all levels of biological and ideal setting organization and the whole Species can be protected and ecosystem protection given special care Advantages Protects species from external threats like predation and poaching Genetic diversity can be monitored through selective breeding programs Conditions that threaten the Costly survival of the organism will Animals not being able to live in still be present the wild Decreased genetic diversity Animals not being able to adjust Disadvantages Endangered habitats may be to their new environment fragmented and may affect Limited genetic diversity the survival of the species Costly and very political process to conserve land Wildlife sanctuary, national Zoological parks, botanical Examples park, and biosphere reserves gardens, and gene banks 2. Choose a waste diversion technique and outline basics steps of the process. Diversion Technique: Answers will vary Examples: Glass recycling, aluminum can recycling, composting, etc. 1. 2. 3. 3. Determine the soil type using the soil textural triangle with the provided percentages % SAND % SILT % CLAY TEXTURE CLASS 10 15 75 clay soil 21 41 38 clay loam 52 21 27 sandy clay loam e.g. 5 65 e.g. 30 silty clay loam 35 50 15 loam/ silt loam Page 9  4. You buy a bag of fertilizer with the following ratios. Calculate the mass (in kg) of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for this bag. Show your work. Nitrogen = 3 kg x 20% = 3 kg x 0.20 = 0.6 kg Phosphorus = 3 kg x 0.01 = 0.03 kg Potassium = 3 kg x 0.05 = 0.15 kg 5. Complete the chart on air pollutants. POLLUTANT FORMULA SOURCE HEALTH IMPACTS Vehicle emissions Respiratory irritation Industrial solvents Potential carcinogens Paints, cleaning products, (e.g., benzene) VOCs n/a and aerosols Aggravates asthma Headaches and dizziness Motor vehicle emissions Headaches Combustion of fossil fuels Dizziness and Carbon (e.g., coal, natural gas) in confusion CO Monoxide household heating and Shortness of breath cooking Fatal carbon monoxide poisoning Vehicle emissions Respiratory issues Industrial and power Aggravates asthma plant emissions Increases Nitrogen NO2 Agricultural sources susceptibility to Dioxide (fertilizers) respiratory infections Long-term lung damage Burning of fossil fuels Irritates the (coal, oil) respiratory system Sulfur Industrial processes (e.g., Worsens asthma SO2 Dioxide metal smelting) Causes lung disease Contributes to acid rain Vehicle emissions Respiratory problems Industrial emissions (e.g., asthma, Photochemical reactions bronchitis) Tropospheric O3 (sunlight + NOx + VOCs) Irritation of eyes, Ozone nose, and throat Decreased lung function particles are much has a much more smaller (≤2.5 µm), severe impact allowing them to because it can Small PM PM2.5 penetrate deeper into the penetrate deep into lungs and even enter the the lungs and enter bloodstream, which makes the bloodstream, leading to chronic Page 9  them much more diseases like heart hazardous to health disease, lung cancer, primarily formed from and severe combustion processes respiratory (e.g., vehicle exhaust, conditions industrial emissions, power plants), and chemical reactions in the atmosphere Particles are larger (≤10 mainly affects the µm), and therefore, they upper respiratory are more likely to be system (nose, throat, trapped in the upper and bronchi), causing respiratory tract (nose, irritation, coughing, Large PM PM10 throat) and asthma generated from symptoms mechanical or natural sources like dust storms, vehicle emissions, and construction activities 6. Explain the difference between weak and strong sustainability. Why is it important to strive for a sustainable future? How has this course taught you ways to live more sustainably? WEAK SUSTAINABILITY STRONG SUSTAINABILITY human-made capital (e.g., certain forms of natural capital (e.g., technology, infrastructure, ecosystems, biodiversity, air, and water quality) human skills) can substitute are non-substitutable and cannot be replaced for natural capital (e.g., by human-made capital ecosystems, biodiversity, the health of the environment must be natural resources) as long as preserved to ensure the long-term well-being the overall level of capital is of society maintained or increased environment is the foundation for economic and economic growth can social stability continue, meaning that we can emphasizes preservation of natural resources trade off the depletion of and biodiversity natural resources for the no substitution between natural capital and creation of human-made other types of capital (e.g., financial, human, or capital manufactured) focus on economic growth and technological innovation e.g. If a company wanted to cut down a forest, strong sustainability would argue against e.g. If a company cuts down a deforestation if it leads to irreversible ecological forest for timber but invests in harm, even if new technological developments could renewable energy infrastructure or offset economic losses elsewhere green technology Page 9  7. Read the following silviculture scenario and respond with an appropriate management technique and a reasoning for your choice. A forest contains a mix of hardwoods and softwoods. The owner wants to maintain continuous canopy cover while selectively removing trees for timber production. The goal is to have a long- term, sustainable harvest that does not disturb the forest too much. Decision: __Single Tree Selection/Harvesting__ Reasoning: Single tree selection is a method where individual trees of various sizes and species are removed throughout the forest. This method helps maintain an uneven-aged structure, which is ideal for continuous forest cover. Since the trees are selectively removed, the forest’s canopy is not disrupted, and the overall ecological integrity of the forest is preserved. This method is well-suited for forests where maintaining habitat and minimizing disturbance are priorities. 8. Compare and contrast two different types of energy. Be sure to explore advantages and disadvantages of each. ENERGY SOURCE Answers will vary based on choices ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES 9. What are some of the health impacts of microplastics on human health? Ecosystem health? Explain. HUMAN HEALTH certain chemicals found in microplastics, such as bisphenol A (BPA), are endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with hormone systems, potentially leading to reproductive issues, developmental defects, and increased risks of conditions like obesity, diabetes, and breast cancer microplastics can carry toxic chemicals, such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals (like lead and mercury), which are harmful when ingested or absorbed inhalation of microplastics could lead to lung irritation, inflammation, and even long-term respiratory diseases. Microplastics have been found in human lung tissue, suggesting that prolonged exposure might cause chronic respiratory conditions ECOSYSTEM HEALTH Page 9  marine animals, including fish, birds, and sea turtles, often mistake microplastics for food. Ingesting these particles can lead to blockages, malnutrition, or physical harm in the digestive tract Larger marine animals, including whales and dolphins, can ingest microplastics indirectly through consuming smaller organisms in their food web that have ingested the particles (through the process of biomagnification) Sample Multiple Choice: 10. Which of the following is an example of nonpoint source pollution? a. Wastewater discharge from a factory b. Runoff from agricultural fields carrying pesticides and fertilizers c. Sewage leaks from a municipal treatment plant d. Oil spill from a ruptured pipeline 11. Which of the following types of smog is primarily caused by the reaction of sunlight with pollutants like nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? a. Industrial smog b. Photochemical smog c. Sulfurous smog d. Ground-level ozone smog 12. Which of the following is an example of a secondary pollutant? a. Carbon monoxide (CO) b. Nitric acid (HNO3) c. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) d. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) 13. Which statement regarding the natural greenhouse effect is false? a. The greenhouse effect works even on cool days b. The greenhouse effect is a heat trapping process c. The atmosphere absorbs all outgoing heat d. Temperatures would be below freezing if it weren’t for the greenhouse effect 14. Which of the following can cause the extinction of a species? a. Habitat fragmentation b. Overhunting and overfishing c. Pollution and habitat shifts d. All of the above 15. Which fossil fuel is mined through fracking? a. Coal b. Oil c. Natural Gas d. All of the above 16. This energy source is based on the movement of the atmosphere: a. Wind b. Solar c. Geothermal d. Natural gas 17. Which of the following is not a core principle of regenerative agriculture? a. Increasing soil organic matter b. Using synthetic fertilizers to boost crop yield c. Promoting biodiversity in farming systems d. Reducing tillage and soil disturbance 18. Which of the following best defines natural capital? a. The total financial value of all human-made assets b. The sum of Earth's resources, including ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources, that provide goods and services c. The human labor used to extract raw materials from the environment d. The economic value of renewable energy resources Page 9 19. Which of the following layers is typically found at the bottom of a modern landfill to prevent contamination of the surrounding environment? a. Leachate collection system b. Methane venting layer c. Clay or plastic liner d. Biodegradable waste layer Page 9