BECE - Basic Education Certificate Examination The Environment and Sustainability Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A factory near a village has been dumping its untreated chemical waste directly into a nearby river. What is the MOST likely immediate consequence of this action?
- The soil along the river banks will become more fertile.
- The population of fish and other aquatic life in the river will die. (Correct answer)
- The villagers will have more clean water for domestic use.
- The air quality around the factory will significantly improve.
Correct answer: The population of fish and other aquatic life in the river will die.
Untreated chemical waste is a major form of water pollution. These chemicals are often toxic and consume the oxygen in the water, leading to the death of fish, plants, and other organisms that live in the river, thereby destroying the aquatic ecosystem.
Question 2: The '3Rs'—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle—are important principles for managing waste. Which of the following actions is the best example of 'Reduce'?
- Using an old car tyre as a garden planter.
- Collecting plastic bottles to be sent to a factory to make new items.
- Carrying a personal shopping bag to the market. (Correct answer)
- Mending a torn school uniform so it can be worn again.
Correct answer: Carrying a personal shopping bag to the market.
The principle of 'Reduce' focuses on decreasing the amount of waste generated in the first place. By carrying a personal shopping bag, one avoids taking new plastic bags from the seller, thus reducing the amount of plastic waste that will need to be managed later. Using an old tyre is 'Reuse', collecting bottles for new products is 'Recycle', and mending a uniform is also a form of 'Reuse'.
Question 3: A community located at the foot of a hill has recently started experiencing frequent, severe flooding and soil erosion during the rainy season. Which human activity is the most probable cause of this problem?
- Establishing a community fish pond.
- Building a new school in the village centre.
- Extensive cutting down of trees on the hillside for firewood and charcoal. (Correct answer)
- Starting a backyard gardening project.
Correct answer: Extensive cutting down of trees on the hillside for firewood and charcoal.
This activity is an example of deforestation. The roots of trees and other vegetation hold the soil together and help absorb rainwater. When trees are cut down, especially on a slope, the soil becomes loose and is easily washed away by rain (erosion). The increased water runoff, no longer slowed by the forest, rushes down the hill, causing floods in the community below.
Question 4: All of the following are renewable resources EXCEPT
- sunlight
- crude oil (Correct answer)
- trees
- water
Correct answer: crude oil
Crude oil is a fossil fuel, which is a non-renewable resource. It was formed from the remains of ancient organisms over millions of years and cannot be replaced within a human lifespan. Sunlight, trees (which can be replanted), and water (which is replenished through the water cycle) are all considered renewable resources.
Question 5: Improper disposal of human waste and household refuse in a community can block drains and contaminate water sources. This situation is most likely to lead to an outbreak of which disease?
- Malaria
- Tuberculosis
- Cholera (Correct answer)
- HIV/AIDS
Correct answer: Cholera
Cholera is a waterborne disease caused by bacteria that thrives in conditions of poor sanitation. It spreads rapidly when people consume food or water contaminated with faecal matter. Malaria is spread by mosquitoes, Tuberculosis is airborne, and HIV/AIDS is spread through bodily fluids.
Question 6: To combat the negative effects of deforestation, a community group decides to plant new trees in an area where the forest was recently cleared for farming. This practice is correctly known as
- reforestation (Correct answer)
- land reclamation
- irrigation
- desertification
Correct answer: reforestation
Reforestation is the specific term for the process of replanting trees in an area that was previously a forest but has been cleared. It is a direct measure to counteract deforestation, restore ecosystems, and prevent soil erosion. Desertification is the process of land becoming a desert, and irrigation is the supply of water to land.
BECE - Basic Education Certificate Examination The Environment and Sustainability Questions and Answers 1
A factory near a village has been dumping its untreated chemical waste directly into a nearby river.
What is the MOST likely immediate consequence of this action?