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1. 1990/I/3b
The diagram below shows the feeding relationship between certain organisms found in a woodland :


A scientist collected soil samples from three different areas in the woodland :
(A) area not sprayed with any chemicals,
(B) area sprayed with chemical X (DDT) for one year, and
(C) area sprayed with chemical Y (aldmin) for one year.
From each soil sample, the soil animals were collected and weighted. The results are summarized in the
following diagram :






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(i) Of the two chemicals X and Y, which one is more effective in eliminating the soil animals ? Give a
reason for your answer. (2 marks)
(ii) The weight of springtails in the soil collected from areas B was double that from area A. With
reference to the feeding relationships shown in the diagram in 3 (a), suggest a reason for this
increase. (3 marks)
(iii) Although only very small quantities of DDT are used to kill pests feeding on agricultural crops, a
high concentration of DDT is usually detected in the bodies of the predatory birds in the district.
Give an explanation for this. (4 marks)

2. 1991/I/5c
The bar chart below shows the amounts of some atmospheric pollutants of a city in one year :

(i) What is the total mass of pollutants from power stations in a year ? (1 mark)
(ii) Which pollutant is produced in the greatest amount in industry ? (1 mark)
(iii) Suggest the most effective way to reduce air pollution in this city. Explain your answer. (2 marks)

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(iv) State ONE harmful effect of each of the following pollutants to human health :
(1) particles
(2) carbon monoxide (2 marks)
(v) How may sulphur dioxide produced by power stations cause pollution in a nearby pond ?
(2 marks)
(vi) Suggest ONE other pollutant (not shown in the bar chart) that may be produced by a power station.
(1 mark)

3. 1992/I/4ci,ii,iii
The table below shows the mean monthly concentrations of some common air pollutants collected from
September to December, 1988 in 2 different districts, A and B, in Hong Kong :
Concentrations ( g m
-3
)
Air
pollutants
Districts
Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
A 78 84 90 108 *Respirable
suspended
particles
B 48 60 72 84
A 80 96 160 144 Sulphur
dioxide B 64 40 80 56
A 16 24 32 40 Nitrogen
dioxide B 0 0 0 0
* Respirable suspended particles refer to particles which may be breathed into the human respiratory tract.
(i) Of these 2 districts, one is Tsimshatsui and the other is Kwai Chung. Which district is Kwai Chung ?
Explain your answer. (2 marks)
(ii) Suggest two possible long-term solutions which the government should consider to reduce the air
pollution problem in district A. (2 marks)
(iii) Suggest an explanation for the changes in the concentrations of respirable suspended particles in
both districts from September to December, 1988. (2 marks)

4. 1993/I/4c
The following table shows the quantities of the major types of solid and semi-solid wastes disposed of in
Hong Kong in 1988 and their disposal methods :








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Waste type Quantity
(tones per day)
Disposal method
Domestic waste 4600 incineration (burnt to ashes); landfill
Animal waste 2000 composting (left to decay); landfill;
discharged into local water courses after
treatment
Fuel ash () 2600 deposit in lagoons ( ); brick
manufacturing
Construction
waste
6500 landfill
Asbestos ()
waste
280 landfill
(i) (1) Which of the methods listed in the table disposed of the greatest quantity of wastes?
(2) From an ecological point of view, suggest a disadvantage of this method. (2 marks)
(ii) Describe the biological process involved in the composting of animal waste. (2 marks)
(iii) When untreated animal waste is discharged into local water courses, many aquatic organisms would
die. Explain why this is so. (4 marks)
(iv) State one major source of fuel ash and suggest a possible health hazard of this waste to man.
(2 marks)

5. 1994/I/2c
The picture below shows an underground pit for collecting animal and plant waste on some Asian farms.
The temperature of the waste in the pit is usually quite high, sometimes reaching 60C or above. A gas
mixture is constantly released from the waste. Farmers use this gas as a fuel for cooking and for heating on
cold days.

(i) Explain why the waste is usually at such a high temperature. (3 marks)
(ii) Suggest a possible use of the substance collected from the pit by farmers B and C. (1 mark)

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(iii) This method of waste treatment is a means of conservation. Give two reasons to suppose this
statement. (2 marks)
(iv) Suggest two reasons to explain why this practice is not suitable for Hong Kong. (2 marks)

6. 1995/I/4c
The diagram below shows a river and the location of a pig farm :

Samples of water were collected from four sites A, B, C and D along the river. They were analyzed and the
results are shown in the bar charts below :

(i) (1) Which site has the highest bacterial population ? (1 mark)
(2) Explain why this site has such a high population of bacteria. (2 marks)
(ii) Explain the difference in the concentration of dissolved oxygen at site A and site B. (2 marks)
(iii) What change has occurred in ammonia which causes its concentration to decrease from site B to site
D ? (1 mark)
(iv) Based on your answer in (iii), suggest a possible change in the size of the algal population from site
B to site D. Explain your answer. (3 marks)
(v) If the pig farm is to remain at the present location, suggest a way to reduce the water pollution
caused by its presence. (1 mark)


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7. 1998/I/4b
In some parts of China, farmers cut and burn trees, and build terraces for farming on hill slopes as shown in
the photograph below :

(i) Explain why the removal of trees may lead to serious soil erosion. (2 marks)
(ii) A scientist suggested that the farmers should grow some leguminous plants along the edge of the
field. At the end of the year, the fruits of these plants were harvested. The leaves and roots were
ploughed into the field.
(1) State two uses of the fruits. (2 marks)
(2) Explain how the soil fertility can be increased by growing leguminous plants and returning
their leaves and roots into the field. (4 marks)
(iii) The scientist pointed out that the yield of the crop would decrease if the farmers grew the same type
of crop in the same field over the years even though they adopted the above suggestion. Give two
reasons to explain why the yield would decrease. (2 marks)

8. 1999/I/4c
Answer the questions below with reference to the following paragraphs which are extracted from a
newspaper article :










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(i) Explain why fish in fish farms are not affected by the red tides during the daytime, but many of them
die at night. (5 marks)
(ii) Large marine fish usually feed on small fish, which in turn feed on microscopic algae. Explain why
the risk of poisoning is much higher when people eat large marine fish. (4 marks)

9. 2000/I/4b
To monitor the quality of seawater in Hong Kong, water samples were taken for analysis from four different
sites A, B, C and D as shown in the map below :





When a red tide occurs, the seawater appears reddish in colour due to accumulations of
microscopic algae called dinoflagellates. Over 2000 species of dinoflagellates have been
identified worldwide and they areimportant as food for fish, shrimps and other aquatic animals.

In some instances of red tides, it is noted that fish reared in fish farms are not affected during
the daytime, but many of them die at night. However, bubbling air into the seawater can reduce
the number of deaths.

It is now known that about 20 species of dinoflagellates produce toxins. One type of these
toxins is called ciguatera toxins (), which cause poisoning when people eat large
marine fish. However, the risk of poisoning is much lower when people eat small marine fish.
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The quantities of suspended solids and bacteria in each water sample are as follows :
Site Suspended solids (mg L
1
) Bacteria (number per 100 mL)
A 8.3 105
B 6.0 1 986
C 5.5 23 140
D 2.5 15
(i) (1) Explain how the concentration of suspended solids may affect the population of producers in
seawater. (3 marks)
(2) Hence, predict which site has the largest population of producers.
(1 mark)
(ii) In Hong Kong, domestic sewage is the main source of organic pollutants in seawater.
(1) Explain how the bacterial population in seawater may be affected by the amount of organic
pollutants present. (3 marks)
(2) Deduce which site would contain the greatest amount of organic pollutants. (1 mark)
(3) Suggest one reason for the presence of a large amount of organic pollutants at this site.
(1 mark)
(iii) Certain regions of Hong Kong waters have been designated as marine parks. What is the significance
of this for conservation ? (1 mark)

10. 2001/I/1a
The diagram below shows a town and its surrounding areas :

(i) Domestic sewage produced in the town is first treated in the sewage treatment plant. The effluent
(treated sewage) is then used to irrigate the fields.
(1) During sewage treatment, air is bubbled into the sewage continuously. Explain the importance
of this step. (3 marks)
(2) Suggest two reasons why the practice of using the effluent to irrigate the fields is
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environmentally friendly. (2 marks)
(ii) If the same crop is grown in the fields year after year, the annual production of the fields will
decrease. Suggest two reasons for this. (2 marks)
(iii) Uncontrolled deforestation occurs in the mountain areas. Explain one way in which this activity may
affect the water supply to the town. (3 marks)

11. 2004/I/4b
Some industries produce mercury-containing wastes which may be discharged into the sea. The table below
shows the mercury levels in the seawater and the marine organisms around the area of discharge :
Mercury level (ppb)
Normal seawater 0.1
Seawater containing industrial wastes 2
Squid 400
Shrimp 50
Tuna fish 12 000
Microscopic algae 8
(i) With reference to the mercury level in various marine organisms, construct a probable food chain
using these organisms. (1 mark)
(ii) Explain why tuna fish contains a much higher mercury level than shrimp. (3 marks)
(iii) After consuming seafood harvested in this area for years, people may develop the symptom of shaky
hands. This is a sign of mercury poisoning. Suggest which body system is likely to have been
affected. (1 mark)
(iv) Describe how the nitrogen in the shrimp can be made available to the microscopic algae after the
death of the shrimp. (4 marks)

12. 2005/I/5
Every year, people in Hong Kong consumes a lot of big marine fish such as humphead wrasse (). This
fish takes about five years to reach maturity. Because of the strong market demand, young fish are caught
together with the mature ones, and as a result, the population of this fish has decreased greatly in the past ten
years.
(a) Overfishing humphead wrasse is against the principle of sustainable development. Why? (1 mark)
(b) Suggest two ecological consequences of the overfishing of humphead wrasse. (2 marks)
(c) Some people propose that the catching of young humphead wrasse should be prohibited. Explain why
this may help maintain the population of this fish. (3 marks)





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13. 2006/I/6
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:

(a) Explain how over-consumption of fossil fuels and deforestation together contribute to global warming.
(5 marks)
(b) Explain briefly how deforestation cause serious flooding. (3 marks)
(c) Why are fossil fuels considered to be a non-renewable energy source? (1 mark)
(d) In order to tackle the problem of global warming and to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, some
people suggest using renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels. Suggest one of these renewable
energy sources and discuss whether it can be used as the main energy supply in Hong Kong.
(2 marks)

According to some research, scientist expect the problem of global warming to
worsen in coming years. They believe that by the end of this century, the average
atmospheric temperature will be increased by 1.4C to 5.8C. The main cause of
this phenomenon are believed to be over-consumption of fossil fuels and
deforestation. Besides global warming, deforestation in areas near a river may
lead to serious flooding and other ecological consequences.
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