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ENV 101 2019 Test 2 - TEST 2
Environmental Sciences (University of Pretoria)
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UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
Department of Geography, Geoinformatics & Meteorology
Special Test 2
ENV 101 Introduction to Environmental Science
Internal Examiner External Examiner
Mr MJ Loubser Dr D Darkey
TIME: 60 Min DATE: 15 April 2019 MARKS: 40
Section A
Answer all 20 questions in Section A for 20 marks by shading the correct answers on the answer
sheet provided.
1. Which of the following environmentally transmitted diseases can be spread through contaminated food?
a. Legionnaires’ disease
b. Salmonella
c. Malaria
2. Designing energy processes to make use of waste heat is an example of…
a. Energy Conservation
b. Increased Energy Efficiency
c. Cogeneration
3. Which of the following relationships regarding the carbon content of the different types of coal is correct?
a. Anthracite > Bituminous > Lignite
b. Bituminous > Anthracite > Lignite
c. Lignite > Bituminous > Anthracite
4. Which one of the following is an example of renewable non-solar energy?
a. Hydropower
b. Wind power
c. Biofuels
d. Tidal power
5. What is an example of a protozoan infection that is spread by mosquitos?
a. Anthrax
b. Salmonella
c. Cholera
d. Malaria
6. What fossil fuel occurs in the form of CH4 trapped in "cages" of frozen water?
a. Coal bed methane
b. Natural gas
c. Methane hydrates
d. Oil
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7. Which of the following is not a property of water?
a. High capacity to store and absorb heat
b. Universal solvent
c. Solid form more dense than liquid
d. Universal solvent
8. The technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using a solid semiconducter material
is an example of…
a. Solar power tower
b. Photovoltaics
c. Solar collector
d. None of the above
9. The next two questions relate to the diagram below:
The provided dose-response curve is for a theoretical micro-nutrient that is required for life in small
quantities. However, in larger quantities, it becomes toxic. What interval on this graph represents the
complete spectrum of concentrations at which the micro-nutrient will provide at least some benefit to
life?
a. A C
b. B D
c. A D
d. A F
10. What interval represents the concentration at which the micro-nutrient becomes toxic?
a. A B
b. B C
c. C D
d. D F
11. In plate tectonics, divergent plate boundaries are responsible for…
a. Production of new lithosphere
b. Destruction of new lithosphere
c. Neither of the above
d. Both of the above
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12. An underground zone of earth material from which groundwater can be obtained from a well at a useful
rate is known as …
a. An aquiclude
b. An aquitard
c. An aquifer
d. A hydrofer
13. The next two questions relate to the diagram below:
In the above diagram, a tire swing is initially held at rest at Point 1 (either of them). It is then released
and begins to swing to and fro. In this localised system, what is the energy configuration at Point 2, if we
assume that friction is not involved?
a. 100% kinetic energy / 0% potential energy
b. 100% potential energy / 0% kinetic energy
c. 50% kinetic energy / 50% potential energy
d. 100% kinetic energy / 100% potential energy
14. If there is no friction in the above system, once released the tire swing will…
a. Gradually slow to a halt
b. Continue to swing to and fro forever
c. Gradually increase in velocity until it transcribes a full circle around the branch it is tied to
d. Freeze in place at point 3
15. Agroecosystems are usually kept in the…
a. Early successional stage
b. Mid successional stage
c. Late successional stage
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16. Which of the following is not considering to be a macronutrient?
a. Oxygen
b. Phosphorous
c. Zinc
d. Nitrogen
17. A perched water table will typically sit:
a. Above the main water table
b. Below the main water table
c. Level with the main water table, but in a different location
d. Above the surface of the Earth
18. Automobile exhaust on a highway would be considered to be a:
a. Point source
b. Area source
c. Mobile source
d. Void source
19. Due to Biomagnification, heavy metal concentrations typically ………. in concentration as they move
from lower to higher trophic levels
a. Decrease
b. Increase
c. Stay the same
d. Heavy metal concentration is not related to trophic level
20. A level of toxicity in a system below which the effects are not noticeable, but above which they become
apparent, is known as:
a. An Ecological gradient
b. An acute effect
c. A chronic effect
d. A threshold
Section B
Choose 2 of the 4 questions and answer fully:
Question 1)
1) Define biogeochemical cycle (1)
2) Define macronutrient and give two examples (2)
3) Within the context of biogeochemical cycles, what is a limiting factor? (2)
4) In the case of the hydrological cycle, is the atmosphere a source or a sink? Justify your answer
by means of an example. (3)
5) Is the global hydrological system materially open or closed? Why do you say this? (2)
Question 2)
With respect to Agriculture, answer the following questions:
1) What is the definition of Physiological density? (2)
2) Consider the following scenario: A fictional country has a large city that is supported by
surrounding farmland. Its current physiological density is 20 people per square kilometre. A
large scale building development causes the city to grow into part of the area that previously
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contained cultivatable land. Does the physiological density go up or down? (1) Why? Explain
your answer in terms of production yields. (2)
3) What is the difference between undernourishment and malnourishment? (2)
4) List three ways that agroecosystems differ from natural ecosystems. (3)
Question 3)
1) What is the definition of water table? Express your answer in terms of ground water zones (2)
2) What is the difference between an influent and an effluent stream? During what time of the
year will each of these streams flow? (4)
3) Dams are designed to be multifunctional. Name two roles that a dam fulfils, as well as two
potential environmental impacts of dams. (4)
Question 4)
1) Define the following terms:
a. Point Pollution Source (2)
b. Contamination (2)
c. Hormonally Active Agent (2)
2) Consider the following dose-response curve and answer the questions that follow:
a. What is meant by TD-50? (1)
b. When 100% of the population reflected in this graph is registering an effect from a toxin,
what percentage of the population is registering that effect as toxic? (1)
c. What percentage of the population in b) is registering the effect as lethal? (1)
3) Consider the following scenario: Scientists find that contaminants are making their way into the
water source of a local community. Concerned about the community’s welfare, they take blood
samples from a number of people. To their surprise, they find that the majority of people are
not suffering from any ill effects. The scientists discover that it is because the people boil their
water before drinking it, which removes most of the contaminant. What type of tolerance is this
an example of? (1)
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