Form 4 Biology

Chapter 9 Endangered Ecosystem

Objective Questions

1 Table 1 shows the number of bacteria, green plants, fish and the oxygen level in the river
water that flows through four cities. Which of the cities located near the river is not
polluted?
Number of
City Green plants Fish Oxygen level
bacteria
A High Some Some High
B High Some A lot High
C Low A lot Some Low
D Low A lot A lot High
Table 1

2 Figure 1 shows the change in the concentration of substances X and Y in river water that
is polluted by waste materials.

Figure 1
What are substances X and Y?
Substance X Substance Y
A Carbon dioxide Oxygen
B Carbon dioxide Nitrogenous compound
C Oxygen Nitrogenous compound
D Nitrogenous compound Carbon dioxide

3 An experiment to study the air quality in the surrounding areas is carried out. The result
is recorded in Table 2. Which area shows the best air quality?

Area A B C D
Average pH value of rainwater 2 3 5 6
Table 2

1
4 What is the main effect of an oil spill in the sea?
A Reduce the oxygen content in the seawater
B Reduce the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
C Causes the sea to be flammable
D Increases the temperature of the seawater

5 The disposal of wastes into the river causes the oxygen content in the river to decrease
because
A the number bacteria in the water increases
B the green plants die
C poisonous substances are put into the air
D aquatic animals respire

6 In the determination of the pollution level of water samples, blue methylene solution is
used. What is the conclusion that can be made if the colour of the blue methylene
solution fades?
A Oxygen is still found in the water sample
B Oxygen in the water sample has been used up
C There are no microorganisms found in the water sample
D There are some microorganisms in the water sample

7 Carbon monoxide gas is dangerous to our health because it will

A stimulate the production of excess mucus in the nasal cavity
B replace the oxygen in the erythrocyte and reduce the oxygen that is carried to the body
tissues
C decrease the effectiveness of the immune system towards bronchitis
D dissolve in the plasma to form a poisonous solution

8 A lake water sample shows a low Biochemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D) value. This
shows that
A the lake water is polluted
B the oxygen quantity that is dissolved in the lake water is high
C there is an increase in bacterial activity in the lake water
D the lake water temperature has increased

9 Table 3 shows the pollutant content in three areas, namely areas X, Y and Z.
2
 Area
Pollutant
X Y Z
2
Dust (g/m /year) 200 – 400 80 – 160 20
Sulphur dioxide
0.10 - 0.15 0.10 0.01
(ppm/volume)
Smoke (mg/ m3) 0.50 0.20 – 0.50 0.01
Table 3

The area that is not suitable to be inhabited by patients suffering from breathing
problems is area(s)
A X
B Y
C Z
D Y and Z

10 The graph in Figure 2 shows the effects of organic waster materials on the organisms in a
river.

Figure 2

Which of the following causes the number of algae to decrease from X to Y?

A The poison from the industrial waster materials kills the algae
B The high number of herbivorous organisms
C The decrease in the light intensity in the water
D Algae flows downstream of the river

11 The greenhouse effect that causes an increase in the world temperature is caused by the
increase in the level of
A floating particles in the atmosphere
B carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
C chlorofluorocarbon in the atmosphere
D carbon monoxide in the atmosphere

12 Which gas in the air causes acid rain?

3
 I Carbon monoxide
II Sulphur dioxide
III Ozone
IV Chlorofluorocarbon
A I, II and III only
B I, II and IV only
C II and IV only
D II only

13 Which of the following are the contributions of the tropical rain forests towards the
stability of the world climate?
I Plants in the forest absorb sunlight
II Rain prevents the greenhouse effect
III Forests can protect wild animals
IV Forests can prevent land slides
A I and II only
B II and IV only
C II, III and IV only
D I, II, III and IV

14 Which of the following steps below can prevent the spread of cholera?
I Avoid eating contaminated food
II Adopt a clean sanitation system
III Avoid pooled water around the house
IV Obtain antiserum injections
A I and II only
B I and IV only
C I, II and IV only
D II, III and IV only

15 Which of the following statements about endemic diseases is true?

I Occurs in a certain place
II Cannot be controlled
III Always exists
IV Spreads easily in a certain community
A I, II and III only
B I, II and IV only
C I, III and IV only
D II, III and IV only

Structured Question
4
Figure 1 shows the concentration of oxygen, number of bacteria and number of fish in a river,
in a 50 km stretch that is measured from point P to the downstream of the river.

Figure 1
(a) At what distance from P of the river does it become polluted?
(b) (i) By referring to all three graphs in Figure 1, describe the effect of the pollution.
(ii) Suggest one possible source of pollution.
(c) Even though the concentration of oxygen at 50 km from point P returns to the original
level, the number of fish is still decreased. Suggest two possible reasons that can explain
this situation.

Essay Question

(a) What is meant by Biochemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D)?

(b) Explain the effect of an increase in the biochemical oxygen demand on aquatic life,
which is caused by water pollution and fertiliser usage.
(c) Suggest how the use of modern technology can help control the environmental quality.

Answers

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Objective Questions
1 D 9 A
2 C 10 C
3 D 11 B
4 A 12 D
5 B 13 D
6 B 14 C
7 B 15 C
8 B

Structured Question
(a) 20 km
(b) (i) Pollution of the river water reduces the number of fish, decreases the concentration
of dissolved oxygen in the water and increase the number of bacteria.
(ii) Domestic waste disposal / waste materials
(c) 1 Low rate of fish reproduction
2 Lack of fish food because of dependence on producer

Essay Question
(a) The quantity of oxygen that is required by the microorganisms to decompose the
organic substances in the water.
(b) • Wastes/domestic waste material
• Decomposed by decomposing bacteria
• Increase the usage of oxygen
• Flow of hot water from the factories increase the water temperature
• Decrease the solubility of oxygen in the water
• Flow of organic fertilisers from agricultural areas
• Encourages algae growth, which prevents light from reaching the bottom of the
lake
• Decrease the rate of photosynthesis and decrease the rate of oxygen release
• Aquatic animals die as a result of a lack of oxygen
• Decomposition of dead animals (and plants) increases B.O.D.
• The effect of B.O.D. increase is the death/migration of aquatic animals

(c) 1 Replace CFC with easily biodegradable substances such as HCFC

- reduce the thinning of the ozone layer
2 Process the factory/domestic waste products/filtered chimneys
- reduces water pollution that is caused by the decomposition of organic substances
3 Prepare a special disposal area for radioactive substances / metal
- reduce environmental pollution that is caused by radioactive rays
4 Recycle substances such as glass/plastic/paper/aluminium
- maintain natural resources
5 Use electric/solar powered vehicles to reduce air pollution that is caused by
hydrocarbon gases
6 Burn garbage in incinerators to reduce soil and air pollution.
7 Change oil palm remains into biogas to maintain natural resources
8 Use biotechnology methods to clean up oil spills in order to control water pollution
9 Design houses that save energy
- reduce the usage of substances for air-conditioners
10 Cloud seeding to reduce haze resulting from forest burning