Instructions: Below are clear answers and short explanations for each question to help you study.
-
Three different ways energy is obtained (6 marks)
i. Name the way: Solar (sunlight)
Example: Sunlight collected by solar panels to make electricity or heat water.ii. Name the way: Chemical energy from fuels (fossil fuels / biomass)
Example: Coal burned in power stations to produce electricity (or wood burned for cooking).iii. Name the way: Food (chemical energy stored in organisms)
Example: People eat food (carbohydrates) which the body converts to energy for movement and growth. -
Why are petroleum and coal called non-renewable resources? (1 mark)
They are called non-renewable because they take millions of years to form from ancient plants and animals and are being used much faster than they can be replaced, so once they are gone they cannot be quickly replenished.
-
List 4 ways petroleum helps us in daily life in Vanuatu (4 marks)
- Fuel for boats, cars and transport (diesel, petrol).
- Fuel for electricity generation in some places (diesel generators).
- Cooking fuels like LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) for homes and restaurants.
- Raw material for plastics, lubricants and many household products.
-
Why are the world’s petroleum resources being exploited so rapidly? (1 mark)
Because of growing global population, rising energy demand for transport and industry, economic development, and technologies that make extraction easier and cheaper, companies and countries extract oil quickly to meet demand and earn revenue.
-
Explain how coal is obtained. (1 mark)
Coal is mined from the earth either by open-pit (surface) mining when seams are near the surface, or by underground mining when seams are deep. Miners use drilling, blasting and heavy machinery to remove the coal, which is then crushed and transported for use.
-
State the principal mineral resources (3 marks)
A. Fiji: Gold (and copper in some areas) — gold is a principal mined mineral (e.g., Vatukoula).
B. New Caledonia: Nickel — New Caledonia is well known for large nickel deposits.
C. Papua New Guinea (P.N.G.): Gold and copper — large gold and copper mines exist (e.g., Ok Tedi, Porgera).
-
What do we mean when we say the marine is a resource? (1 mark)
It means the sea and its ecosystems provide useful things for people: food (fish and shellfish), transport routes, minerals, tourism, and biodiversity we can use or benefit from.
-
What could happen to marine resources if we do not manage and protect them properly? (1 mark)
Overfishing and destructive fishing methods, pollution, and habitat destruction (like coral damage) can reduce fish stocks, cause species to decline or go extinct, damage ecosystems, and harm communities that rely on the sea for food and income.
-
Name a marine species people hunted about 200 years ago and explain why it was hunted (2 marks)
A. Example: Whales (for example sperm whales or right whales).
B. Reason: They were hunted for whale oil (used for lighting and lubrication), baleen (used in products), and meat; whale oil was especially valuable for lamps and industry before petroleum products were common.
-
Explain two reasons why aquaculture (fish farming) is important (2 marks)
i) It increases food production and helps food security by supplying more fish without relying solely on wild stocks.
ii) It reduces pressure on wild fisheries (if managed well) and provides jobs and income for coastal communities. -
Give a short definition of pollution in one or two sentences. (1 mark)
Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances or energy into the environment (air, water or land) that causes damage to ecosystems, human health, or property.
-
For each type of pollution say what mainly causes it and give one real example
A. Land pollution — Main causes: improper waste disposal, littering, landfill overflow, industrial waste and mining waste. Example: The large e-waste and dumpsite at Agbogbloshie in Accra, Ghana, where electronic waste causes soil contamination and health problems.
B. Water pollution — Main causes: sewage discharge, agricultural runoff (fertilizers and pesticides), industrial effluent and oil spills. Example: The Gulf of Mexico "dead zone" (hypoxic area) caused mainly by agricultural runoff from the Mississippi River carrying nutrients that cause algal blooms and oxygen loss.
C. Air pollution — Main causes: burning fossil fuels (vehicles, power plants), industrial emissions, and biomass burning. Example: Cities like New Delhi or Beijing often experience severe smog and unhealthy air quality due to vehicle and industrial emissions.
-
Could pollution make freshwater effectively non-renewable? Explain why this would be a major world problem. (2 marks)
Yes. If rivers, lakes and groundwater become so polluted that the water is unsafe for drinking, farming or industry, then usable freshwater becomes effectively non-renewable for people because the natural supply is ruined faster than it can be cleaned or replaced. This would cause severe health crises, food shortages, economic loss and potential conflicts over clean water.
-
Forests and people — List five benefits forests provide (5 marks)
i) Timber and wood products (building, fuel).
ii) Habitat and biodiversity (home for many species).
iii) Climate regulation and carbon storage (help reduce climate change).
iv) Water regulation and soil protection (prevent erosion, maintain watersheds).
v) Medicines, food, and cultural/recreational values (non-timber forest products and cultural services). -
Problems of rainforests — Two negative aspects or problems associated with rainforests (2 marks)
i) After clearing, soils often become poor and unsuitable for long-term farming, leading to land degradation.
ii) Rainforests can harbor disease-carrying insects (e.g., mosquitoes) and make travel and development difficult in some areas. -
How people harm rainforests — Two human activities that destroy or degrade rainforests (2 marks)
i) Slash-and-burn or clearing land for agriculture and cattle ranching.
ii) Commercial logging and mining operations that remove trees and damage habitats. -
Hot desert locations — Name two places where hot deserts occur (2 marks)
i) Sahara Desert (North Africa).
ii) Australian deserts (e.g., Great Victoria Desert or central Australian deserts). -
Cold desert locations — Name two places that are cold deserts (2 marks)
i) Antarctica (polar desert).
ii) Gobi Desert (Mongolia/China) — a cold high-latitude/continental desert.
Tip for studying: For short-answer tests, write brief facts and one-sentence explanations. If the question asks for examples, give a specific real-world place or species to show you understand.