Answer Key — Social Studies Worksheet for 14‑Year‑Olds (Resources, Environment & Economy)

Answer Key

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions

1. D. Fuel wood
2. C. rocks
3. B. 3 quarters
4. A. Hydro- electric
5. B. 70%
6. B. rain
7. C. water-cycle
8. C. topsoil
9. A. phosphorous
10. C. lower the oxygen content of the water
11. B. vandalism
12. A. breaking the notice board
13. D. exploitation
14. C. sunshine
15. B. Exclusive Economic Zone
16. A. a timber
17. D. land pollution
18. C. educate them through education to take care of their environment
19. B. many Thousands of factories, so they produce more quantity of products
20. C. An increase in the general price of goods and services.
21. A. an economic activity
22. C. employment
23. C. growing crops to feed the family
24. D. employment
25. A. plantation production
26. B. extracting or taking raw materials from the environment
27. C. cash-crop
28. D. rural occupation
29. A. collecting nuts and making a heap
30. B. Vanuatu Commodities Marketing Board
31. B. density of population
32. C. South and East Asia
33. D. food each person eats

Section B: Short Answer Questions

Note: Student answers may vary but should reflect the core concepts below.

1. State three ways in which energy is obtained. Give an actual example of each.
   • i) Burning fossil fuels. Example: Using petrol to power a car.
   • ii) Harnessing renewable sources. Example: Using solar panels to generate electricity.
   • iii) Burning biomass. Example: Using firewood for cooking.
   (Other valid answers include: nuclear power, geothermal energy, etc.)
2. Why are petroleum and coal called non-renewable resources?
   Because they were formed over millions of years and cannot be replaced within a human lifespan once they are used up.
3. List 4 ways in which petroleum helps us in our daily lives in Vanuatu.
   1) Fuel for cars, buses, and trucks.
   2) Fuel for electricity generators.
   3) Fuel for inter-island ships and boats.
   4) Fuel for airplanes.
4. Why do you think that the world’s petroleum resources are being exploited so rapidly?
   Because of the high demand from a growing world population for transport, industry, and electricity.
5. Explain how coal is obtained.
   It is mined from the ground, either through deep underground tunnels or by removing the surface layers of earth (strip mining).
6. State the principal mineral resources for Fiji, New Caledonia and P.N.G.
   A. Fiji: Gold
   B. New Caledonia: Nickel
   C. Papua New Guinea: Copper and Gold
7. Briefly explain what is pollution?
   Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances or contaminants into the environment, causing negative effects.
8. What do we mean when we say the marine is a resource?
   It means the ocean and its contents (like fish, salt, minerals) can be used by people to meet their needs, such as for food, jobs, and transport.
9. Explain in a few words what will happen to our marine resources if we are not careful.
   They could be used up (depleted) or destroyed through overfishing and pollution, so they will not be available for future generations.
10. Give one example of a marine resource that was hunted 200 years ago and state the reason why they were being hunted.
    A. Example: Whales
    B. Reason: For their oil (used in lamps), blubber, and meat.
11. What is meant by Vanuatu’s Exclusive Economic Zone?
    It is an area of the sea up to 200 nautical miles from Vanuatu's coast where Vanuatu has special rights to explore and use marine resources, such as fishing.
12. Why is fish farming important?
    It provides a reliable source of fish for food and income, which can help reduce the pressure on wild fish populations and prevent overfishing in the ocean.
13. Briefly explain the main causes of the following types of pollution.
    A. Land pollution: Caused by improper disposal of solid waste. Example: Dumping plastic bags and household rubbish in an open area.
    B. Water pollution: Caused by waste entering bodies of water. Example: Sewage from a town flowing into a river.
    C. Air pollution: Caused by the release of harmful gases into the atmosphere. Example: Exhaust fumes from cars and buses.
14. Can pollution change water resources from being renewable to non-renewable? Explain.
    Yes. If a freshwater source like a river becomes too polluted with dangerous chemicals, it can be too difficult or impossible to clean, making it unusable forever. This is serious because all life needs clean water to survive.
15. Name five ways in which forests serve humans:
    i) Provide timber/wood, ii) Source of food (fruits, nuts), iii) Provide traditional medicines, iv) Produce oxygen, v) Prevent soil erosion.
16. Give two disadvantages of a rainforest:
    i) The dense vegetation makes travel difficult. ii) They can be home to dangerous animals or disease-carrying insects.
17. Name two ways in which humans destroy our rainforest.
    i) Logging/cutting down trees for timber. ii) Clearing land for agriculture/farming.
18. Name the four layers of the tropical rainforest:
    i) Emergent layer, ii) Canopy, iii) Understory, iv) Forest floor.
19. Give two locations of a hot desert.
    i) Sahara Desert (Africa), ii) Australian Outback.
20. Give two locations of a cold desert.
    i) Gobi Desert (Asia), ii) Antarctica.
21. Make a list of all the natural resources of Efate Island under three headings:
    A. Resources for farming: Fertile volcanic soil, rivers, rainfall, flat coastal land.
    B. Resources for tourism: Beaches, coral reefs, waterfalls, natural harbour.
    C. Resources for secondary Industry: Timber, limestone.
22. Identify the Geographical feature described below:
    a) Oasis
    b) Sami (or Saami) people
    c) Log cabin
23. Why do you think most people in the world today have to work for cash in order to satisfy their basic needs?
    Because in a modern economy, people specialize in one job and use the money they earn to buy all the different goods and services they need from others, rather than producing everything themselves.
24. List three factors for different housing around the world.
    i) Climate, ii) Available local materials, iii) Culture/tradition.
25. If you are to go and visit the moon, how would you meet your basic needs for survival?
    I would need a spacesuit and a sealed habitat to provide essential needs like breathable air (oxygen), water, and food.
26. Why do we say that the Earth is like a spaceship?
    Because it is travelling through space carrying everything we need to survive (air, water, food). Its resources are limited, and we must take care of them.
27. Describe the features of the earth.
    The Earth is a sphere that appears blue from space due to its oceans. It rotates on its axis, causing day and night, and it orbits the sun once a year. Its distance from the sun allows for temperatures that support life.
28. What is a tourist?
    A person who travels to a place outside of their usual home for leisure or business.
29. In your own words, define ‘Tourism’ and briefly describe its main economic impact on a small island nation.
    Tourism is the industry that provides services for tourists. Its main economic impact is that it brings foreign money into the country and creates many jobs for local people in hotels, tours, and restaurants.

Section C: True or False

1. F (It is an oblate spheroid, slightly flattened at the poles.)
2. F (Most of the population lives in temperate and tropical zones.)
3. F (It can buy fewer goods.)
4. F (It includes a wide range of common goods and services.)
5. T
6. F (Those are 'needs.')
7. T
8. T
9. F (The exchange rate changes regularly.)