HKCEE BIOLOGY | 2.

3 Human impacts on the environment

P.1

1. 1993/II/58 Which of the following changes in the environment would promote the decomposition of leaf litter in tropical rain forest? A. Air temperature increase Humidity decrease increase increase decrease

B. increase C. decrease D. decrease

2. 1993/II/59 Question 2 and 3 refer to the diagram below which shows part of the sewage treatment plant:

The rotating sprinkler provides air to this part of the sewage treatment plant in order to A. supply oxygen to the microorganisms. B. oxidize the toxic substances in the sewage. C. break down the organic matter into simple forms. D. sterilize the liquid so that it could be used for irrigation. 3. 1993/II/60 Which of the following statements about the outgoing liquid is correct? A. It contains no bacteria B. It is suitable for drinking C. It contains no mineral salts D. It has a lower content of organic nutrients 4. 1994/II/58 Many countries do not allow the use of DDT as an insecticide because A. C. it is very harmful to plants. it can be readily excreted by insects. B. D. it cannot be decomposed by living organisms. it is no longer effective in killing insect pests.

5. 1994/II/60 Red tides are probably caused by A. high tides. C. a lack of oxygen in the water.

B. D.

an oil spill in the water. a high nitrogen content in the water.

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HKCEE BIOLOGY | 2.3 Human impacts on the environment

P.2

6. 1995/II/54 Burning of fossil fuels is blamed for the corrosion of stone buildings and damage to forests. Which of the following pollutants is the main cause of the damage ? A. carbon particles B. carbon dioxide C. sulphur dioxide D. ozone 7. 1997/II/55 Questions 7 and 8 refer to the diagram below which shows the layout of a sewage treatment plant:

What are the effects of pumping air into the aeration tank? (1) to stir up the sewage (2) to encourage bacterial growth (3) to reduce the unpleasant smell produced A. (1) and (2) only B. (1) and (3) only C. (2) and (3) only D. (1), (2) and (3)

8. 1997/II/56 The reactions in the anaerobic digester involve the action of A. fungi. B. algae. C. mosses. D. bacteria. 9. 1998/II/58 Questions 9 to 11 refer to the diagram below which sows a river and a sewage outlet :

From the sewage outlet to site P, the concentration of ammonia in water increases. Which of the following correctly describes the change in the levels of dissolved oxygen and the bacterial population in water? A. B. C. D. Level of dissolved oxygen decreases decreases increases increases Bacterial population decreases increases decreases increases

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HKCEE BIOLOGY | 2.3 Human impacts on the environment

P.3

10. 1998/II/59 The population of algae increases from P to Q because there is an increase in A. the amount of organic matter. B. the amount of suspended solids. C. the concentration of nitrates. D. the concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide. 11. 1998/II/60 Which of the following processes helps to decompose the organic matter in the sewage? A. allowing the sewage to settle B. pumping air into the sewage C. adding chlorine to the sewage D. filtering the sewage 12. 1999/II/53 If untreated sewage is discharged into a river, which of the following changes would occur in the water a short distance downstream from the site of discharge? A. B. C. D. Bacterial population increases increases decreases decreases Algal population Dissolved oxygen level increases increases decreases decreases decreases increases increases decreases

13. 1999/II/55 If the same kind of crop is grown in a field for many years, A. soil erosion will be prevented. B. the population of insect pests will increase. C. the mineral content of the soil will remain constant. D. the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide will decrease.

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HKCEE BIOLOGY | 2.3 Human impacts on the environment

P.4

14. 2000/II/47 Questions 14 and 15 refer to the graph below, which shows the monthly variations of nitrogen dioxide and respirable suspended particulates (RSP) in the atmosphere in Central and Western District of Hong Kong during the year 1997.

Which of the following statements concerning the graph may be incorrect ? A. The level of RSP in January is twice of that in March. B. C. D. The fluctuations in the levels of nitrogen dioxide and RSP follow a similar pattern. The levels of nitrogen dioxide and RSP in summer are lower than those in winter. The amounts of nitrogen dioxide and RSP released into the atmosphere are greatest in January.

15. 2000/II/48 Exhaust gas from cars is the main source of nitrogen dioxide. Which of the following is not a probable cause of the high level of nitrogen dioxide recorded in December and January ? A. The relative humidity of air is lower. B. There are more cars on the road. C. The air temperature is lower. D. There is less rainfall. 16. 2000/II/55 If fertilizers in farmlands are drained into the sea, they may A. poison the fish in the sea. B. promote the growth of algae. C. reduce the oxygen content of the seawater. D. stimulate an increase in the bacterial population. 17. 2001/II/51 In many industrial countries, a lot of trees have been killed as a result of air pollution. Which air pollutant is the major cause of death of these trees? A. ozone B. carbon dioxide C. sulphur dioxide D. carbon monoxide

18. 2001/II/58 Which of the following is not considered as a type of pollution? A. C. dumping rubbish into the harbour setting the TV to a high volume at midnight B. releasing exhaust gas from motor cars D. clearing woodland for building housing estates

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HKCEE BIOLOGY | 2.3 Human impacts on the environment

P.5

19. 2003/II/40 Scientists found that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has changed from an average of 315ppm in 1959 to 370ppm in 2000. Which of the following may be caused of this change? A. extinction of wild animals B. depletion of the ozone layer C. destruction of tropical rain forests D. increase in global air temperature 20. 2003/II/41 In the Northern Hemisphere, the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration in summer is lower than that in winter because in summer A. there are less volcanic activities. C. animals have a lower rate of respiration. B. there is a greater amount of rainfall. D. plants have a higher rate of photosynthesis.

21. 2003/II/46 Which of the following is not a harmful effect of large-scale agricultural activities on the environment? A. increase in soil temperature B. increase in pest population C. loss of natural habitats D. soil erosion 22. 2004/II/25 Which of the following farming practices would lead to a rapid growth of algae in nearby ponds? A. spraying the crops with insecticides frequently. B. growing a large number of crops within a small area. C. adding a large amount of organic matters to the farmland. D. applying a large amount of inorganic fertilizers to the farmland. 23. 2004/II/37 Aerobic bacteria are important in the process of sewage treatment because they help to A. break down the organic substances in the sewage. C. remove the excess mineral salts in sewage. B. release energy from sewage in a usable form. D. break down the detergent in the sewage.

24. 2004/II/43 Compared with growing different kinds of crops in a field, monoculture would lead to A. better adaptability of the crop. B. an increase in the pest population. C. decreased pollution of the environment. D. full utilization of different minerals in the soil.

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HKCEE BIOLOGY | 2.3 Human impacts on the environment

P.6

25. 2005/II/14 Based on the idea that global warming is caused by a steady increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, which of the following may contribute to global warming? (1) burning of coal and petroleum (2) destruction of tropical rain forest (3) depletion of ozone in the atmosphere A. (1) and (2) only B. (1) and (3) only C. (2) and (3) only D. (1),(2) and (3)

26. 2008/II/2 Which of the following is/are pollutant(s) found in exhaust fumes from vehicles? (1) carbon dioxide (2) nitrogen dioxide (3) sulphur dioxide A. (1) only B. (1) and (3) only C. (2) and (3) only D. (1),(2) and (3)

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