R.M.

D ENGINEERING COLLEGE
RSM NAGAR, KAVARAPETTAI-601208
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MODEL EXAMINATION KEY
1. Define food web
A food web (or food cycle) is the natural interconnection of food chains and generally a
graphical representation (usually an image) of what-eats-what in an ecological community.

2. List some hotspots of biodiversity in India

A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of
biodiversity that is under threat from humans. A hotspot is an area which faces serious threat
from human activities and supports a unique biodiversity (endemic, threatened, rare species) with
representatives of evolutionary of speciation and extinction
India has two biodiversity hot spots, namely:
Himalaya (Eastern Himalayas)
The Western Ghat
3. Define ecological succession
Ecological succession is the gradual process by which ecosystems change and develop
over time. Nothing remains the same and habitats are constantly changing.
There are two main types of succession, primary and secondary.
Primary succession is the series of community changes which occur on an entirely new
habitat which has never been colonized before. For example, a newly quarried rock face or sand
dunes.
Secondary succession is the series of community changes which take place on a
previously colonized, but disturbed or damaged habitat.
4. Name any four air pollutants and their impacts

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Fuel combustion from vehicles and engines.
Reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the bodys organs and tissues; aggravates heart
disease, resulting in chest pain and other symptoms
Lead (Pb)
Smelters (metal refineries) and other metal industries; combustion of leaded gasoline in piston
engine aircraft; waste incinerators (waste burners), and battery manufacturing.
Damages the developing nervous system, resulting in IQ loss and impacts on learning, memory,
and behavior in children. Cardiovascular and renal effects in adults and early effects related to
anaemia
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Fuel combustion (electric utilities, big industrial boilers, vehicles) and wood burning.
Worsens lung diseases leading to respiratory symptoms, increased susceptibility to respiratory
infection.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
SO2 comes from fuel combustion (especially high-sulfur coal); electric utilities and industrial
processes as well as natural occurances like volcanoes.
Aggravates asthma and makes breathing difficult. It also contributes to particle formation with
associated health effects.
5. What is smog? Give the types and effect of smog?
"Smog" is a term originally formed by the combination of of the words "smoke" and
"fog."

Name:

London smog
(New York smog, gray smog)

Photochemical smog
(L.A. smog, Denver smog, brown
smog)

Weather: cool, damp

sunny

Content:

particulates, sulfur oxides

NOx, ozone, hydrocarbons.

Sources:

coal, etc.

gasoline, combustion.

6. What are renewable and non renewable energy resources?

Renewable: biomass and bio-fuel from trees, plants, manure and landfill gas
Non-renewable: coal, oil, natural gas, uranium
Renewable resources can be used and replaced. They include plants and animals, which
reproduce and so replace themselves. Most renewable resources cannot be stored for future use.
For example, old trees must be cut down, or they will rot and become useless for timber.
Non-renewable resources, such as coal, iron, and petroleum, cannot be replaced. These
resources take thousands or millions of years to form. Their supplies are being depleted faster
than new supplies can form. Most non-renewable resources can be stored for future use. Minerals
are sometimes left in the ground to save them for the future. Little interaction occurs among most
non-renewable resources, and so the use of one non-renewable resource has little effect on
another.
7. Define overgrazing? What are the effects of overgrazing?
Overgrazing can be defined as the practice of grazing too many livestock for too long a
period on land unable to recover its vegetation.

8. Define eutrophication?
Eutrophication - The process by which a body of water acquires a high concentration of
nutrients, especially phosphates and nitrates. These typically promote excessive growth of algae.
As the algae die and decompose, high levels of organic matter and the decomposing organisms
deplete the water of available oxygen, causing the death of other organisms, such as fish.
9. What is NIMBY syndrome
NIMBY (an acronym for the phrase "Not In My Back Yard"), or Nimby, is a
characterization of opposition by residents to a proposal for a new development because it is
close to them, often with the intention that such residents believe that the developments are
needed in society but should be further away.
10. Define population momentum?

Population Momentum The tendency for population growth to continue beyond the
time that replacement-level fertility has been achieved because of the relatively high
concentration of people in the childbearing years

1.

Part B (5*16=80 Marks)

(i) What are the different type of ecosystems
Explain their structure and function?
Types of ecosytem

(16)

(a) forest ecosystem

(3)

(b) grassland ecosystem

(3)

(c) desert ecosystem

(2)

(d) aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries)

(8)

(OR)
Explain various threats to biodiversity along with means to conserve them? (16)
Threats to biodiversity
(8)
(i)
Loss of Habitat / Habitat Destruction
(ii)
Poaching
(iii)
Man-Wildlife conflict
(iv)
Conservation of biodiversity
(8)
Biodiversity conservation

In-Situ Conservation
(within habitat)

Ex-Situ Conservation
(outside habitat)

Biosphere Reserves

Seed Bank

National park

Zoo

Wild Life Sanctuary

Botanical Garden

2. (i) Draw the flow chart for solid waste management and give the sources of it. (16)
Flow chart

(4)

Sources of solid waste

(4)

Source
Typical waste generators
Residential Single and multifamily dwellings
Light and heavy manufacturing, fabrication, construction sites, power and chemical
Industrial
plants.
Commercial Stores, hotels, restaurants, markets, office buildings, etc.
(ii) What is thermal pollution and explain its effects.
(8)
Thermal pollution is the degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient
water temperature.
(2)
Causes
(4)
A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and
industrial manufacturers. When water used as a coolant is returned to the natural environment at
a higher temperature, the change in temperature decreases oxygen supply and affects ecosystem
composition.
Urban runoffstormwater discharged to surface waters from roads and parking lotscan also be
a source of elevated water temperatures.
Effects
(4)

(OR)
(i)Discuss the water quality parameters and water treatment process in detail (10)
BOD
(2)
COD
(2)
pH
(2)
Alkalinity
(2)
Acidity
(2)
(ii) Discuss the role of individual in preventing the pollution.
(6)
The role of an individual in maintaining a pollution free, pure and congenial environment
and in preserving its resources is actually the need of the hour.
(6)
3. (i) What are the causes of soil erosion? Explain in detail.
(8)
Soil erosion definition

(2)

Causes of soil erosion

(6)

(ii) Discuss the consequences of overutilization of surface and Ground water (8)
Decrease of Ground water
(2)
Ground subsidence
(3)
Lowering of water table
(3)

(OR)
(i) Discuss briefly the ill-effects of deforestation.
(8)
Deforestation means destruction or removal of forests due to natural or man-made
activities.
(2)
Causes of Deforestation
(6)
(ii) What are the effects of modern Agriculture?
(8)
Micronutrient imbalance
(2)
Blue Baby syndrome
(2)
Eutrophication
(2)
Bio-magnification
(2)
4. i)Explain Nuclear accidents and Nuclear holocaust with case studies
(8)
Nuclear accidents definition(2 marks)
Case studies

(6 marks)

ii) What are the important features of forest conservation act and environmental
protection act
Forest conservation act objectives and needs(3 marks)
environmental protection act objectives and needs (3 marks)
(6)

(OR)
(i) Give the principles of Green chemistry.
Twelve principles of green chemistry (8)
(ii) How is environment protected through Legislation? Explain
Need for Environmental Legislation
(4 marks)
Central and state pollution control Board
(4 marks)
5. (i) Explain the value of education.

(8)
(8)

(8)

Value education is learning about the particular thing through knowledge. We can identify
our values and ourselves with the help of knowledge and experience (2 marks)
Types and objectives

(3 marks)

Methods

(3 marks)

(ii) Explain briefly on Human rights

Human rights types
(3 marks)
Explanation
( 5 marks)

(8)

(OR)
(i)What is HIV, its causes and explain the mode of transmission of HIV? (8)
HIV definition
(2 marks)
Mode of transmission
(6 marks)
(ii)Explain the role of IT in environment and human health with case studies.
Role of IT in environment and human health( 4 marks)
Case study
(4 marks)

(8)