2190 2015 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION Earth and Environmental Science General Instructions • Reading time – 5 minutes • Working time – 3 hours • Write using black pen • Draw diagrams using pencil • Board-approved calculators may be used • A Geological Time Scale is provided at the back of this paper • Write your Centre Number and Student Number at the top of pages 13, 17, 19, 21 and 23 Total marks – 100 Section I Pages 2–25 75 marks This section has two parts, Part A and Part B Part A – 20 marks • Attempt Questions 1–20 • Allow about 35 minutes for this part Part B – 55 marks • Attempt Questions 21–30 • Allow about 1 hour and 40 minutes for this part Section II Pages 27–37 25 marks • Attempt ONE question from Questions 31–34 • Allow about 45 minutes for this section
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
2190
2015 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
Earth and Environmental Science
General Instructions
•Readingtime–5minutes
•Workingtime–3hours
•Writeusingblackpen
•Drawdiagramsusingpencil
•Board-approvedcalculatorsmaybeused
•AGeologicalTimeScaleisprovidedatthebackofthispaper
•WriteyourCentreNumberandStudentNumberatthetopofpages13,17,19,21and23
Total marks – 100
Section I Pages2–25
75 marks
Thissectionhastwoparts,PartAandPartB
PartA–20marks
•AttemptQuestions1–20
•Allowabout35minutesforthispart
PartB–55marks
•AttemptQuestions21–30
•Allowabout1hourand40minutesforthispart
Section II Pages27–37
25 marks
•AttemptONEquestionfromQuestions31–34
•Allowabout45minutesforthissection
–2–
Section I75 marks
Part A – 20 marksAttempt Questions 1–20Allow about 35 minutes for this part
Usethemultiple-choiceanswersheetforQuestions1–20.
1 Thediagramshowsaplateboundary.
Whichrowinthetablecorrectlydescribesthisboundary?
Type of plate boundary Rock type in the crust
(A) Convergent Granite
(B) Divergent Basalt
(C) Convergent Basalt
(D) Divergent Granite
2 WhichEonlastedforthelongesttime?
(A) Hadean
(B) Archaean
(C) Proterozoic
(D) Phanerozoic
3 Which of the following CANNOT be used as direct evidence for the evolution ofvertebrates?
(A) Fossils
(B) Embryology
(C) Carbondating
(D) Cellularstructures
–3–
4 Whatisthemainlong-termcauseoflowfertilityinsoilsacrossmostoftheAustraliancontinent?
(A) Lowrainfall
(B) Tectonicstability
(C) Extensiveerosion
(D) Hightemperatures
5 WhereisadeepfocusearthquakemostlikelytooccurontheAustralian–IndianPlate?
(A) AtthecentreoftheSydneyBasin
(B) AtthecontinentalmargineastofNewSouthWales
(C) Atthesubductionzonealongthenorthernplateboundary
(D) Atthemid-oceanicridgealongthesouthernplateboundary
6 Whichofthefollowingeventsismostlikelytocauseatsunami?
(A) AvolcaniceruptioninHawaiiproducingalavaflow
(B) AnexplosivevolcaniceruptioncausinganearthquakeincentralAustralia
(C) An outpouring of magma at the southern edge of the Australian–Indian Plateboundary
(D) AshallowfocusearthquakealongthenorthernedgeoftheAustralian–IndianPlateboundary
7 Whichrowofthetableshowsbothahuman-inducedandanaturalcauseofacidrain?
Human-induced cause Natural cause
(A) Agriculturalactivity Increasedtemperatures
(B) Industrialisation Tropicalstorms
(C) Caremissions Volcanicactivity
(D) Minewaste Weathering
–4–
8 Duringthelast200years,therehasbeenanincreaseintheareaofhighsalinitysoilsinAustralia.
Whichofthefollowingprocesseshascontributedmosttothisincrease?
(A) Useoffertilisers
(B) Irrigationofcrops
(C) Evaporationofinlandseas
(D) Transportationofoceansaltbywind
9 Theimagesshowfourdifferenttypesoffossilisation.
Image1
Image2
Image3 Image4
Whichrowofthetablematcheseachfossilimagewithitscorrecttypeoffossilisation?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4
Originalhardparts Internalmould Cast Originalorganism
Cast Internalmould Originalorganism Originalhardparts
Originalhardparts Cast Internalmould Originalorganism
Cast Originalhardparts Originalorganism Internalmould
–5–
10 Whatwas themain reason forphasingouthalides, includingCFCs, thatwerewidelyusedinaerosolsandrefrigerants?
(A) Theywerealimitedindustrialresource.
(B) Theywerereplacedbymoremoderntechnology.
(C) TheywereacontributortogreenhousegasesinEarth’satmosphere.
(D) TheywereacauseofthedepletionoftheozonelayerinEarth’satmosphere.
11 Which of the following occurred at the boundary between the Permian and TriassicPeriods?
(A) Theevolutionofmammals
(B) Theevolutionofhardbodyparts
(C) Theextinctionof95%ofknownspeciesincludingthetrilobites
(D) Theextinctionof75%ofknownspeciesincludingthedinosaurs
12 Thediagramshowsfourstratigraphiccolumns.
Whichofthecolumnsinthediagramcontainstheyoungestfossils?
(A) ColumnA
(B) ColumnB
(C) ColumnC
(D) ColumnD
Awaiting copyright
– 6–
13 Which example of climate change could be caused by a major explosive volcaniceruption?
(A) Small increases in global temperatures for up to three years caused by carbondioxideemissions
(B) Smalldecreasesinlocaltemperaturesforuptoamonthcausedbyhotgascloudsreflectingradiationfromthesun
(C) Small increases in local temperatures for up to a month caused by lava flowsheatingtheatmospherenearthevolcano
(D) Small decreases in global temperatures for up to three years caused by sulfurdioxideaerosolsreflectingradiationfromthesun
14 TheimageshowsawheatgrowingregionofWesternAustraliawherealanduseproblemisbeingaddressed.
With kind permission of Mr David McFall
Whichproblemisbeingaddressed?
(A) Salinity
(B) Drought
(C) Pestinfestation
(D) Soilcompaction
15 Whichofthefollowingrocksaretheoldest?
(A) GneissesoftheGawlerCratoninSouthAustralia
(B) BasaltsoftheOlderVolcanicsincentralVictoria
(C) LimestonesoftheCanningBasininWesternAustralia
(D) QuartzitesoftheLachlanFoldBeltinNewSouthWales
–7–
16 ThegraphshowsAustralia’scarbondioxideemissionsbythetypeofindustry.
Using the information in the graph, which statement is true if each industry reducesemissionsby5%?
(A) CO2emissionswouldbethesameforallindustries.
(B) CO2emissionswouldbelessfortransportthanforagriculture.
(C) CO2emissionswouldbegreaterforindustrialprocessesthanforwaste.
(D) CO2 emissions for power stationswouldbe less than the combined total for allotherindustries.
17
DDTwasawidely-usedchemicaltocontrolinsectpestsinagriculture.
WhydidtheuseofDDTcauseproblemsforpredatorybirds?
(A) DDTiscumulativealongfoodchains.
(B) DDTdisperseswidelywhensprayedintotheair.
(C) DDTaccumulatesinthesoilwhensprayedoncrops.
(D) DDTiswashedintostreamsandriversafterheavyrain.
Awaiting copyright
Awaiting copyright
–8–
18 Thediagrams show thedirectionsof somemantle currents andplatemovements in asectionofEarth’scrust.
Whichdiagramiscorrect?
(A)
(C)
Sea level
(D)
Sea levelSea level
(B)
Sea level
19 Photosyntheticcyanobacteriawerethedominantlifeform3200millionyearsago.
Whatwasthemainconsequenceofphotosynthesisatthattime?
(A) Theproductionofcarbondioxideledtoanincreaseindissolvedcarbonatesintheocean.
(B) Theproductionofoxygenledtoanincreaseinbandedironformations.
(C) The production of oxygen led to an increase in atmospheric oxygen and theformationoftheozonelayer.
(D) Theproductionofcarbondioxideledtoanincreaseinatmosphericcarbondioxideandhigherglobaltemperatures.
–9–
20 ThegraphsshowthechangesinfourmeasurablepropertiesoftheMtStHelensvolcanotwomonthspriorto,andjustafter,aneruptionon19March1982.
Basedonthedata,whichmeasurablepropertywasthebestpredictoroftheeruption?
(A) Seismicenergyrelease
(B) Domeexpansion
(C) Changeintilt
(D) Sulfurdioxideemission
Awaiting copyright
BLANK PAGE
–10–
BLANK PAGE
–11–
BLANK PAGE
© 2015 Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW
–12–
–13–
CentreNumber
StudentNumber
2191
2015 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
Earth and Environmental Science
Section I (continued)
Part B – 55 marksAttempt Questions 21–30Allow about 1 hour and 40 minutes for this part
Answerthequestionsinthespacesprovided.Thesespacesprovideguidancefortheexpectedlengthofresponse.
Question 21 (4marks)
(a)
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
OutlineONEfeatureofaconservativeplateboundary.
1
(b) DescribeTWOfeaturesofanoceaniclithosphericplate.
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
3
– 14–
Question 22 (8marks)
ThephotographshowsMtMayon in thePhilippine Islandsand themapshows thelocationofMtMayon.
Philippine Plate
Australian–Indian Plate
Pacific Plate
Eurasian Plate
India
China
Indonesia
Philippine Islands
Plate boundary
KEY
Destructiveplate margin
Mt Mayon
Mt Mayon
Australia
(a) DescribeONEadvantageandONEdisadvantageoflivingnexttoamountainsuchasMtMayon.
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
3
Question 22 continues on page 15
© Tomas Tam
–15–
Question22(continued)
(b) ExplainwhythePhilippineIslandsandAustraliaexperiencedifferenttypesoftectonicactivity.
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
5
End of Question 22
BLANK PAGE
© 2015 Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW
–16–
–17–
CentreNumber
StudentNumber
2192
Section I – Part B (continued)
Question 23 (4marks)
Drawalabelleddiagramtoshowhowariftvalleyisformed. 4
2015 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
Earth and Environmental Science
–18–
Question 24 (4marks)
(a) Outlinethestepsintheformationofozoneinthestratosphere.
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
2
(b) WhyistheozonelayerimportanttolifeonEarth? 2
©2015BoardofStudies,TeachingandEducationalStandardsNSW
– 19–
CentreNumber
StudentNumber
2193
Section I – Part B (continued)
Question 25 (4marks)
ThegraphshowstherelationshipbetweenthebodymassandthenumberofspeciesofagroupofNewGuineamarsupialsthathasexistedoverthepasttwomillionyears.
0.010
5
10
15
0.1 1
Individual body mass (kg)
Body mass and species ofmarsupials in New Guinea
Num
ber
of m
arsu
pial
sp
ecie
s
10 100 1000
20
Extinct species
Living species
Chris Johnson, Australia’s Mammal Extinctions, Cambridge University Press, 2007
Usingdatafromthegraph,proposepossiblereasonsforthisrelationship.
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
4
2015 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
Earth and Environmental Science
–20–
Question 26 (8marks)
(a) It has been suggested that the evolution of eyes in animals was a majordevelopmentduringtheCambrianevent.
How could the development of eyes have given animals an evolutionaryadvantage?
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
3
(b) Since the Cambrian Period, mosses, ferns, conifers and angiosperms haveevolved.
(i) IdentifyONEadvantagetheterrestrialenvironmentofferedthefirstlandplants.
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
1
(ii) Using examples, explain how plants had to change to overcomeenvironmental difficulties as they moved from aquatic to terrestrialhabitats.
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
4
©2015BoardofStudies,TeachingandEducationalStandardsNSW
–21–
CentreNumber
StudentNumber
2194
Question 27 (4marks)
(a) Name a pest and outline a management practice for this pest that does notinvolvetheuseofpesticides.
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
2
(b) Whatarethebenefitsofusingthemanagementpracticeidentifiedinpart(a)?
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
2
2015 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
Earth and Environmental Science
Section I – Part B (continued)
–22–
Question 28 (4marks)
Writeanexperimentalmethod thatcouldbeused to investigateONEeffectofsoilcompaction.
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
4
©2015BoardofStudies,TeachingandEducationalStandardsNSW
–23–
CentreNumber
StudentNumber
2195
Question 29 (8marks)
(a) Describe thegeological features that shouldbe consideredwhen selectinganareasuitableforawastedump.
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
3
(b) Assesstheenvironmentaleffectivenessofcurrentlandfillpractices.
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
5
2015 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
Earth and Environmental Science
Section I – Part B (continued)
–24–
Question 30 (7marks)
Thegraphshowsobservedandmodelledaverageglobaltemperaturesfrom1900to2010.
7
‘Advances in our knowledge of natural and human-induced influenceson global temperatures, which impact on global climate, have beenusedtodevelopstrategies toprevent thetrendshownin thisgraphfromcontinuing.’
Evaluatethisstatementusingdatafromthegraphtosupportyouranswer.
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
Question 30 continues on page 25
Awaiting copyright
–25–
Question30(continued)
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
End of Question 30
BLANK PAGE
© 2015 Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW
–26–
–27–2196
2015 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
Earth and Environmental Science
Section II
25 marksAttempt ONE question from Questions 31–34Allow about 45 minutes for this section
Answerparts(a)–(c)ofthequestioninSectionIIAnswerBooklet1.Answerparts(d)–(e)ofthequestioninSectionIIAnswerBooklet2.Extrawritingbookletsareavailable.
Pages
Question31 IntroducedSpeciesandtheAustralianEnvironment.............28–29
Question32 OrganicGeology–aNon-renewableResource....................30–32
Question33 MiningandtheAustralianEnvironment...............................33–35
Question34 Oceanography........................................................................36–37
–28–
Question 31 — Introduced Species and the Australian Environment (25marks)
Answerparts(a)–(c)inSectionIIAnswerBooklet1.
(a) (i) Outline a reason for ONE animal being deliberately introduced toAustralia.
1
(ii) Propose reasons to explain why rats became a successful pest onMacquarieIsland,oneofAustralia’ssub-Antarcticterritories.
3
(b) ExplainhowanamedintroducedplantandanamedintroducedanimalalteredtheabioticcharacteristicsoftheirAustralianenvironment.
4
(c) (i) WhyarequarantineproceduressoimportantinAustralia? 2
(ii) Assess the effectiveness of TWO quarantine procedures used atAustralianairports.
3
Question 31 continues on page 29
–29–
Question31(continued)
Answerparts(d)–(e)inSectionIIAnswerBooklet2.
(d) Thegraphshowstheeffectofabiologicalcontrolagentonaweedgrowinginacrop.
(i) Describe the relationshipbetween theweedand thebiological controlagent.
2
(ii) Withreferencetothegraph,assesswhetherthisbiologicalcontrolagentwassuccessful.
4
Scienceisprovidingknowledgeaboutmanagementstrategiestominimisetheimpactofintroducedspecies.
Assess how effectively this knowledge is being used to ensure a sustainablefutureforAustralianecosystems.Includeexamplesinyouranswer.
(e) 6
End of Question 31
Awaiting copyright
–30–
Question 32 — Organic Geology – a Non-renewable Resource (25marks)
Answerparts(a)–(c)inSectionIIAnswerBooklet1.
(a) (i) Howdoestheproportionofcarbonincoalchangeastherankincreases? 1
(ii) Explain why organic matter has been converted mostly to oil in BassStrait,butmostlytogasintheNorthWestShelfofWesternAustralia.
3
(b) Describethesimilaritiesanddifferencesinthegeologyofcoalandoildeposits. 4
(c) (i) Describe how a named technology can be used in the exploration forcoal.
2
(ii) Beforecoalisused,itisprocessedasshownintheflowchart.
3
crushed screened washed
Explainwhyeachoftheseprocessesisused.
Question 32 continues on page 31
–31–
Question32(continued)
Answerparts(d)–(e)inSectionIIAnswerBooklet2.
(d) (i) The graph shows the predicted and actual power outputs of a windturbineover24hours.
2
Describetherelationshipbetweenthepredictedandactualpoweroutputs.
Question 32 continues on page 32
Awaiting copyright
– 32–
Question32(continued)
(ii) Thegraphshowstheemissionsfromaninternalcombustionengine. 4
1:0.8 1:0.9 1:1.0 1:1.1 1:1.2
Air-fuel ratio
Incr
ease
Nitrogen oxides
Carbon monoxide
Particulates
KEY
AccountforeachoftheTHREEemissioncurves.
(e) ScienceisprovidingknowledgeaboutAustralia’srenewableandnon-renewableenergyresources.
Assess how effectively this knowledge is being used to ensure a sustainablefutureforAustralia’senergyneeds.Includeexamplesinyouranswer.
6
End of Question 32
Reproduced by permission of the Department of the Environment
–33–
Question 33 — Mining and the Australian Environment (25marks)
Answerparts(a)–(c)inSectionIIAnswerBooklet1.
(a) (i) NameONEAustralianmineralprovincewhereasedimentarymetallicoreismined.
1
(ii) ExplainhowONEnamedlandmarkdecisionhasaffectedtheoperationsofminingcompaniesinAustralia.
3
(b) Explain why an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the rehabilitationofaminesitehastotakeintoaccountboththeminingmethodsusedandthefeaturesofthespecificsite.
4
(c) (i) OutlinehowTWOnon-geologicalfactorsmayinfluencetheeconomicviabilityofanorebody.
2
(ii) Explain the influence that TWO geological factors may have on theeconomicvalueofamineraldeposit.
3
Question 33 continues on page 34
–34–
Question33(continued)
Answerparts(d)–(e)inSectionIIAnswerBooklet2.
(d) Thephotographshowsanabandonedgold-coppermineandthegraphgivestheassayresultsforadrillholeatLocationXonthephotograph.
20 10 0 5 10 0 5 10 15 200
100
140
160
120
Gold (g/tonne) Copper (%) Total sulfides (%)
Dep
th (
m)
Question 33 continues on page 35
Awaiting copyright
–35–
Question33(continued)
(i) Describetherelationshipbetweentotalsulfidesandthegradesforbothgoldandcopper.
2
(ii) Recommend an exploration program that includes both drilling ANDone other exploration method that could determine whether there is aviableorebodybelowLocationX.
4
(e) ScienceisprovidingknowledgeaboutAustralia’srenewableandnon-renewablemineralresources.
Assess how effectively this knowledge is being used to ensure a sustainablefutureforAustralianmineralresources.Includeexamplesinyouranswer.
6
End of Question 33
–36–
Question 34 — Oceanography (25marks)
Answerparts(a)–(c)inSectionIIAnswerBooklet1.
(a) (i) Lightavailabilityisonephysicalfeatureofoceans.IdentifyTWOotherphysicalfeatures.
1
(ii) ExplainhowlightavailabilityvarieswithinEarth’soceans. 3
(b) Describetheadaptationsthatorganismshaveevolvedinresponsetotheabioticconditionsarounddeepseahydrothermalvents.
4
(c) (i) Describeaprocessthatrenewstheoxygensupplyontheoceanfloor.
2
(ii) Drawaflowchartorlabelleddiagramshowingthemovementofcarbonandoxygenbetweentheoceansandtheatmosphere.
3
Question 34 continues on page 37
– 37–
Question34(continued)
Answerparts(d)–(e)inSectionIIAnswerBooklet2.
(d) Themapshowsthevariationinsedimentthicknessintheoceans.
Sediment thickness in metres
5000–100001000–5000250–100050–2500–50
XX YY
North PacificOcean
South PacificOcean
(i) IdentifyatypicalsedimentyouwouldexpecttofindateachofthelocationsXandY.
2
(ii) Usethemaptoaccountfor thevariations insediment thickness in thePacificOcean.
4
(e) Science is providing knowledge about the nature of the oceans and theirresources.
66
Assess how effectively this knowledge is being used to ensure a sustainablefuturefortheoceans.Includeexamplesinyouranswer.
End of paper
© Dr Joanne Whittaker
–38–©2015BoardofStudies,TeachingandEducationalStandardsNSW
Geological Time Scale
0
2
5
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
100
200
300
400
500
600
1000
2000
3000
4000 Hadean
Archaean
EON ERA
Oligocene
Eocene
Pliocene
Pleistocene
EPOCH
Quaternary
PERIOD
Tertiary
Cretaceous
Permian
Jurassic
Triassic
DevonianSilurian
Ordovician
Cambrian
Ediacaran
Carboniferous
Miocene
Palaeocene
Prot
eroz
oic
Phan
eroz
oic
Cen
ozoi
cPa
laeo
zoic
Mes
ozoi
c
Ma
BP
Holocene
Related Documents
