Practice 5.2 Agriculture and food with authentic IB Environmental systems and societies (ESS) exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2 structure, covering key topics like ecosystems, human impact, and sustainability. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.
Paper
Level
Question 1
SL & HLPaper 2
1.[4]
Describe two methods for improving water use efficiency in agriculture.
Question 2
HLPaper 2
1.[6]
Discuss the benefits of mixed land use in urban planning.
Question 3
SL & HLPaper 2
The command term ""explain"" means students must give a detailed account including reasons or causes. Students need to define a dynamic ecosystem and provide a detailed account of how organisms in the soil influence the abiotic factors and interact with each other.
1.[7]
Explain why soil can be considered a dynamic ecosystem.
Question 4
SL & HLPaper 1
1.[4]
Describe two ways in which agroforestry can contribute to sustainable land use.
Question 5
SL & HLPaper 1
Analyze the following graph showing the relationship between meat consumption and GDP per capita:
1.[2]
Describe the trend shown in the graph.
2.[2]
Explain one environmental implication of this trend.
Question 6
SL & HLPaper 2
1.[3]
Explain the concept of "food miles" and its relevance to sustainable food systems.
Question 7
SL & HLPaper 2
1.[4]
Compare the characteristics of soils rich in sand with soils rich in clay.
Question 8
SLPaper 2
1.[2]
The soil system includes storages of inorganic nutrients.
Identify two inputs to these storages.
2.[2]
The soil system includes storages of inorganic nutrients.
Identify two outputs from these storages.
3.[7]
Solid domestic waste may contain non-biodegradable material and toxins that have the potential to reduce the fertility of soils.
Explain how strategies for the management of this waste may help to preserve soil fertility.
4.[9]
The provision of food resources and assimilation of wastes are two key factors of the environment that determine its carrying capacity for a given species.
To what extent does the human production of food and waste each influence the carrying capacity for human populations?
Question 9
SLPaper 2
1.[4]
Outline how a positive feedback loop can impact an ecosystem.
2.[7]
Compare and contrast the impact of two named food production systems on climate change.
3.[9]
To what extent does the development of different societies impact their mitigation and adaptation strategies for climate change?
Question 10
SL & HLPaper 2
1.[4]
Describe two ways in which genetic modification is used in agriculture and discuss one potential benefit and one concern.