Practice Topic 7: Natural resources 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
HLPaper 2
Two maps of Greenland comparing the percentage of sea ice concentration between September 14, 1984 and September 13, 2012.
1.[1]
Outline the change in ice cover between 1984 and 2012.
2.[2]
State two environmental impacts of the change in sea ice cover in the Arctic.
3.[2]
Describe how mitigation can help with climate change.
4.[4]
Evaluate one mitigation strategy to reduce climate change.
Question 2
SLPaper 2
1.[9]
To what extent do anthropocentric value systems dominate international efforts of addressing climate change?
Question 3
HLPaper 2
1.[6]
Evaluate the potential of geoengineering as a strategy for mitigating climate change.
Question 4
SLPaper 2
Figure 1: Management of solid domestic waste in England, 2001–2018
Source: https://www.commercialwastequotes.co.uk/blog/uk-waste-data-insights/
1.[1]
With reference to Figure 1, identify the recycling rate in England in 2018.
2.[1]
Outline one reason for the shape of the recycling rate curve from 2013 to 2018.
3.[1]
Estimate the reduction in solid domestic waste (in million tonnes) going to landfill from 2001 to 2018.
4.[3]
Describe three reasons why the proportion of solid domestic waste being recycled/ composted and incinerated has changed.
5.[1]
Outline one reason why there has been an overall change in recorded total solid domestic waste between 2001 and 2018.
Question 5
HLPaper 2
1.[5]
Describe three principles of a circular economy as they apply to solid waste management.
Question 6
SLPaper 2
1.[9]
Environmental value systems can lead to different approache towards addressing global warming. Discuss which environmental value system(s) you consider to be most appropriate in the management of global warming.
Question 7
SLPaper 2
1.[4]
Outline four ways urbanization may influence processes in the hydrological cycle.
2.[7]
Hydropower is a resource that can be exploited from rivers. Discuss how the value of this resource to a society may vary over time.
3.[9]
To what extent are water scarcity issues better addressed through behavioral interventions than through technological development?
Question 8
SLPaper 2
1.[9]
To what extent can different environmental value systems contribute to both causing and resolving the problem of water scarcity?
Question 9
SLPaper 2
1.[4]
Explain the process(es) where a species evolves over time to gain a higher tolerance to hotter climates or higher temperatures.
2.[9]
When addressing environmental issues, mitigation strategies can be seen as ecocentric and adaptation strategies as technocentric.
With reference to named strategies addressing global warming, to what extent is this view valid?
Question 10
SL & HLPaper 2
1.[6]
Compare the concepts of climate change mitigation and adaptation, including examples of each.