Practice 7.1 Energy choices and security with authentic IB Environmental systems and societies (ESS - Old) 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
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 2
SLPaper 2
1.[4]
Outline two factors that affect the frequency and severity of photochemical smog in an area.
2.[7]
Evaluate strategies to manage regional acid deposition using the pollution management model.
3.[9]
To what extent have international agreements been successful in solving atmospheric air pollution and climate change?
Question 3
SLPaper 2
There are increasing concerns of carbon dioxide emissions and its relationship to climate change.
Figure 1: CO2 emissions of select countries in 2007 and 2030 (Projected)
1.[2]
Identify two possible reasons for China's projected change in CO2 emissions.
2.[1]
Calculate Russia's projected percentage increase from 2007 to 2030 in CO2 emissions.
3.[4]
Discuss how the ability to implement mitigation and adaptation strategies may vary from one country to another.
4.[2]
Outline how CO2 emissions may cause a change in the global climate.
5.[1]
Identify one adaptation strategy that can be used to reduce the impacts of climate change.
6.[1]
Identify one reduction strategy the United States might use to achieve its projected change in CO2 emissions.
Question 4
HLPaper 2
1.[4]
State four ways in which a country can increase its energy security.
2.[7]
Describe four factors that contribute to the occurrence of photochemical smog, and the direct and indirect impact it can have on societies.
3.[9]
Discuss the use of the doughnut economy model in building sustainable cities.
Question 5
HLPaper 2
1.[4]
Outline four reasons for the baseline study in an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment).
2.[7]
Explain why renewable energies may not be sustainable and may not allow for environmental justice for all.
3.[9]
To what extent are energy sources impacted by anthropogenic (human-caused) changes to the atmosphere, and how may this influence energy security?
Question 6
SLPaper 1
Figure 1: Fact file on Iceland
- Covers a land area of 103,000 .
- Characterized by mountainous and volcanic terrain.
- As an isolated island, it has low biological diversity and few endemic species.
- Only of the land is arable, with harsh climatic conditions limiting agriculture to livestock farming and geothermally-heated greenhouses.
- Reykjavik, the capital city, is home to of the population.
- The total fertility rate is two children per woman.
- Key industries include fishing, aluminum smelting, and tourism.
- The ecological footprint is 7.4 GHa , significantly higher than the global average of 2.6 GHa .
- A high-income nation with a representative democracy, ranked 13 th on the Human Development Index.
- Severely impacted by the 2008 global financial crisis.
- Hydroelectric and geothermal energy sources supply of its primary energy.
- Aims to achieve full energy independence with renewable energy by 2050.
- The government has recently approved oil exploration in Icelandic waters by oil companies.
Source: Open access/Wikipedia
Figure 2: Graph showing primary energy consumption in Iceland 1940–2008
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421509007721
1.[2]
With reference to Figure 2 outline how Iceland’s primary energy consumption has changed over time.
2.[2]
With reference to Figure 1 outline two possible reasons why energy demand declined in Iceland after 2008.
Question 7
HLPaper 2
1.[6]
Analyze the sustainability challenges associated with nuclear energy as a low-carbon, non-renewable energy source.
Question 8
SLPaper 2
1.[4]
Explain how soil can be viewed as an ecosystem.
2.[7]
Compare and contrast the impact of humans on the carbon and nitrogen cycles.
3.[9]
Examine the role of humans in the destabilization of ecological systems.
Question 9
HLPaper 2
1.[4]
Outline one example of a strategy for energy conservation and one example of a strategy for energy efficiency.
2.[7]
Explain how the interaction between the composition of the atmosphere and life on Earth influences evolution.
3.[9]
Using named examples, discuss how political, environmental, geographic, and economic factors influence societies when switching to low-carbon technologies.
Question 10
SLPaper 2
1.[4]
Identify four factors making insecticide DDT controversial.
2.[7]
Outline how human activities continue to affect stratospheric ozone.
3.[9]
To what extent is using of solid domestic waste (SDW) as an energy source beneficial to a society?