Essay Questions- ENVS 3 (Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution)
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 Describe the ways in which pollution may threaten the life-support
systems of the planet
 Explain how a policy of sustainable exploitation of the planet’s
resources would help to reduce the quantity of pollutants released.
 Explain how energy-storage schemes can be used to balance fluctuations
in demand for and supplies of electricity.
 Explain why different uses of water have such different requirements for
water quality
 Describe how geographical location and site-suitability may influence
the decision to harness renewable energy resources.
 Discuss how the properties of different pollutants affect the ways in
which they harm the environment
 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of methods used to treat solid
waste
 Discuss the ways in which good industrial practices and monitoring
programmes can reduce health risks to workers and the public posed by
ionising radiation
 Discuss the environmental benefits of recycling used products
 Describe how effluents containing organic and inorganic nutrients cause
water pollution and outline the methods used to control these problems
 Describe the ways in which energy conservation may reduce damage to
the environment.
 Describe how the properties of pollutants may cause them to have
effects at local, regional and global scales
 Discuss the ways in which the extraction, harnessing, processing and
use of energy resources may cause pollution
 Discuss how educational, legal, economic and technological strategies
can be used to reduce pollution
 Describe how locational, technological and environmental factors may
influence the energy resources which are used in different parts of the
world.
 Describe the methods used to monitor and reduce exposure to ionising
radiation
 Discuss the problems caused by derelict land and describe the methods
used to reclaim it
 Outline the methods which may be used to reduce the amount of energy
used by industry, transport systems and domestic users.
 Describe the methods which are used to control the pollution caused by
transport systems
 Describe how monitoring of the environment, the public, workers and the
workplace can be used to control pollution caused by ionising radiation
 Discuss the effects on the environment of the different methods that may
be used to treat and dispose of solid domestic waste
 Describe the methods that are used to control noise pollution
 Describe the ways in which pollution may threaten Earth’s life-support
system
 Explain how a policy of sustainable exploitation of Earth’s resources
would help to reduce the quantity of pollutants released