Science questions, unit 9

Nama / NameKelas / ClassTarikh / Date

Waste materials

44 marks. Use Practice to check each answer as you go, or Exam to answer everything first. Ask a grown-up to help you mark the written answers.

Section A: objective questions

12 marks

Choose the best answer for each question.

Question 1

What are waste materials?

Materials that we no longer need and do not want to keep
Materials that are new and unused
Materials that only microorganisms can use
Materials found only in rubbish bins

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Waste materials are materials that we no longer need and do not want to keep, such as old newspapers and empty bottles.

For the teacher: Remembering, low difficulty, standard 9.1.1

Textbook p. 148

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of food waste?

Aluminium can
Egg shell
Glass bottle
Magazine

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Egg shells, onion skin and chicken bones are food waste. A can is metal, a bottle is glass and a magazine is paper.

For the teacher: Remembering, low difficulty, standard 9.1.1

Textbook p. 149

Question 3

Which statement describes biodegradable waste?

It cannot be decomposed by microorganisms
It is always made of plastic
It lasts for a very long time
It can be decomposed by microorganisms

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Biodegradable waste is decomposed by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 9.1.2

Textbook p. 150

Question 4

Which pair contains only non-biodegradable waste?

Dry leaves and paper
Food waste and faeces
Plastic bottle and glass bottle
Cardboard box and egg shell

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Plastic and glass cannot be decomposed by microorganisms. The other pairs are biodegradable.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 9.1.3

Textbook p. 151

Question 5

Aiman has finished reading some newspapers and magazines. Which recycling bin should he use?

Blue bin
Brown bin
Orange bin
Any bin

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The blue recycling bin is for paper waste.

For the teacher: Applying, low difficulty, standard 9.1.5

Textbook p. 159

Question 6

A pupil wants to throw away a soft drink can and a plastic food container. Which bin is suitable for both?

Blue bin
Brown bin
Orange bin
Green bin

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The orange bin takes aluminium, steel and plastic.

For the teacher: Applying, low difficulty, standard 9.1.5

Textbook p. 159

Question 7

Why should leftover food not be thrown into a river?

It floats and blocks boats
It makes the water too clean
It decomposes and reduces the oxygen in the water
It changes into plastic

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As leftover food decomposes it uses up oxygen, so fish and other aquatic life die.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 9.1.4

Textbook p. 152

Question 8

Flash floods happen more often in a city. Which waste is most likely to clog the drains?

Dry leaves
Egg shells
Banana peels
Plastic bags and bottles

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Plastic does not decompose. It piles up in drains and blocks the flow of water.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 9.1.4

Textbook p. 153

Question 9

Which waste is best used to make compost fertiliser?

Plastic bottles and cans
Glass and mirrors
Vegetable leftovers and dry leaves
Used batteries

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Compost is made from biodegradable waste such as vegetable leftovers and dry leaves.

For the teacher: Applying, low difficulty, standard 9.1.5

Textbook p. 156

Question 10

Hana's father made a swing from an old lorry tyre. Which practice is this?

Reusing
Recycling
Refusing
Repairing

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The tyre is used again for a different purpose without being made into a new material. This is reusing.

For the teacher: Analysing, medium difficulty, standard 9.1.5

Textbook p. 157

Question 11

At the waste collection and sorting centre, waste is separated into three groups. Which group goes to a compost fertiliser centre?

Recyclable materials
Non-recyclable materials
Toxic materials
Decomposable materials

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Decomposable materials go to the compost fertiliser centre. Recyclable materials go to the recycling centre and non-recyclable materials go to the landfill.

For the teacher: Analysing, medium difficulty, standard 9.1.5

Textbook p. 160

Question 12

A factory dumps chemical waste into a river. Which is the most serious effect on people living nearby?

The river water becomes warmer
They can be harmed by breathing the toxic fumes
They will have more fish to catch
The river becomes wider

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In the Kim Kim river case, toxic fumes from chemical waste made more than 100 people ill.

For the teacher: Evaluating, high difficulty, standard 9.1.6

Textbook p. 154

Section B: structured questions

32 marks

Answer all questions. Circle the answer or write it in the space.

Question 13

Answer these questions about waste materials.

[1 mark] (a)State the meaning of biodegradable waste.

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Waste that can be decomposed by microorganisms1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (b)State the meaning of non-biodegradable waste.

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Waste that cannot be decomposed by microorganisms1

Tick each point you got.

[2 marks] (c)Name two types of microorganisms that decompose waste.

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Bacteria [1]1
Fungi [1]1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Remembering, low difficulty, standard 9.1.2

Textbook p. 150

Question 14

Classify each waste as biodegradable or non-biodegradable.

[1 mark] (a)Chicken bones

ABiodegradableBNon-biodegradable

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Biodegradable

[1 mark] (b)Aluminium can

ABiodegradableBNon-biodegradable

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Non-biodegradable

[1 mark] (c)Old newspaper

ABiodegradableBNon-biodegradable

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Biodegradable

[1 mark] (d)Chemical waste from a factory

ABiodegradableBNon-biodegradable

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Non-biodegradable

For the teacher: Applying, low difficulty, standard 9.1.3

Textbook p. 150

Question 15

A school canteen recorded the waste it threw out in one week. Diagram 1 shows the results (practice numbers, not from the book). Food waste and paper are biodegradable.

Bar chart of canteen waste in one week: food waste 9 kg, paper 4 kg, plastic 7 kg, glass 2 kg, metal 3 kg — Diagram 1

[1 mark] (a)Which type of waste was thrown out the most?

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Food waste1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (b)Calculate the total mass of biodegradable waste.

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9 + 4 = 13 kg1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (c)Calculate the total mass of non-biodegradable waste.

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7 + 2 + 3 = 12 kg1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (d)Suggest one way the canteen can deal with the food waste.

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Any 1 points

Make compost fertiliser1
Send it to a compost fertiliser centre1
Accept: reduce the food that is cooked and wasted1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (e)Suggest one way the canteen can reduce its plastic waste.

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Any 1 points

Use reusable containers or bags1
Refuse plastic straws1
Recycle the plastic bottles1
Accept any sensible way1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Analysing, medium difficulty, standard 9.1.3

Textbook p. 155

Question 16

Match each situation with its effect.

[1 mark] (a)Plastic bags are dumped into the drains of a town.

AFlash floodsBFish die from lack of oxygenCToxic fumes harm people

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Flash floods

[1 mark] (b)A restaurant pours leftover food into a river.

AFlash floodsBFish die from lack of oxygenCToxic fumes harm people

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Fish die from lack of oxygen

[1 mark] (c)A factory dumps chemical waste into a river.

AFlash floodsBFish die from lack of oxygenCToxic fumes harm people

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Toxic fumes harm people

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 9.1.4

Textbook p. 153

Question 17

Diagram 2 shows the recycling bins at a school.

Blue, brown and orange recycling bins with the waste each one takes — Diagram 2

[1 mark] (a)A mirror is broken. Which colour of bin should it go into?

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Brown bin1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (b)Which colour of bin is for cardboard boxes?

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Blue bin1

Tick each point you got.

[2 marks] (c)Name two items that go into the orange bin.

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Soft drink cans / food cans [1]1
Plastic food containers / detergent bottles [1]1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (d)Why must waste be sorted before it is thrown away?

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Any 1 points

To make disposal and recycling easier1
So that recyclable waste can be sent to the recycling centre1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Applying, low difficulty, standard 9.1.5

Textbook p. 159

Question 18

Lina's family makes compost fertiliser in a flowerpot using vegetable leftovers, egg shells and dry leaves.

[1 mark] (a)Why can these materials be used to make compost?

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They are biodegradable / they can be decomposed by microorganisms1

Tick each point you got.

[2 marks] (b)Lina's brother adds a plastic bottle to the mixture. Is this correct? Give a reason.

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No [1]1
Plastic is non-biodegradable and will not decompose [1]1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (c)State one way compost fertiliser is useful.

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Any 1 points

It gives nutrients to plants / soil1
It reduces food waste sent to landfill1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Analysing, high difficulty, standard 9.1.5

Textbook p. 156

Question 19

A pile of waste is dumped by a roadside near a river. It has plastic bottles, food scraps, glass bottles and used cooking oil.

[2 marks] (a)State two effects of this waste on the environment.

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Any 2 points

Pollutes the water or the air [1 mark each]1
Clogs drains and causes flash floods1
Kills aquatic life1
Attracts pests such as rats and flies1

Tick each point you got.

[2 marks] (b)Suggest how the glass bottles and plastic bottles can be dealt with.

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Put them in the correct recycling bins [1]1
They are sent to a recycling centre and made into new products [1]1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (c)Suggest how the used cooking oil should be disposed of.

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Use a special container to dispose of it1

Tick each point you got.

[2 marks] (d)Your friend says, "One small pile of waste does not matter." Do you agree? Give a reason.

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No [1]1
Many small piles add up and cause pollution, so everyone must manage waste properly [1]1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Evaluating, medium difficulty, standard 9.1.6

Textbook p. 164

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