Component 3

Question 1

define biodiversity

Answer 1

the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Question 2

explain one way in which rising affluence could increase the demand for water

Answer 2

more people have a higher income so use more water. for example running home appliances such as dishwashers

Question 3

explain one reason a society might never run out of resources

Answer 3

1) new technology means that resources will not run out and these have been developed because of current resource limits
2) when a population grows more resources are created because of a larger pool if innovative people

Question 4

Explain some global actions to help protect the rain forests

Answer 4

1) CITES (convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora) stops animal trade which, in turn, helps protect endangered animals
2) REDD (reducing emitions from deforestation and forest degradation) provides funding which results in forests being protected

Question 5

Explain how mass farming of agriculture causes widespread forest loss

Answer 5

1) more space is needed to grow plants like soya or palm oil so the rainforest is cleared
2) some countries climate is prime for growing products and the rainforest leading to a widespread clearing by large companies
3) its highly profitable activity for companies to grow and produce soya or palm oil products
4) weak environmental laws make it relativly easy for companies to clear rainforests

Question 6

why might palm oil and fossil fuel prices rise together

Answer 6

1) higher oil prices means consumers switch to palm oil which means bio fuels prices are likely to rise
2) both prices might rise together if global demand changes such as a recovery from a global financial crisis (such as the one in 2008-09)

Question 7

explain some reasons for lower fossil fuel prices

Answer 7

1) consumers may be attracted to to alternative energy sources so oil producers lower the price to lure them back in
2) prices fall might be linked to supply increase for instance due to political decisions by oil producers to increase output
3) prices fall might be because demand fell which may be linked to global financial events (2008-09 global financial crisis)
4) price falls could be triggered by peaks showing commodity prices can fall and rise in cycles