Core Concepts (Target: 'S' Pass)

• Define: What is an ecosystem?

• Identify: What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems on Earth?

• Name: In a food chain, what do we call the organisms that eat plants?

• List: Name two major greenhouse gases.

• Define: What is meant by "sustainable development"?

• Recall: What is the main cause of acid rain?

Understanding & Application (Target: 'C' Pass)

• Explain: Why is an energy pyramid always upright and never inverted? (Refer to the 10% rule).

• Describe: Briefly describe the key stages of the carbon cycle (photosynthesis, respiration, combustion).

• Apply: What is eutrophication and what is its main effect on an aquatic ecosystem like a lake?

• Explain: What is the role of the ozone layer, and what is the main class of chemicals responsible for its depletion?

• Relate: List and explain two of the "4Rs" of waste management.

Analysis & Higher-Order Thinking (Target: 'B' / 'A' Pass)

• Analyse: Explain the process of biomagnification using a food chain. Why are top predators most at risk from toxins like mercury or DDT in the environment?

• Justify: A country decides to switch from burning fossil fuels to using more solar and wind power. How would this affect its national "carbon footprint"? Explain.

• Synthesize: Explain how deforestation can contribute to both an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide and a loss of biodiversity.

• Apply: Compare the concepts of "monoculture" and "polyculture" in agriculture. Which is considered more sustainable, and why?

O/L Exam Tip: Focus on understanding the large cycles (Carbon, Nitrogen) and major environmental issues (Global Warming, Acid Rain, Ozone Depletion, Eutrophication). Be able to explain the cause, the process, and the effect for each one.