Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2015

Last exams 2025

Access to Fresh Water (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS): SL): Exam Questions

49 mins10 questions
1
1 mark

Outline one factor that may determine how easily a particular country or region can access an adequate supply of fresh water.

2
2 marks

One major problem that threatens the availability and accessibility of a freshwater supply in some regions is contamination.

Outline two major causes of contamination to freshwater sources.

3a
3 marks

Describe the pattern of global water scarcity seen in the figure below.

4-2-1-fresh-water-availability
3b
2 marks

Briefly outline the meaning of the term water scarcity.

4
2 marks

Suggest two methods for enhancing crop cultivation in regions facing water scarcity.

1
4 marks

Evaluate the sustainability of desalinisation as a water management strategy to improve access to freshwater resources in a society.

2a
2 marks

Describe how the availability of freshwater resources is being impacted by climate change.

2b
2 marks

Outline two water management strategies, other than desalinisation and rainwater harvesting, that can reduce water scarcity. 

3a
Sme Calculator
4 marks

The figure below shows the global water demand by sector for 2023, as well as the projected demands for 2040 and 2055.

projected-water-demand

i)

Calculate the percentage of water projected to be used for agriculture in 2040, as shown in the figure above. Show your working.

[2]

ii)

State two reasons for the projected decrease in the demand for water in agriculture between 2023 and 2040.

[2]

3b
4 marks

i)

State the overall trend in total global water demand between 2023 and 2055.

[1]

ii)

Outline three factors contributing to this projected change.

[3]

4a
3 marks

Explain why conflicts over fresh water are becoming an increasingly frequent occurrence between human populations.

4b
4 marks

Predict how technocentric and ecocentric viewpoints would differ regarding the construction and installation of dams.

1
7 marks

Evaluate the sustainability of rainwater harvesting as a water management strategy to improve access to freshwater resources in a society.

2
9 marks

Evaluate the following statement:

"Water scarcity problems are best addressed through technological developments, rather than through changing human behaviour."