IB Questionbank

User interface language: English | Español

Date	November 2014	Marks available	2	Reference code	14N.1.SL.TZ0.6
Level	Standard Level	Paper	Paper 1	Time zone	Time zone 0
Command term	Predict	Question number	6	Adapted from	N/A

Question

The cartoon below is a comment on the strategic importance of each country securing its own water supply.

Figure 4

Suggest one reason why “in the future, wars will be fought over water”.

[2]

Suggest one way governments can encourage the reduction of domestic water use.

[1]

Predict how a technocentric and an ecocentric might differ in their views about dams.

[2]

Markscheme

more people in world and so less freshwater to share;
freshwater being used from fossil resources/aquifers at unsustainable rate;
development needs more/uses more water;
global warming is making some areas drier;
pollution of freshwater is limiting available source;
rivers cross international boundaries;
uneven distribution of water leaving some areas with a limited/insufficient supply;
control of water means control of agriculture/agriculture profit/food resources;

Award [2 max] where one reason is explained in sufficient depth.
Also credit responses that cover two valid reasons.
Do not award marks where a reason for water scarcity is not given.

[2 max]

increase the cost of water;
public education programmes;
promote use of water efficient goods;
incentive schemes for replacing water wasting devices with water saving ones;
metering water use;
fines for wasting water;
bans on hoses/washing cars etc/restrictions of date and time of using hoses;
encouraging/incentives for the use of low water use plants in gardens;
Do not award marks for actions such as “have showers instead of baths” without explanation of how that is achieved.

[1 max]

Technocentric would apporove of a dam [1 mark]:
as a technological solution for collecting and storing water;
large scale and supplies many people/areas;
the reservoir can be used by many groups for a variety of activities;

Ecocentric would oppose new dams [1 mark]:
as they would prefer smaller/local water storage solutions;
would prefer recycling and using less water and therefore avoid the need for dams;
would consider dams as interrupting environments downstream /reducing flow;

Do not accept only “technocentric support dams and ecocentric oppose dams.”

[2 max]

Examiners report

Most responses were too vague and did not give reasons why water may become limited in the future.

Most candidates correctly answered this question. A common mistake was to focus on actions such as ‘have showers instead of baths’ without explaining how this could be encouraged by governments.

Responses to this question varied widely. A common error was to only provide generic technocentic and ecocentric viewpoints without linking this directly to the dam.

Syllabus sections

Topic 1: Foundations of environmental systems and societies » 1.1 Environmental value systems

Show 29 related questions

Hide related questions

Topic 4: Water and aquatic food production systems and societies » 4.2 Access to fresh water

Topic 1: Foundations of environmental systems and societies

Topic 4: Water and aquatic food production systems and societies

Question

Markscheme

Examiners report

Syllabus sections

View options