1 Green plants produce glucose by a process called photosynthesis. The diagram shows the process of photosynthesis. The diagram is not complete. … … … … (a) Complete the diagram by adding the words to the boxes. carbon dioxide oxygen sunlight water [2] (b) State the name of the green pigment in the leaves of green plants. … [1] (c) State the name of the process in plants that uses glucose. … [1] (d) Explain why crop yield increases when plants are grown in greenhouses. … … … … [2] [Total: 6]

1(a) clockwise, from top: carbon dioxide, sunlight, oxygen, water 2 correct; 4 correct; 2 1(b) chlorophyll; 1 1(c) respiration; 1 1(d) one mark for named factor, one mark for linked explanation: controlled environment; so optimum conditions (can be provided); higher temperatures; so the rate of photosynthesis will be higher; adding carbon dioxide; for optimum concentration to favour photosynthesis; managed water (supply); so the correct amount is available for plant processes; control of pests; so energy is retained by the producer / not lost to the consumer / less competition; supply of nutrients; so plants have access to optimum levels; 2 (a) To earn marks, you must correctly place the four given words (carbon dioxide, sunlight, oxygen, water) into the diagram boxes in the correct clockwise order, starting from the top. (b) You must state 'chlorophyll' as the name of the green pigment. (c) You must state 'respiration' as the process that uses glucose. (d) To earn marks, you need to identify a specific factor that increases crop yield in greenhouses (e.g., controlled environment, higher temperatures, adding carbon dioxide, managed water, pest control, nutrient supply) and then provide a linked explanation of how that factor leads to increased yield (e.g., optimum conditions, higher photosynthesis rate, optimum CO2 concentration, correct water amount, energy retention, optimum nutrient levels).

2 The drawing shows part of a farm in Africa. (a) Describe the type of agriculture shown in the drawing. … … … … [2] (b) Explain why soil erosion is a risk on this farm. … … … … … … [3] [Total: 5]

2(a) pastoral / livestock; commercial / large scale; 2 2(b) any three from: large concentration of animals; risk of overgrazing: no plants / tree roots, to hold soil; less interception when it rains; cattle compact soil so less infiltration; slope increases run off; no wind breaks; 3

2 The photograph shows a large area of farmland. (a) Circle the type of agriculture shown in the photograph. commercial arable subsistence arable commercial pastoral subsistence pastoral [1] (b) Crop yield can be increased by improving irrigation methods. State two other methods of increasing crop yield. 1 … 2 … [2] (c) State two ways of damaging soil by the mismanagement of irrigation. 1 … 2 … [2] [Total: 5]

2(a) commercial arable; 1 2(b) any two from: crop rotation; fertilisers; insect control; (insecticide); weed control (herbicide); fungi control (fungicide); genetically modified organisms / better varieties / higher yielding varieties; mechanisation; 2 2(c) any two from: waterlogging; dries out / compaction / capping; soil erosion; salinisation; leaching; 2 (a) You must circle 'commercial arable' to earn the mark. (b) To earn marks, you need to state any two distinct methods for increasing crop yield, such as crop rotation, using fertilisers, or controlling pests/weeds/fungi. (c) To earn marks, you need to state any two distinct ways that mismanagement of irrigation can damage soil, such as waterlogging, drying out/compaction, soil erosion, or salinisation.

5 (a) The graph shows the average mass of pesticide used in agriculture from 1996 to 2016 in four continents and the world. 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 year erage ass of sticide g per ha 0 1 2 3 4 5 South America Asia world Europe Africa (i) Complete the graph for Europe using the data in the table. year average mass of pesticide used in agriculture in Europe / kg per ha 2006 1.4 2007 1.5 2008 1.6 2009 1.4 [2] (ii) Describe the trends in pesticide use in Asia between 1996 and 2016. … … … … [2] (iii) Calculate the percentage change in pesticide use in South America between 1996 and 2016. …% [2] (b) State the benefits of using pesticides in agriculture. … … … … … … [3] (c) Suggest two alternatives to using pesticides to control pests on crops. 1 … … 2 … … [2] [Total: 11]

5(a)(i) four plots correct; straight lines joining plots; 2 5(a)(ii) any two from: general increase in use over time; peak of use in 2011–2012 / decline after 2011–12; use of data to support trends given; 2 5(a)(iii) change identified as 2.9; (2.9 ÷ 2.0 × 100 =) 145(%); 2 5(b) any three from: increases yield; reduces loss in, growing crops / raising livestock; reduces loss in storage / preserves quality of stored produce; enables more efficient use of land; increases profit; 3 5(c) any two from: pest-resistant crops / GM crops; hand removal / crop rotation / companion planting / other cultural controls; controlled environments / polytunnels / netting; biological controls; 2 (a)(i) To earn marks, you must correctly plot all four data points for Europe on the graph and connect them with straight lines. (a)(ii) To score marks, you need to describe two trends in pesticide use in Asia between 1996 and 2016, such as a general increase over time and a peak in 2011-2012, supported by data. (a)(iii) To earn marks, you must correctly calculate the change in pesticide use (2.9) and then correctly calculate the percentage change (145%). (b) To score marks, you need to state three benefits of using pesticides in agriculture, such as increasing yield, reducing loss in growing crops, or enabling more efficient use of land. (c) To earn marks, you must state two alternatives to using pesticides, such as pest-resistant crops or biological controls.

5 (a) The graph shows the average mass of pesticide used in agriculture from 1996 to 2016 in four continents and the world. 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 year erage ass of sticide g per ha 0 1 2 3 4 5 South America Asia world Europe Africa (i) Complete the graph for Europe using the data in the table. year average mass of pesticide used in agriculture in Europe / kg per ha 2006 1.4 2007 1.5 2008 1.6 2009 1.4 [2] (ii) Describe the trends in pesticide use in Asia between 1996 and 2016. … … … … [2] (iii) Calculate the percentage change in pesticide use in South America between 1996 and 2016. …% [2] (b) State the benefits of using pesticides in agriculture. … … … … … … [3] (c) Suggest two alternatives to using pesticides to control pests on crops. 1 … … 2 … … [2] [Total: 11]

5(a)(i) four plots correct; straight lines joining plots; 2 5(a)(ii) any two from: general increase in use over time; peak of use in 2011–2012 / decline after 2011–12; use of data to support trends given; 2 5(a)(iii) change identified as 2.9; (2.9 ÷ 2.0 × 100 =) 145(%); 2 5(b) any three from: increases yield; reduces loss in, growing crops / raising livestock; reduces loss in storage / preserves quality of stored produce; enables more efficient use of land; increases profit; 3 5(c) any two from: pest-resistant crops / GM crops; hand removal / crop rotation / companion planting / other cultural controls; controlled environments / polytunnels / netting; biological controls; 2 (a)(i) To earn full marks, you must correctly plot all four data points for Europe on the graph and connect them with straight lines. (a)(ii) To score marks, you need to describe two trends in pesticide use in Asia, such as a general increase over time and a peak in 2011-2012, supported by data. (a)(iii) To earn full marks, you must correctly calculate the change in pesticide use (2.9) and then use this to calculate the correct percentage change (145%). (b) To score marks, you need to state three distinct benefits of using pesticides in agriculture, such as increasing yield or reducing loss in crops. (c) To earn marks, you must suggest two alternative methods to pesticides for controlling pests, such as pest-resistant crops or biological controls.

Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management · 0680

IGCSE Environmental Management (0680) Agriculture and the environment past paper questions

Revise IGCSE Environmental Management (0680) — Agriculture and the environment with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

44 free questions from 2019–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

Agriculture and the environment in IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Agriculture and the environment accounted for 97 questions worth 1,585 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management (0680) papers.