This document contains question banks for an environmental science and engineering exam, divided into multiple parts and units. It includes questions about defining key terms, explaining concepts, and discussing topics in environmental science such as ecosystems, biodiversity, natural resources, pollution, social issues, and human population. Some example questions are about defining environmental science, explaining the biosphere, discussing different types of ecological pyramids, and explaining the causes and effects of global warming. The document aims to assess students' understanding of important environmental topics through various question formats.

1. BALAJI INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
QUESTION BANK
GE 2021 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
UNIT I ENVIRONMENT, ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY
PART A
1. Define environmental science.
2. Explain biosphere.
3. What role does the lithosphere play in the environment?
4. Mention the various functions of the atmosphere.
5. Define ecosystem. Give two examples.
6. What are decomposers? Give two examples.
7. Define food chain.
8. Define food web. Give an example.
9. Mention the various types of ecological pyramids.
10. The pyramid of energy flow always takes a true upright shape. Why?
11. What is ecological succession?
12. Distinguish between primary succession and secondary succession.
13. What are the various functions of an ecosystem?
14. Define biodiversity. Give its significance.
15. Define hotspots of biodiversity. Which are the two hotspots in India?
16. Explain threatened and endangered species.
17. Write a note on endemic species.
18. Define estuaries.
19. Define species & Genetic diversity.
20. What are the advantages and disadvantages of insitu & exsitu conservation of
biodiversity?
21. State the need for public awareness for solving environmental problems.
PART B
1. Explain briefly the structure of the atmosphere.
2. What is an ecosystem? Describe the structure and function of various
components of an ecosystem.
3. Define ecological succession. Give an account of various stages of ecological
succession.
4. Explain food chain and food web wit examples.
5. Write a note on carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle and phosphorus cycle.

2. 6. Describe the characteristic features of a desert system. Describe the biotic and
abiotic components of it.
7. Describe the types, characteristic features, structure and function of (i) forest
ecosystem (ii) aquatic ecosystem.
8. Discuss the values of biodiversity.
9. Explain the various threats to biodiversity and the measures recommended for
conservation of biodiversity.
10. Define Ecological pyramids and explain different types of it.
11. Explain In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of Biodiversity.
12. Write briefly on (i) Ecological succession. (ii) Energy flow through in an
ecosystem.
UNIT II ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
PART-A
1. Define BOD.
2. Define thermal pollution.
3. Write any two causes of soil pollution.
4. What is eutrophication?
5. What is acid rain?
6. List any two air pollutants and their effects on human beings from automobile
emission.
7. Name any four air pollutants, their sources and effects.
8. Name the sources and effects of marine pollution.
9. What are the causes and effects of global warming?
10. Give some examples of green house gases.
11. What are the causes and effects of ozone layer depletion?
12. Name two ozone depleting substances.
13. Define pollution.
14. What are point and non point sources of water pollution?
15. Define hazardous wastes.
16. Define photochemical smog.
17. Define floods.
18. Define disasters.
19. Define noise pollution.
20. What are the types of solid wastes?
PART- B
1. Give an account of Green house effect.
2. What are the sources and effects of various air pollutants? Discuss any two
control methods.

3. 3. What is thermal pollution? Discuss the effects and control methods of thermal
pollution.
4. Explain the causes, effects and control measures of water pollution.
5. Discuss sewage treatment with a suitable block diagram.
6. What are the various causes and effects of noise pollution? Discuss the control
measures of noise pollution.
7. Discuss the causes and effects of soil pollution. How can soil pollution be
controlled?
8. Define flood. What are its causes? What measures should be taken mitigate
flood disaster.
9. Explain the methods of disposal of municipal solid waste.
10. Write a note on disposal of radioactive wastes.
UNIT III NATURAL RESOURCES.
PART-A
1. Give two examples each of renewable and non renewable resources.
2. Classify natural resources with suitable examples.
3. What are the various causes of deforestation?
4. What are the effects of timber extraction?
5. Mention four effects of deforestation.
6. Mention the problems associated with over exploitation of water resources.
7. Mention four effects of mining.
8. State the environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources.
9. What is meant by deforestation?
10. What is a geothermal energy?
11. State any two problems caused by the construction of dams.
12. Write any two functions of forest.
13. Explain soil leaching.
14. What is soil erosion? How can it be controlled?
15. Define desertification.
16. Define overgrazing. What are the effects of overgrazing?
17. Distinguish between water logging and salinity. Under what conditions do we
encounter land subsidence?
18. Mention the various causes of soil erosion.
19. Classify energy resources with suitable examples.
20. Write a note on tidal energy.
PART-B
1. What are the major causes of deforestation? Discuss its consequences.

4. 2. What are the problems caused by the over exploitation of water resources.
3. Explain in detail the various benefits and problems associated with the
construction of dams.
4. Discuss in detail the various environmental impacts of mining.
5. Explain the various methods of harvesting solar energy.
6. Discuss in detail the role of an individual in conservation of natural resources.
7. Explain renewable and non renewable energy resources with examples.
8. Write a note on energy conservation.
9. Discuss the major air pollutants and their impacts. Explain the various methods
of controlling air pollution.
10. Discuss the disposal of municipal solid waste. Explain the causes, effects and
control measures of water pollution.
11. What are the sources of radioactive pollution?
12. Write a brief note on thermal pollution. Discuss the causes and effects and
control measures of marine pollution.
UNIT IV SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
PART-A
1. Explain the term sustainable development.
2. List any four pollution control acts.
3. Define resettlement and rehabilitation.
4. Write note on climate change.
5. What is watershed management?
6. What are the important aspects of sustainable development?
7. Explain the need for water conservation.
8. Explain the factors affecting water shed.
9. Define the term environmental ethics.
10. What is meant by CDM?
11. What is meant by environmental audit?
12. What is meant by ISO 14000?
13. State a few drawbacks of pollution related acts.
14. What are the advantages of rain water harvesting?
15. Mention the types of nuclear accidents.
16. Give the control measures of nuclear holocaust.
17. What are the objectives of forest act?
18. Give the important features of wild life conservation.
19. Define urbanization.
20. Give the mechanism of formation of ozone in the stratosphere.

5. PART –B
1. What do mean by sustainable development? What are the measures to be
adopted to attain sustainability?
2. What is meant by rain water harvesting? Why is it necessary in the present
situation?
3. Write in detail about global warming.
4. What are the major issues and problems related to rehabilitation of displaced
tribes?
5. What are the major impacts of acid rain and how can it be controlled?
6. Discuss the environmental acts.
7. Write short notes on (a) environmental ethics (b) Wasteland reclamation.
8. What are the effects of ozone layer depletion?
9. Explain nuclear accidents and holocaust.
10. Write a note on Bhopal disaster and Chernobyl disaster.
UNIT V HUMAN POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
PART-A
1. What is population explosion?
2. State how is environment and human health is related?
3. Expand HIV and AIDS.
4. Define ZPG. (zero population growth).
5. Briefly account on human rights.
6. Explain total fertility rate.
7. State the role of information technology in environment.
8. List the problems of population growth.
9. What is AIDS? How can it be prevented?
10. Define immigration and emigration.
11. What are the causes of population explosion?
12. What are the objectives of family welfare programme?
13. What are the factors which do not influence transmission of HIV?
14. How does HIV functions in human body?
15. Differentiate between HIV and AIDS?
16. What are the reasons behind the increased population growth in the less
developed nations compared with developed nation?
17. What is meant by Nimby syndrome?
18. Define doubling time with reference to population growth.
19. Mention the issues involved in the enforcement of environmental legislation?
20. List the various organizations towards women welfare.

6. PART-B
1. What is meant by population explosion? Discuss the Indian scenario.
2. Discuss the environmental and social impacts of growing population.
3. What do you mean by (a) doubling time (b) total fertility rate (c) zero population
growth (d) life expectancy
4. How can age structure pyramids serve as an useful tool for predicting population
growth trends of a nation? Explain with examples.
5. Discuss the family welfare programme in the Indian context.
6. What are the objectives and elements of value education?
7. Discuss the various issues and measures for woman and child welfare ate the
national and international levels.
8. Explain the role of information technology in environment and human health.
9. Write briefly on the implementation of family planning programme.
10. Write a note on AIDS in developing countries.