QUESTION BANK: CE 101: Environmental Science

Module 1
1. Write short notes on structure of Ecosystem.
2. What are the functions of an ecosystem
3. Compare ecology and ecosystem.
4. What is a food chain? Give its role in ecosystem sustainability.
5. Diagrammatically show food web.
6. Elaborate upon the sulphur cycle.
7. What is the role of carbon cycle in ecosystem.
8. What is the role of oxygen cycle in ecosystem.
9. What is the role of nitrogen cycle in ecosystem.
10. What is the significance of ecosystem services?
11. What are the types of services provided by ecosystem. Give examples for each.
12. Write short notes on any two ecosystem management initiatives by UNEP.
13. What is the benefit of controlling the temperature increase by 1.5deg C over 2 deg C.
14. Summarize the salient features of IPCC report on climate change.
15. Draw the flow diagram of nutrient flow.
16. What is the fate of the chemicals in atmosphere, soil and water.
17. Discuss the characteristics of any two ecosystems.
Module 2
1. What is air pollution?
2. Differentiate between primary and secondary pollutants.
3. Define Dust, Smoke and Fog.
4. Using a diagram, explain the structure of atmosphere.
5. What are the sources of air pollution?
6. Elaborate upon the key green house gases.
7. Write short notes on COx, NOx and SOx.
8. What are the health effects of atmospheric pollutants.
9. How does the pollutants affect buildings?
10. What do you understand by “Yellowing of Taj” and how does it yellow.
11. What is the effect of air pollutants on Vegetation?
12. Describe the air quality monitoring techniques.
 13. Write short notes on air pollution control methods.
14. Compare Cyclone collectors and Venturi Scrubbers.
15. Explain the functioning of Bag filters and Electrostatic precipitators.
16. What are the major indoor air contaminants.
17. What are the sources of Indoor air pollution.
18. Discuss the health effects of Indoor air pollution.
19. Explain “The sick building syndrome”
20. How does smoke affect the indoor environment?
21. Write short notes on how to manage indoor air environment.
22. What are the gases responsible for vehicular pollution.
23. Explain the functioning of catalytic convertors.
24. Using Examples explain any two nonpolluting vehicular options.
25. Write short notes on Bhopal gas tragedy.
26. Elaborate upon any two international air pollution episodes.
27. Write short notes on Delhi Smog.
Module 3
1. What are the sources of water pollution?
2. State the common impurities of water
3. State the process of water sampling and monitoring
4. State the standards of drinking water
5. Discuss any two water quality indices.
6. State the necessity of water treatment
7. Give the flow diagram of drinking water treatment plan
8. State the functions of the units of water treatment
9. Write notes on the theory and purpose of sedimentation
10. Enumerate the theory of sedimentation and flocculation
11. What are the common coagulants used in a treatment plan?
12. Describe the functions of different types of coagulants
13. Explain the theory of filtration
14. Discuss the two types of sand filtration
15. Differentiate between gravity and pressure filter
16. Compare slow and rapid sand filtration
 17. Why is disinfection necessary?
18. What are the methods of Disinfection?
19. Write short notes on any two types of disinfection techniques.
20. Explain the action of chlorine when mixed with water
21. How is chlorine applied in water
22. What is hardness of water?
23. What is the necessity of water softening
24. What are the effects of hardness?
25. What do you mean by temporary and permanent hardness?
26. How can temporary hardness be removed?
27. How can permanent hardness be removed?
28. Discuss the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of Sewage
29. How does carbon cycle play an important role on sewage decomposition
30. How does nitrogen cycle play an important role on sewage decomposition
31. How does sulphur cycle play an important role on sewage decomposition
32. Differentiate between aerobic and anaerobic decomposition
33. Draw the flow diagram of primary and secondary treatment of sewage
34. What are the functions of the different units of primary treatment
35. Compare grit chambers, Detritus chambers, primary sedimentation and Skimming tanks.
36. Describe the functions of different units of secondary treatment
37. What is activated sludge process and what is its purpose?
38. Discuss the two methods of sewage disposal?
39. What is the purpose of using a trickling filter?
40. What are the sources of sludge and what is the mechanism of its disposal.
41. Discuss the components of tertiary treatment
42. How can nitrate and phosphorous removed from sewage.
Module 4:
1. Enumerate the sources of solid waste.
2. Describe the process of solid waste collection
3. Describe the process of solid waste transport
4. Describe the process of solid waste disposal
5. Write short notes on landfilling
 6. Explain the process of composting?
7. What is the need of incineration and pyrolysis.
8. What are the components of Lithosphere?
9. Diagrammatically explain the components of Lithosphere
10. What is soil and how is it formed?
11. What the components of soil?
12. Explain the effects of soil pollution?
13. Describe the causative factors of soil pollution?
14. What are the physical properties of soil.
15. Write short notes of Soil texture and structure
16. Write short notes on bulk density and pore size
17. Elaborate upon the classification of solid waste
18. Differentiate between garbage , Rubbish and Ash.
19. Differentiate between construction and Demolition waste and Industrial Waste
20. Using suitable example explain Hazardous Wastes.
21. Write short notes on Physical characteristics of waste
22. Differentiate between Proximate and Ultimate analysis
23. Explain the different components of Sanitary Landfill
24. What is the function of a liner system, and drainage systems in sanitary landfilling.
25. What are the advantages of pyrolysis.
26. Explain the process of digestion that occurs during composting
27. Write short notes on combustion.
28. What are the effects of solid waste on soil.
29. How can soil be reclaimed?
30. What are the effects of leachate on environment?
Module 5:
1. What is radioactive pollution?
2. Differentiate between non ionizing and ionizing radiations
3. Discuss the natural sources of radiations
4. Discuss the types of radiations?
5. What are the anthropogenic sources of radiations?
6. Explain radioactive contaminations?
7. Compare the internal and external contaminations.
8. Elaborate the effects of radioactive pollution.
9. What are the effects of radiations on human being.
10. What are the steps taken to mitigate the effects of radiations?
11. Explain the steps towards chemical transformation.
12. Discuss the Radioactive waste management system of India.
13. What is spent fuel and how is it generated?
14. What is the technique adopted for disposal of spent fuel.
15. Discuss the international regulations pertaining to radioactive and hazardous wastes.
16. What are the salient features of Basel and Waighani convention.
17. What is noise and its measurement unit.
18. Define Noise pollution.
19. Discuss the sources of noise pollution
20. Explain the classification of noise.
21. Differentiate between point, line and area based noise.
22. What is the health effects associated with noise?
23. Discuss the effects on noise.
24. How does noise propagate in indoor and outdoor environment?
25. Discuss the mechanisms for reducing the effects of noise.
26. Write down the CPCB standards for Noise levels.
27. How is noise measured.
28. What are the properties of sound propagation?
SAMPLE QUESTION PATTERNs
CE101 Environmental Science

Set I

Q.1(a) Explain importance of nitrogen cycle in an ecosystem with the help of an example? [5] II

Q.1(b) Discuss different major terrestrial biomes with their typical characteristics. [5] II

Q.2(a) Discuss the mechanisms involved in cleaning of particulate matter from flue gases. [5] II

Q.2(b) Explain use of bag house filter for particulate air pollution control. [5] II

Q.3(a) Discuss physico-chemical water quality parameters as per BIS code for drinking water. [5] II

Q.3(b) Explain Activated sludge Process used in municipal wastewater treatment with [5] II
sketch.

Q.4(a) Discuss the steps involved in municipal solid waste management. [5] II

Q.4(b) Define composting. What are phases in composting? Explain composting used in [5] II
municipal solid waste management.

Q.5(a) What is radiation pollution? What are sources and types of radiation? Discuss effects [5] I
of radiation in terms of exposure and dose?

Q.5(b) Classify radioactive waste and discuss their disposal on the basis of their [5] II
classification.
CE101 Environmental Science

Set II

Q.1(a) Explain importance of sedimentary cycle in an ecosystem with the help of an example? [5] II

Q.1(b) Classify aquatic ecosystem emphasizing typical characteristics. [5] II

Q.2(a) Discuss the methods used in cleaning of gaseous pollutant from flue gases. [5] II

Q.2(b) Discuss different techniques used in control of air pollution from automobiles. [5] II

Q.3(a) Discuss parameters of importance for water supply scheme. [5] II

Q.3(b) Explain water treatment scheme with the help of flow diagram. [5] II

Q.4(a) Explain sanitary landfill technique used for solid waste management. [5] II

Q.4(b) Define pyrolysis. What are steps in pyrolysis? Explain pyrolysis used in municipal solid [5] II
waste management.

Q.5(a) Define noise pollution? Explain sonic boom and bow wake in case of noise pollution. [5] I

Q.5(b) Write health effects of noise and suggest control measures to reduce noise in work [5] II
place.

CE101 Environmental Science

Set III

Q.1(a) Classify components of environment with suitable examples. [5] II

Q.1(b) An organism occupies multiple trophic level in a food web. Illustrate this statement [5] II
with the help of a food web schematic.
Q.2(a) What is the basis of classification of air pollutants? [5] I

Q.2(b) Explain photochemical reactions in atmosphere which lead to photochemical smog [5] II
formation.
Q.3(a) What are different types of water pollutants. Explain with example. [5] II

Q.3(b) Identify the major sources of water pollution and the problem associated with them. [5] III

Q.4(a) What are the steps of solid waste management and explain their significance. [5] II

Q.4(b) Explain the complete process of composting. [5] II

Q.5(a) What are different sources of noise pollution and what are their health effects? [5] I

Q.5(b) Summarize Noise pollution control strategy for prevention and control of pollution. [5] III

CE101 Environmental Science

Set IV

Q.1(a) Illustrate pond ecosystem w.r.t energy flow, material flow and interaction among [5] II
the components.
Q.1(b) Define and compare the terms biodegradation, biomagnifications and [5] II
bioaccumulation.
Q.2(a) Classify criteria air pollutants and their sources with possible health effects? [5] II

Q.2(b) Choose air pollution control methods for particulate controls in thermal power [5] III
plants.
Q.3(a) summarize the effects of water pollution on environment and human health. [5] II

Q.3(b) Domestic Wastewater is discharged into the river. Government has imposed [5] III
regulatory discharge standards for river. Identify wastewater treatment units
required to meet the discharge standard?
Q.4(a) Explain hierarchy of solid waste management. [5] II

Q.4(b) Classify characteristics of municipal solid waste management. [5] II

Q.5(a) Summarize ecological and health effects of radiation exposure. [5] II

Q.5(b) Explain the international method of radioactive waste management based on their [5] II
classification.
CE101 Environmental Science

Set V

Q.1(a) Explain functional element of ecosystem with the help of an example? [5] II

Q.1(b) Explain the nature of different pyramids in any ecosystem? [5] II

Q.2(a) Explain schematically structure and composition of atmosphere ? [5] II

Q.2(b) Compare Los Angeles and London smog. [5] II

Q.3(a) Demonstrate conventional water treatment processes using schematics. [5] II

Q.3(b) Explain schematically Conventional wastewater treatment process for sewage [5] II
treatment.
Q.4(a) Explain functional elements of integrated solid waste management. [5] II

Q.4(b) Explain the disposal technique “sanitary landfills”. [5] II

Q.5(a) Summarize noise pollution control strategy adopted in noisy industries. [5] II

Q.5(b) Demonstrate the source observer relation described for noise propagation. [5] II

CE101 Environmental Science

Set VI

Q.1(a) Explain importance of biogeochemical cycles in an ecosystem with the help of an [5] II
example?
Q.1(b) Explain biome. Classify different major biomes and how they are characterized? [5] II
 Q.2(a) Classify different air pollutants? [5] II

Q.2(b) Explain use of bag house filter for air pollution control mentioning the major [5] II
mechanisms involved in cleaning air pollutants.
Q.3(a) Explain physico-chemical water quality parameters as per BIS code for drinking water. [5] II

Q.3(b) Explain Activated sludge Process used in wastewater treatment with sketch. [5] II

Q.4(a) Demonstrate the hierarchy used in solid waste management. [5] II

Q.4(b) Explain the treatment technique “composting”. [5] II

Q.5(a) What is your understanding by radioactive pollution? What are possible sources of [5] I
pollution with their radioactivity level?
Q.5(b) Summarize the standard method of disposal of radioactive pollution? [5] II

CE101 Environmental Science

Set I (Mid)

Q1 (a) Classify components of environment with suitable examples. [2] II

Q1 (b) Illustrate pond ecosystem with respect to energy flow, material flow [3] II
and interaction among the components.

Q2 (a) An organism occupies multiple trophic levels in a food web. Illustrate [2] II
this statement with the help of a food web schematic.

Q2 (b) Define and compare the terms biodegradation, biomagnifications and [3] II
bioaccumulation.

Q3 (a) What is the basis of classification of air pollutants? Discuss. [2] II

Q3 (b) Describe criteria air pollutants and their sources with possible health [3] II
effects?

Q4 (a) Explain photochemical reactions in atmosphere which lead to [2] II

photochemical smog formation.

Q4 (b) Choose air pollution control methods for particulate controls for thermal [3] II
power plants.
Q5 (a) Classify different types of water pollutants. Explain with example. [2] II

Q5 (b) Identify the major sources of water pollution and the problem [3] II
associated with them.

CE101 Environmental Science

Set II (Mid)

Q1 (a) Explain importance of biogeochemical cycles in an ecosystem with [2] II

the help of an example.
Q1 (b) Illustrate energy flow, material flow and interaction among the [3] II
components in a terrestrial ecosystem.

Q2 (a) Describe marine ecosystem zones and their relative importance. [2] II

Q2 (b) Discuss fate of a non biodegradable pollutant if introduced into [3] II

environment.

Q3 (a) Discuss the strategy adopted to reduce the air pollution. [2] II

Q3 (b) Discuss the diurnal changes of pollutants, NO, NO2 and O3 and their [3] II
health effect on human?

Q4 (a) Discuss the ways by which air pollution emissions can be reduced by [2] II
automobiles.

Q4 (b) [3] II
Explain use of electrostatic precipitator in air pollution control.

Q5 (a) What is your understanding by oxygen demanding wastes? Discuss. [2] II

Q5 (b) Define WQI. Enumerate different types of WQI. Enlist the steps involved [3] II
in assessing WQI.