CONFIDENTIAL 1 LG/DEC 2021/ELC501/SET2(A)

TOTAL: 35 MARKS

Read the following article and answer ALL the questions that follow.

Pandemic of Change

I The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sudden loss of human life worldwide and
presents a dramatic challenge to public health, food systems and the world of work.
Social scientists have warned of economic and social disruption caused by the
pandemic, which is often known to be devastating. Globally, millions of people
are forced to go under lockdown, leaving the outdoors much quieter than usual. 5
As a result, environmental scientists have observed that the natural environment
is unexpectedly experiencing less pressure than it has been for the last 50 years.
In the midst of human lives changing, nature is also unprecedentedly changing.

II The natural world, at least, is getting a bit of a break. The environment is seen to 10
be enjoying relief after decades of stress. Rivers and seas are less polluted,
forests are greener, and the air is cleaner. A world in which humans are barely
traveling should offer major environmental benefits. Some obvious and immediate
effects are reflected in various reports of reduced traffic congestion, the
emergence of wildlife into human settlements, cleaner waterways and clearer 15
skies. In sum, these impacts on wildlife and the climate due to the pandemic are
considered beneficial to the environment, despite some detrimental effects on
humans.

III One positive benefit of the pandemic for wildlife is predominantly less human
travel. Due to the significant reduction in journeys, fewer people are injuring or 20
killing wildlife on roadways. A study from March 2021 found that hedgehog roadkill
rates in Poland were more than 50 per cent lower compared to the pre-pandemic
years, saving tens of thousands of hedgehogs in that country alone. Another study
analysing roadkill data from 11 countries found that roadkill rates fell by more than
40 per cent during the first few weeks of the pandemic restrictions in Spain, Israel, 25
Estonia, and the Czech Republic. Besides, during the peak of the lockdowns in
March and April 2020, traffic on the roads in the United States fell by as much as
73 per cent. During that same period, fatal collisions with deer, elk, moose, bears,

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mountain lions, and other large wild animals have declined as much as 58 per
cent. Fraser Shilling, co-director of the Davis Road Ecology Center, University of 30
California, believes that the longer this lasts, the more animals that would survive.

IV Meanwhile, people are also reporting seeing wildlife in unexpected places, such
as in large cities and commercial harbours. The increased number of animals in
urban environments is likely due to reductions in human presence, air and water 35
pollution levels, and noise pollution. For example, people have spotted pumas
wandering in downtown Santiago, Chile, dolphins swimming in the usually choppy
waters of the Port of Trieste, Italy, and the famous Kashmiri goats of Llandudno
enjoying and scampering around the deserted town in Wales. Some of these
animals are even helping themselves to garden flowers and hedges as they are 40
enjoying solitude in previously busy natural reserves or parks. In Albania, pink
flamingos are flourishing in lagoons on the country's west coastline, where
numbers have increased by a third to 3,000, park authorities told news agency,
Agence France-Presse (AFP).

V Another change during the pandemic can also be seen in relation to water travel 45
and activity. Fewer ships are traveling through the world’s waterways and oceans
for shipping, fishing, aquaculture, and tourism purposes. This has led to a lower
risk of ships injuring or killing marine animals. It may also lessen the marine
disruption that occurs due to noise pollution from ships, fishing sonar, and
recreational boats. In November 2020, experts predicted that global maritime trade 50
would have plunged by 4.1 per cent by the end of that year. Other reports also
estimated a 10 per cent decline in the container trade for 2020. Simultaneously,
air travel too, experienced a sharp decline in traffic. This cut the risk of bird strikes,
reported from heavy air traffic, before the pandemic. According to the Federal
Aviation Administration, between 1990 and 2019, there were about 227,005 55
wildlife strikes with civil aircraft in the United States and another 4,275 wildlife
strikes at foreign airports. Now, the number has notably decreased.

VI A study from Brazil discovered that during the partial lockdown in São Paulo, levels
of nitric oxide decreased by up to 77.3 per cent while carbon monoxide dropped 60

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by up to 64.8 per cent compared with 5-year monthly averages. In another study
from September 2020, researchers claimed that the pandemic situation has been
improving air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, another
research showed that levels of the pollutant, nitric dioxide, lowered drastically
across the United States, Western Europe, and China. In addition, an analysis of 65
data from 44 Chinese cities also found that pandemic travel restrictions resulted in
reductions by 60 per cent in five major air pollutants. These international studies
proved that the pandemic has brought about a significant drop in climate pollution.

VII Furthermore, environmental scientists suggest that the unprecedented decrease 70

in air pollutant emissions during the pandemic could lighten seasonal ozone
concentrations. They estimated that global and European emissions may fall by
60 to 70 per cent for the industry, energy, international shipping, and road transport
sectors, and by 80 per cent for the aviation sector. Travel restrictions and limited
commercial activity may also be improving the health of the world’s bodies of 75
water. One study found that pollution levels dropped by nearly 16 per cent in India’s
longest freshwater lake during a lockdown period. Another study found that
COVID-19-related beach closures and travel restrictions have trimmed the amount
of trash leaking into the marine environment off the coast of Kenya. This indicates
that improvements in air quality often translate into water quality improvements, 80
given how closely the atmosphere and ocean are related.

VIII However, some findings from Harvard University revealed that the pandemic may
actually be causing some harm to the wildlife. This happens when there are
lockdowns leading to economic hardships in low income countries. The pandemic
restrictions could cause natural resource exploitations, such as unlicensed logging 85
and the illegal wildlife market, as people run out of ways to earn a living. It has also
obstructed the work of conservation and law enforcement organisations that care
for wildlife and protected areas. As a result, the responsible staff of preserves,
game parks, sanctuaries, and other wildlife facilities are unable to perform their
normal activities. Lack of law enforcement may then induce a sudden increase in 90
illegal wildlife killing. This would subsequently expose the endangered animals to

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illegal poaching. Some reports indicated a surge in cases of poached wildlife

including in the Morang, Sunsari, Mahotari, Bardiya, and Surkhet districts in Nepal.

IX Realistically, it will take years to assess exactly how the COVID-19 pandemic has 95
affected wildlife, the environment, and the climate. Moreover, the impact of the
pandemic on the natural world is unlikely to be simple. Research suggests that a
depletion in some pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, may trigger the rise of
others, such as the ozone levels. Understanding how this pandemic has changed
humans’ relationship with nature may be just as complex. Nevertheless, these 10
positive changes will be enough to give some people, and Mother Nature, the hope 0
of a better future. It may also help illuminate flaws in how humans interact with
and value nature, which could have long lasting, permanent repercussions for
humans and the environment alike.

Adapted from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-covid-19-has-

changed-the-face-of-the-natural-world#A-pandemic-of-change?

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QUESTION 1

Interpret the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage. You are allowed to
write a one-word answer or a phrase (not more than four words). Do not write in a full sentence.

a) devastating (line 4):

disastrous / ruinous / destructive / damaging

(1 mark)

b) relief (line 11):

comfort / solace / calmness
(1 mark)

c) predominantly (line 19):

mainly / primarily / commonly

(1 mark)

d) plunged (line 51):

plummeted / fell sharply /dropped sharply

menjunam / jatuh mendadak / jatuh dengan mendadak (1 mark)

e) repercussions (line 103):

aftermaths / fallouts
akibat / kejatuhan (1 mark)

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QUESTION 2

Identify the stated main idea of paragraph III and provide ONE MAJOR and ONE MINOR
supporting detail.

a) Stated main idea:

One positive benefit of the pandemic for wildlife is predominantly less human
travel.

(1 mark)

b) Major supporting detail:

Due to the significant reduction in journeys, fewer people are injuring or
killing wildlife on roadways.

(1 mark)

c) Minor supporting detail:

A study from March 2021 found that hedgehog roadkill rates in Poland were more than 50 per
cent lower compared to the pre-pandemic years, saving tens of thousands of hedgehogs in that
country alone.
(1 mark)

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QUESTION 3

Formulate the topic that is most suitable for the content of paragraph IX. Provide TWO (2) relevant
evidence from the paragraph to support your answer. The topic must be in the form of a phrase
or key words and the evidence can be in the form of a sentence or phrase(s).

i. Topic:
the impact of the pandemic on the natural
world.
(1 mark)

ii. Evidence 1:
pandemic has changed
humans’ relationship with nature may be just as complex.

(1/2 mark)

iii. Evidence 2:

(1/2 mark)

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QUESTION 4

The natural world, at least, is getting a bit of a break. (line 10)

Make an inference based on the above statement. Provide TWO (2) relevant evidence from the
paragraph to support your answer. Your answer for the evidence can be in the form of a sentence
or phrase(s).

i. Inference:
During the pandemic, the environment has a chance to recover / be saved.

(2 marks)

ii. Evidence 1:
The environment experiences reduced impact from humans during the pandemic.

(1/2 mark)

ii. Evidence 2:
There are lower impacts / effects on the environment during the pandemic.

(1/2 mark)

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QUESTION 5

Formulate the implied main idea of paragraph VIII. Provide TWO (2) relevant evidence from the
paragraph to support your answer. Your answer for the evidence can be in the form of a
sentence or phrase(s).

i. Implied Main Idea:

Economic / financial problems can cause humans to harm the wildlife for money / to survive.

(2 marks)

ii. Evidence 1:

(1/2 mark)

iii. Evidence 2:

(1/2 mark)

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QUESTION 6

List TWO (2) types of support given by the author in paragraph I to provide explanation on how
the pandemic has changed people's lives. Provide ONE (1) example for each type of support.

a) Type of support:
Expert opinion

Example:

Social scientists have warned of economic and social disruption caused by the
pandemic, which is often known to be devastating.

a) Type of support:
expert observation

Example:
Globally, millions of people are forced to go under lockdown, leaving the outdoors much quieter than
usual.
(4 marks)

QUESTION 7

Identify the type of support for each of the supporting details.

No. Supporting Detail Type of Support

For example, people have spotted pumas wandering in
a)
downtown Santiago, Chile, dolphins swimming in the usually
choppy waters of the Port of Trieste, Italy, and the famous Examples
Kashmiri goats of Llandudno enjoying and scampering around
the deserted town in Wales. (Paragraph IV)

b) According to the Federal Aviation Administration, between 1990

and 2019, there were about 227,005 wildlife strikes with civil
Historical Data
aircraft in the United States and another 4,275 wildlife strikes at
foreign airports. Now, the number has notably decreased.
(Paragraph V)

(2 marks)

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QUESTION 8

Write ‘T’ for a statement that is TRUE and ‘F’ for a statement that is FALSE.

a) The effect of the pandemic on nature is always positive. F

b) Air quality can significantly affect the quality of water

T
resources.

c) Pink flamingos in Albania have increased by 50 per

cent during the pandemic. F

(3 marks)

QUESTION 9

Do you think that nature has experienced significant benefits due to the pandemic? Provide
THREE (3) reasons to support your opinion.

Yes, nature has experienced significant benefits due to the pandemic. Because,
: Rivers and seas are less polluted, forests are greener, and the air is cleaner.
•Some obvious and immediate effects are reflected in various reports of reduced traffic
• congestion, the emergence of wildlife into human settlements, cleaner waterways and
clearer skies.
• One positive benefit of the pandemic for wildlife is predominantly less human travel.
• Due to the significant reduction in journeys, fewer people are injuring or killing wildlife
on roadways.
• Fewer ships are traveling through the world’s waterways and oceans for shipping,
fishing, aquaculture, and tourism purposes.
• This has led to a lower risk of ships injuring or killing marine animals.
• It may also lessen the marine disruption that occurs due to noise pollution from ships,
fishing sonar, and recreational boats. (4 marks)
• This cut the risk of bird strikes, reported from heavy air traffic, before the pandemic.
• In another study from September 2020, researchers claimed that the pandemic
situation has been improving air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• One study found that pollution levels dropped by nearly 16 per cent in India’s longest
freshwater lake during a lockdown period.
• Another study found that COVID-19-related beach closures and travel restrictions have
trimmed the amount of trash leaking into the marine environment off the coast of
Kenya.

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QUESTION 10

Identify whether each of the paragraphs below is inductive (I) or deductive (D) reasoning. Provide
ONE (1) explanation to support your answer.

a) The natural world, at least, is getting a bit of a break. The environment is seen to be
enjoying relief after decades of stress. Rivers and seas are less polluted, forests are
greener, and the air is cleaner. A world in which humans are barely traveling should offer
major environmental benefits. Some obvious and immediate effects are reflected in
various reports of reduced traffic congestion, the emergence of wildlife into human
settlements, cleaner waterways and clearer skies. In sum, these impacts on wildlife and
the climate due to the pandemic are considered beneficial to the environment, despite
some detrimental effects on humans. (Paragraph II)

i. Type of reasoning:

D
(1 mark)

ii. Explanation for type of reasoning:

Beginning with a general statement and then

finding specific or particular
observations/arguments to support the initial
thesis.
(1 mark)

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b) Furthermore, environmental scientists suggest that the unprecedented decrease in air

pollutant emissions during the pandemic could lighten seasonal ozone concentrations.
They estimated that global and European emissions may fall by 60 to 70 per cent for the
industry, energy, international shipping, and road transport sectors, and by 80 per cent for
the aviation sector. Travel restrictions and limited commercial activity may also be
improving the health of the world’s bodies of water. One study found that pollution levels
dropped by nearly 16 per cent in India’s longest freshwater lake during a lockdown period.
Another study found that COVID-19-related beach closures and travel restrictions have
trimmed the amount of trash leaking into the marine environment off the coast of Kenya.
This indicates that improvements in air quality often translate into water quality
improvements, given how closely the atmosphere and ocean are related. (Paragraph VII)

i. Type of reasoning:

Inductive

(1 mark)

ii. Explanation for type of reasoning:

Making specific
observations/argumen
ts which together build
towards a broader
general conclusion. (1 mark)

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QUESTION 11

Formulate ONE (1) underlying assumption that can be made in paragraph IV. Provide TWO (2)
relevant evidence from the paragraph to support your answer. Your answer for the evidence can
be in the form of a sentence or phrase(s).

i. Underlying assumption:

1 mark)

ii. Evidence 1:

(1/2 mark)

iii. Evidence 2:

(1/2 mark)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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