College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE), an affiliate of PolyU

THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

HONG KONG COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Subject Title : Environmental Science Subject Code : SEHH2011

Session : Semester Two, 2022/23 Time : 16:00 – 18:00

Date : 7 May 2023 Time Allowed : 2 Hours

Subject : Dr Wendy CHAN

Examiner(s)

This question paper has a total of SIX pages (including this covering page).

Instructions to Candidates:

1. There are THREE sections in this paper.

Section A (30%) – Multiple-choice Questions. Answer ALL questions in this section on the
multiple-choice answer sheet provided. Each question carries 2 marks.
Section B (42%) – Short Questions. Answer any THREE out of the FOUR questions in this
section in the answer book provided. Each question carries 14 marks. If
you answer more than three questions, only the first three attempted
questions will be marked. Indicate in your answer book clearly which
three questions you are attempting.
Section C (28%) – Long Compulsory Question. Answer the compulsory question in this
section in the answer book provided. This question carries 28 marks.
2. Electronic calculators, including programmable calculators, may be used provided that the
calculators are battery powered, silent in operation, with neither printout nor graphic /
word display facilities and do not use dot-matrix technology in the main display. All
programmes stored in the calculator should have been cleared. Other electronic devices
with graphic/ word-display facilities (such as databank watches) are not permitted.

Authorised Materials:
YES NO
CALCULATOR [] [ ]
(All programmes stored should be cleared.)

SPECIFICALLY PERMITTED ITEMS [ ] []

DO NOT TURN OVER THE PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

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 College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE), an affiliate of PolyU

Section B (42%) – Short Questions

Answer any THREE out of the FOUR questions in this section in the answer book
provided. Each question carries 14 marks. If you answer more than three questions, only
the first three attempted questions will be marked. Indicate in your answer book clearly
which three questions you are attempting.

Question B1

Distinguish between the following pairs of terms with related examples.

(a) Producers and Decomposers (8 marks)

(b) Point source of pollutant and Nonpoint source of pollutant (6 marks)

Question B2

Eskimo igloo is a traditional housing found in North Pole. With an illustrated diagram, explain
how it adapts to the local climate with focus on the aspect of commodity. (14 marks)

Question B3

A simple building is 5 m long by 2 m wide by 2.5 m high. It contains a window of 2 m2, and one
large door 1.75 m by 0.8 m. The inside comfort temperature is maintained at 24℃ while the
outside air temperature is 6 ℃. The construction has the following U-values in W/m2 K: window
5.6, door 2.0, walls 2.5, roof 3.0, floor 1.5. Assume the volumetric specific heat capacity of the air
is taken to be 1300 J/m3 K and with 1.5 air changes per hour, calculate the ventilation heat loss for
the building.
(You should show the formulae and the steps clearly. Correct the answer to 4 significant figures.)
(14 marks)

Question B4

Ocean has been severely polluted by various sources such as sediments, plastic bottles,
packaging materials, fishing nets and toxic chemicals over the past decade. Oil spills is one of
the worst pollutants which damaged vulnerable ecosystems. In Feb 2023, the oil tanker,
Princess Empress was sunken in the Philippine Coast. Briefly discuss the effects of oil
pollution on ocean ecosystems and comment on the TWO control methods. (14 marks)

- End of Section B -

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Section C (28%) – Long Compulsory Question

There is ONE compulsory question in this section. This section carries 28 marks.

Question C1

An external brick cavity wall is 4 m long and 2.5 m high. The wall contains one window 1.2 m
by 800 mm. The relevant sound reduction indexes are 53 dB for brickwork and 25 dB for
window.

(a) Calculate the overall sound reduction index of the partition.

(You should show your steps clearly and correct the answer to 4 significant figures.)
(20 marks)

(b) Good sound insulation depends upon four general principles. Apart from flexibility of
materials, completeness in terms of airtightness and uniformity, briefly discuss the
OTHER TWO principles. (8 marks)

- End of Section C -

- END OF PAPER -

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