These eight questions are original and get harder, from spotting an assertion to writing a justified judgement. Try each on paper before opening the answer.
The set belongs to SPM subjects and learning resources. The timed original practice session builder can time a sitting for you.
Questions
1. Which is an assertion and which is evidence? (a) “Bamboo is obviously greener than plastic.” (b) “A bamboo toothbrush in our test lost its shape after 6 weeks.”
Answer
(a) is an assertion: “obviously greener” has no figure or source. (b) is evidence: it reports a specific observation that a reader could check.
2. A canteen uses 240 disposable cups each school day. How many in a five-day week, and how many in four weeks?
Answer
240 × 5 = 1 200 cups a week. Over four weeks: 1 200 × 4 = 4 800 cups.
3. Improve this sentence using the figure in question 2: “The canteen wastes a lot of cups.”
Answer
A sample: “The canteen used 240 disposable cups a day, which is 1 200 in a five-day week.” This replaces a vague phrase with a figure the reader can check.
4. A school considers two designs for a rainwater tank. Design A scores durability 3, cost 1. Design B scores durability 2, cost 3.
Scores are 3 best. Durability has weight 2 and cost has weight 1. Which scores higher?
Answer
A: 3×2 + 1×1 = 7. B: 2×2 + 3×1 = 7. They tie at 7. A tie shows that the weights matter and that a written reason is needed for the final choice, for example preferring the lower running cost.
5. An original heater costs RM1 500 more than a standard one and saves RM25 each month. Find the payback time in months and years.
Answer
1 500 ÷ 25 = 60 months, which is 5 years.
6. Using question 5, write a judgement of no more than three sentences on whether to buy.
Answer
A sample: “The heater gains a saving of RM25 each month but costs RM1 500 more up front. It takes 5 years to pay back. It is worth buying if the owner will use it for longer than five years, and less so otherwise.”
7. A class counts litter pieces on the field for four mornings: 14, 10, 18, 10. Find the mean and the highest day.
Answer
Total = 14 + 10 + 18 + 10 = 52, mean = 52 ÷ 4 = 13 pieces. The highest day is the third morning, with 18.
8. Write one limit and one next step for the investigation in question 7.
Answer
A sample: “Four mornings on one field cannot show a long-term pattern, and the count does not show the cause of the litter. A next step is to count for two weeks and record whether there was an event or rain each day.”
If you got these wrong
- Questions 1 to 3: read distinguishing an assertion from supporting evidence.
- Question 4: read comparing design choices with explicit criteria.
- Questions 5 and 6: read explaining an environmental design trade-off.
- Questions 7 and 8: read reflecting on a small original classroom investigation.
Check your answers with the structured-answer self-review tool. For one-to-one help, see online one-to-one Sustainability tuition.